First Consult is a leading economic development consulting firm implementing projects in Ethiopia. Founded in 2006, First Consult (FC) has grown to design and implement projects across the agriculture, manufacturing, and service sectors. Our multidisciplinary teams combine a capacity to execute with clarity of the local context. As a result, we have delivered at-scale real impact in terms of job creation, business formation, business growth, and investment attraction and mobilization.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

MESMER is a five-year program launched in October 2022 to support 72,200 MSMEs and 410,800 jobs by creating access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises’ (MSME) to realize their growth prospects and resilience. MESMER will also work to provide support to MSMEs through business development support, psychosocial services and technical assistance to financial institutions. MESMER is a countrywide program implemented by First Consult in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation as part of the Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy and will strive to create dignified and fulfilling work for the youth, the majority of them women.

MESMER is a national scale-up of the existing MSE Resilience Facility launched in 2020 to support enterprises affected by the COVID pandemic. The project will mainly be following a four-pronged approach to meet its objectives: a) Grants and soft loans to MSMEs through a risk-sharing liquidity fund arrangement, b) Technical assistance to financial institutions, c) Business development services and life skills, d) Psychosocial support.

The FDRE Ministry of Labour and Skills will be the main government counterpart for the program. Other partners include financial institutions (microfinance institutions, banks, and digital financial service providers), BDS, and psychosocial support providers.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Credit and Grant Fund Management Officer will be responsible for the design and implementation of the credit and grant component of the program in collaboration with other implementation team members. He/she will coordinate all access to credit and grant-related activities, and ensure the program resources are effectively and efficiently used in order to achieve program goals and objectives. The Credit and Grant Fund Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Credit and Grant Fund Manager and will be responsible for the facilitation, implementation and monitoring of credit and grant disbursement to MSMEs in partnership with Banks, MFIs, Lease Companies, and Digital Financial Service providers. The expert in this role is expected to ensure fast disbursements maintain high-quality service and report achievements, challenges and overall performance on a regular basis. The officer will also be responsible to ensure financial and operational information is provided to project leadership, and the technical team maintaining quality control and the timeline.

The Credit and Grant Fund Management Officer reports to the Credit and Grant Fund Manager.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

TECHNICAL

• Understand the MESMER program in its entirety and contribute to high-quality design and successful implementation of the MESMER program.

• Ensure the provision of appropriate technical guidance for the implementation of the MESMER program, particularly access to credit for MSMEs and regularly update the design to capture new developments in the MSMEs market and financial services ecosystem as well as emerging program priorities.

• Undertake the responsibility of designing the implementation manual for credit and grant disbursement with a detailed implementation work plan.

• Prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the program and present them to the Investment Committee for approval and undertake the execution of same.

• Participate in designing the facility’s monitoring and evaluation manuals, log frame, and identification of KPIs and indicators.

• Develops application forms to be used by MSMEs applying to the program and design related MSME eligibility and selection criteria for dynamic and objective-based selection.

• Devise mechanisms for selecting financial institutions (Banks, MFIs etc.) to participate in the implementation of the program using well-structured and objective eligibility and selection criteria.

• Present selected financial institutions agreed on terms and conditions, and fund allocation to the foundation and the Investment Committee for approval.

• Supporting the credit and grant manager in defining the liquidity fund earmarked for credit and grant disbursement strategy, targeting, selection criteria, and implementation arrangements. 

• Maintain strong working relationships and oversee the work with the selected partner financial institutions and key stakeholders to ensure timely disbursement of grants and credit as per the approved selection criteria.

• Support in the development of grant management training modules.

• Coordinate regional credit and grant line coordinators for maximum delivery and target achievement.

• Pay regular field visits to the partner financial institutions and beneficiary MSMEs to observe progress, with a focus on ensuring disbursement and proper use of funds.

• Undertake and coordinate monitoring work and report to the Investment Committee on the implementation status of the facility.

• Ensure that both grant and credit line facilities are availed to eligible MSMEs in a timely and transparent manner.

• Take part in credit and grants day-to-day activities of the project to ensure that it achieves its ultimate objective of creating access to finance for MSMEs and contributing to job creation.

• Perform any other duties as may be required by his/her immediate supervisor.

REPORTING

• Conduct and submit reports on credit and grant fund disbursement to eligible MSMEs.

• Provide regular progress updates/reports on activities performed and the overall performance of the participating financial institutions.

• Continuously keep abreast of developments in the financial sector, analyze the impact of any changes to MESMERs financial sector interventions and communicate to the team.

• Working closely with the monitoring and evaluation team to monitor the effectiveness, direct and indirect results of MESMER credit and grant funds on MSMEs and start-ups.

• Work closely with the monitoring and evaluation team to capture the overall impact of MESMER.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s (BA) degree in economics, accounting or finance, business, project management, or relevant social science studies from a recognized university/college. (MA degree preferred)

• Relevant experience of a minimum of five years in the financial service sector, development work or doner-funded projects, in managing and delivering technical assistance to financial institutions,

• Good network in the banking and microfinance sectors,

• Strong command of English and Amharic,

• Proven skills in designing projects, program implementation, and report writing,

• Familiarity with major donor rules and regulations,

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills/capability to identify issues with contractual implications, ensure consistent donor reporting and support teams in providing appropriate analyses of activities.

• High adaptability – the ability to work with a large range of actors including institutional donors and partners and to develop an understanding of various contexts.

• High attention to detail in reviewing and inputting to reports, proposals and other documents.

• Advanced interpersonal skills to support staff in ensuring compliance with donor requirements

• Good proficiency in Microsoft Office – significant experience with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

How to Apply

Submit your application letter and CV via email: jobs@firstconsultet.com

N.B: Refer to the position title " Credit and Grant Fund Management Officer " in the subject line of your email and applications.