Markets and Financial Inclusion Analyst, Harare, Zimbabwe at UNDP

job Description

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind' approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Project Description
Government of Zimbabwe received funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for the project entitled “Building climate resilience of vulnerable agricultural livelihoods in southern Zimbabwe” The objective of the project is to strengthen resilience of agricultural livelihoods of vulnerable communities, particularly women, in southern Zimbabwe in the face of increasing climate risks and impacts.

The project will contribute to the following GCF Fund-level impacts for adaptation:
“Increased resilience and enhanced livelihoods of the most vulnerable people, communities and regions” and
“Increased resilience of health and well-being, and food and water security” for vulnerable smallholder communities in southern Zimbabwe.

The project outcome is to strengthen the adaptive capacities of vulnerable smallholder farmers, especially women, to climate change induced impacts on their agro-ecosystems and livelihoods. To achieve these outcomes the project will implement the following three interlinked components using GCF and co-financing resources:
Increased access to water for climate-resilient agriculture through climate-resilient irrigation systems and efficient water resource management,
Scaled up climate-resilient agricultural production and diversification through increased access to climate -resilient inputs, practices, and markets and
Improved access to weather, climate, and hydrological information for climate resilient agriculture.
The project is being implemented by the Government of Zimbabwe in partnership with UNDP for 7 years, commencing June 2020 to May 2027.

Institutional Arrangement
The Markets and Financial Inclusion Analyst reports to the GCF Project Manager. The incumbent will also work in liaison with the UNDP colleagues, Regional Technical Advisors, Partners and Government-nominated project focal points. The Markets and Financial Inclusion Analyst will be located at UNDP Country Office and should be willing to commute regularly to various meetings in ministries and on-site.

Duties and Responsibilities

-To achieve the objectives highlighted above, the Markets and Financial Inclusion Analyst is expected to support the following components: Facilitation and Coordination of Market Linkages (output, input) and financial services to support inclusive business/partnerships models.
-Develop the portfolio of private sector companies to refine their business models to cope with the changing environment;
-Coordination across districts to lower transaction costs of doing business with rural communities in GCF programming areas;
-Formation of market linkages working groups and mentoring and coaching of the market linkages working group members;
-Providing technical expertise to facilitate / formalize contract farming agreements and legal support services to smallholder producer groups per the Innovation Platform;
-Negotiations with national-level companies;
-Support the setting up of Inclusive Business Forums and mentoring of producer groups in the project area.
-The Inclusive Business Forum should not merely be a discussion forum but should facilitate multi-partite agreements for cooperation in the value chain or territory-based agricultural (multi-value chain) development, which might involve agribusinesses, smallholder associations/unions, financial institutions, extension services and civil society;
-Facilitate coordination with other similar programs involved in market linkages facilitation.
-Design a private sector engagement model for the GCF project;
-Support the diligent setup and implementation of value chain strategies and plans in identified IP centres and other research institutions;
-Capacity building of smallholder farmers, Farmer Field Schools, Irrigation Schemes in value chain based, market research, market access and linkages where applicable.

Qualifications and Experience

Education:
-An advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Agribusiness/Rural Development, Agric-Economics, Agric-Finance, Social Sciences or other related fields, or
-A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in combination with two years of qualifying work experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:
-Minimum 2 years (with master's degree) or 4 years (with bachelor's degree) experience in working with rural communities/farmers in market linkages, financial inclusion, business development or relevant related field is required.
-Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP.

Required Skills
-At least 2 years of relevant experience in working with rural communities/farmers in market linkages, financial inclusion, or business development is required;
-Experience/Understanding of climate smart agriculture and agricultural technologies including irrigation;
-Experience/Knowledge of value chain analysis (VCA), partnership and key value chain development is required;
-Experience in private sector engagement for value chain and financial markets is a requirement;
Strong analytical skills and experience in analyzing quantitative/ qualitative data and surveys in the field of Resilience, food and Nutrition Security, Livelihoods, and DRR are required.