The Broker Lead will champion financial brokerage between the suppliers and demanders of finances for the Soil-Values program activities. (S)he will be posted in one of the four Soil Values focus countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Northern Nigeria).

Responsibilities

Responsible for leading Soil Values financial brokering activities, partners’ access to finance, financial inclusion, investment readiness analyses working with a wide range of partners including but not limited to agri-finance/value-chain specialists, consultants and/or interns in a manner that supports and guides the Program’s sustainable investments in soil health management practices.

• Origination of financial deals, execution, and financial deals portfolio management.
• Development and review of the financial models and conducting financial sensitivity analyses for the investment proposals while matching supply-side and demand-side of finances.
• Evaluate investment proposals and investment risks of the deals; identify, measure, and mitigate the risk of new transactions and make recommendations regarding deals structuring, and pricing.
• Identify areas of exposure within the project activities with regard to brokering/inclusion, climate risk – develop mitigating factors, and investments monitoring tools.
• Maintain relations by visiting project/client’s businesses, collecting data, and understanding the economies of the business for financial advisory services.
• Provide capacity strengthening (training, coaching, and mentoring) to internal and external partners supporting soil health investment activities to ensure increased revenue and impact from their operations.
• Work with the private sector to determine how the program can facilitate investment in long-term, multi-facetted productivity improvements and implement chosen solutions.
• Involve and create financial opportunities for women (e.g., farmer groups, service providers).

Job Requirements

• A degree in agriculture, agribusiness, economics, business administration, finance, banking, or any discipline relevant to Agri-Finance and Investment Banking, a master’s degree is preferred.
• At least 6 years’ experience in agricultural finance, Agri-banking consulting/advisory of which 3-5 years of relevant experience in the Agri-Credit-Financing department/field for a bank.
• Track record in investment plan preparation, Agri-value chains profitability analysis, access to finance brokering and indebt knowledge of Agri- financial products/instruments available in the financial market suitable for smallholder farmers, and Agri-SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Proven capacity to work with teams operating at a distance in a development work (NGO) environment for at least 3 years is a must.
• Experience in working with FinTech and supply chain financial digital platforms is desirable.
• A history of successfully generating new revenue streams and improving financial results
• Ability to coach, lead, stimulate, and inspire professionals.
• Fluency in speaking and writing English and French.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the West African region.

Reporting and Work Relationships

The Component Lead – Broker is supervised by and reports to the Deputy Program Director – Technical.  (S)he works in close collaboration with project colleagues, other IFDC staff and colleagues from other project consortium members.