Kenya PSDI Director, Financial Institutions (Fis)

Palladium is seeking a Director, Financial Institutions (FIs) for the anticipated USAID-funded program, which is anticipated to begin in July 2023. The USAID/Kenya and East Africa Private Sector Activity (PSA) will be a 5-year program focused on accelerating agriculture-led growth in Kenya through partnerships with large agricultural sector firms (such as processors and off-takers) and expansion of smallholder farmer out-grower schemes. The anticipated activity will focus on creating jobs and generating large scale increases in sales/exports in the agriculture sector cost-effectively and, ideally, through a sustainable and locally-led vehicle.  The activity would combine tools used in USAID’s traditional private sector development activities with tools used to mobilize finance and investment into one mechanism – supporting a range of agricultural firms to expand investments and operations via a blended finance approach.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced knowledge of inclusive business model practices, especially in relation to the Kenyan private sector, services providers, investors, and out-growers in the Kenyan agricultural development sector
  

• Robust networks within the Kenyan financial and agricultural sectors.
  

• Proven track record designing and developing high impact business models and strategies
  

• Experience working on USAID or other donor-funded programs of a similar size
  

• Excellent communications, organizational, and interpersonal skills
  

• Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, and reporting requirements preferred
  

• Experience working for large donor organizations such as USAID preferred
  

• Written and oral proficiency in English required
  

Palladium is seeking a Director, Financial Institutions (FIs) for the anticipated USAID-funded program, which is anticipated to begin in July 2023. The USAID/Kenya and East Africa Private Sector Activity (PSA) will be a 5-year program focused on accelerating agriculture-led growth in Kenya through partnerships with large agricultural sector firms (such as processors and off-takers) and expansion of smallholder farmer out-grower schemes. The anticipated activity will focus on creating jobs and generating large scale increases in sales/exports in the agriculture sector cost-effectively and, ideally, through a sustainable and locally-led vehicle.  The activity would combine tools used in USAID’s traditional private sector development activities with tools used to mobilize finance and investment into one mechanism – supporting a range of agricultural firms to expand investments and operations via a blended finance approach.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced knowledge of inclusive business model practices, especially in relation to the Kenyan private sector, services providers, investors, and out-growers in the Kenyan agricultural development sector
  

• Robust networks within the Kenyan financial and agricultural sectors.
  

• Proven track record designing and developing high impact business models and strategies
  

• Experience working on USAID or other donor-funded programs of a similar size
  

• Excellent communications, organizational, and interpersonal skills
  

• Knowledge of USAID policies, procedures, and reporting requirements preferred
  

• Experience working for large donor organizations such as USAID preferred
  

• Written and oral proficiency in English required
  

• Define Kenya’s PSDI strategy to deliver innovative, alternative financial products/services, and expand growth of financial institutions related to Kenya’s agricultural sector.
  

• Provide technical leadership to increase access to tailored financial products and stimulate the local market for private equity and blended finance instruments. This may include overseeing the provision of technical assistance to financial services providers (banks and non-bank intermediaries) to enhance their products and services, and private equity funds to help them mobilize capital from local and international financial institutions and investors
  

• Represent PSDI’s FI activities in meetings with public and private sector actors including GoK, non-governmental organizations, business associations, among others
  

• Supervise implementing partners, sub-contractors, and grantees as they undertake tasks relating to expanding and supporting FIs
  

• Travel to various regions of Kenya as needed
  

• Any and all other project-related tasks as required by the Chief of Party and Palladium HQ