Director, Blended Finance at Palladium International

Position Description

Palladium is seeking a Director, Blended Finance for an anticipated USAID-funded economic growth program which is anticipated to begin in July 2023. The USAID/Kenya and East Africa Feed the Future (FtF) 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. For more information on the potential project, please consult the RFI: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=338564 .

Roles And Responsibilities

• Define PSA’s blended finance workplan and strategy to integrate blended finance across a range of technical activities.
• Design a blended finance facility that combines grant funding with a diverse mix of capital to catalyze business growth.
• Provide technical leadership on strategy to increase access to blended finance amongst new and existing businesses
• Present PSA’ blended finance services 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 blended finance services.
• Develop a comprehensive inventory of sources and mechanisms for blended finance and capital investment that best align with programmatic foci in Kenya.
• 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

Position Requirements

• Advanced knowledge of blended finance, financial services providers, and investors in Kenya
• Robust networks within the Kenyan financial sector and development finance space.
• Proven track record improving businesses’ access to finance, connecting businesses with potential investors, and improving business finance services
• Experience designing and managing blended finance facilities targeted at the agricultural sector
• 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
• Local Kenyan candidates are preferred
• Written and oral proficiency in English required