Microfinance Grant Officer

About FMFB-A:

As a background, FMFB-A started its operation in 2004 and is part of the Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM), which has financial institutions operating in different countries throughout the world. It is affiliated with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of development agencies working in health, education, culture and rural economic development.

Background of Afghan MSME Assistance and Development (AMAD):

Afghan MSME Assistance and Development (AMAD) is implementing the MALA – MSME Access to Finance for Livelihoods in Afghanistan – project in cooperation with its Afghan PIs. The main objective of the project is to support the recovery of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs – including those led by vulnerable groups). Specifically, the program foresees disbursements of non-repayable Matching Grants (“MGs”) to MSMEs, thereby enhancing their access to finance and enabling businesses to overcome the current economic crisis. MGs are available for a period of almost three years and will be matched with new guaranteed loans provided by PIs to minimize market distortion and ensure an own contribution by the supported MSMEs. Grants, therefore, create additionality as they substitute borrower equity, enhance repayment capacity, and enable PIs to resume lending with conducive lending conditions, e.g. longer maturities. The Grant applications will be generated by AMAD’s PIs. The project supports PIs with financing for Capacity Building and Grant Officers at branch level to ensure adequate resources at PIs for processing of Grant applications and provision of capacity building to MSMEs. More details about the Capacity Building and Grant Officers position at PI branch level are described in this document.

Job Summary: 

The Capacity Building and Grant Officer serves as a Capacity Building and Grant focal point at regional branch level and is responsible for the appropriate implementation of Capacity Building and Grant activities at (regional) branch level. The officer ensures that loan officers appropriately assist grant applicants in designing a suitable financing project. The Capacity Building and Grant Officer makes sure that Grants criteria and process are known among all responsible financing staff. The Capacity Building and Grant Officer will ensure efficiency in the Grant process by timely submission of the Grant application documentation to PI HO and monitoring the appraisal and decision steps.

Job Details:

Duties and Responsibilities:

Grant Structures:

• Ensures that the PI’s loan officers (LOs) have a good understanding of the Grant policies and procedures by organizing and implementing trainings;
• Ensures timely communication via Grants Specialist of any challenge or process adjustment required for Grants implementation;
• Identifies capacity building measures and other related support activities;
• Ensures proper PI communication of Grant availability to potential beneficiaries as well as serving as a focal point for Grant-related matters at PI branch/ regional level.

Grant Process Implementation:

• Supports the PI’s loan officers (LOs) to develop together with the applicants consistent and complete financing applications;
• Supports the PI’s loan officers (LOs) in delivering capacity building measures to applicants to collect information and translate it into basic financial statements, as well as supporting entrepreneurs in developing meaningful investment plans;
• Serves as the Grant Focal point at branch level, including regular coordination with Grants Specialist;
• Provides hands-on coaching of PI’s Loan Officers at PI at their capacity of processing Grants and providing capacity building to MSMEs;
• Verifies the completeness of the Grant Applications Forms prior to submission to PI’s HO;
• Obtains and shares additional information from the applicant as per the request of AMAD and/or PI Head office

Qualifications:

• Academic background in business management, banking, accounting, economics or a related field (ACCA and BBA-Finance preferred);
• Credit experience of at least 2 years;
• Business mindset and good insight into issues of MSME finance;
• Excellent communication in local languages;
• Ability to act on own initiative and work confidentially;
• Ability and willingness to do field work outside of the office;
• Fluent in Dari and Pashto; good command of English is desirable;
• Acceptable level of computer skills, especially in Word and Excel;
• Must be responsive, accountable, and detail oriented with a problem-solving orientation;
• ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment is a benefit.

Submission Guideline:

If you meet the above requirements, we are encouraging you to apply for this position. Please send us your CV along with a cover letter via email at (vacancies@fmfb.com.af).

Please make sure that your email includes the vacancy ID as the subject line.

Note that, only the candidates who are meeting the requirements of the position will be shortlisted.