Access to Finance Associate

Role Summary
The Access to Finance Associate will be responsible for advising on, implementing, and coordinating the agreed access to finance interventions across Lagos state. The role will support and coordinate with the central project team to ensure the achievement of agreed project deliverables in the state, while leading state-level internal and external engagements on behalf of SCIDaR.

Responsibilities

• Implement program strategies to provide credible financing opportunities, partners, and beneficiaries for the PACS program;
• Advise on identified financial institutions and work with them to better understand the financial needs of health market actors, and recommend contextual access to finance products;
• Provide technical and management support to broaden access to finance for target beneficiaries by designing fit-for-purpose credit facilities, incorporating contextual realities including high-interest rates, limited collateral, absence of loan guarantors, etc.
• Coordinate the engagement of potential beneficiary community pharmacies and patent medicine vendors to understand the needs and requirements of partner financial institutions and investors;
• Assist in the design and provision of technical support and training to make potential beneficiary PPMVs investment-ready, complete, and submit applications;
• Support in portfolio management and due diligence process for beneficiary SMEs and lenders;
• Ensure proper monitoring, evaluation, and learning throughout project implementation;
• Continuously identify and develop strong relationships with banks, lenders, and investors and regularly organize stakeholders’ engagement meetings between financial partners and target demographics;
• Execute any other tasks as required by the designated Program Manager.

Duty Station
The role is in Lagos, Nigeria but will require periodic visits to SCIDaR’s Head Office in the FCT.

Required competencies

• Knowledge of credit, credit guarantee systems, and value chain financing;
  Financial analysis skills and assessment of the financial viability of target group credit needs and constraints;
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders concurrently
  Strong collaboration and partnership skills with people and teams across organizational levels;
• Analytical approach to work with strong problem-solving skills;
• Strong network in the access to finance space and the financial ecosystem in Nigeria and other African countries, particularly within financial institutions, private lenders, equity investors, impact investors, development partners, etc.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and/or Statistics, Financial Management, Accounting, Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or another related field;
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in directly supporting targeted demographics to access finance through loans, impact investment, grants, equity investment, blended financing, etc.;
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating and working with financial institutions or development organizations with access to finance focus;
• High proficiency in data management and reporting;
• Experience in complex planning and budgeting processes, including the ability to provide clear guidance on finance policies and procedures;