Housing Finance Consultant

Habitat for Humanity International Inc seeks to support families to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity has set the stage for families, volunteers, donors, and supporters to come together, to build decent homes that provide the foundation for a better life. An estimated 1.6 billion people are living in inadequate shelter globally – a crisis that has been exacerbated by a lack of attention to, and investment in, informal housing markets. For low-income families in the countries where Habitat works, housing is often a process, not a purchase. Families build and upgrade their homes incrementally as finances allow. This incremental construction process can last decades, causing a significant and detrimental impact on the quality and resilience of their homes. The Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter (TCIS), a unit of Habitat for Humanity International works to expand low-income families’ access to innovative housing products, construction services and financing. The Center collaborates with actors throughout the housing ecosystem, including financial institutions, manufacturers, retailers, academic and vocational institutions, and others.

About the consultancy

• The Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter is seeking an experienced finance professional for part-time consultancy, for twelve (12) months, to support implementation of Housing Finance interventions of its Shelter Venture Lab program in India. The purpose of this position is to do business development, build partnerships, support program design and strategy, and project management of pilot initiatives with select partners.
• This position will require regular travelling to locations in Tamil Nadu where the partners are based, and pilots are implemented. Limited travel to other parts of the country may be required, if needed.
• The Consultant will be responsible for the the following activities:
• Write technical proposals for lead firms and/or contracts required to undertake pilots with select financial institutions.
• Lead implementation of pilot activities with select partners
• Provide technical advisory to partners as required and collaborate with colleagues from other HFHI/ TCIS departments in facilitating the required technical support for pilots.
• Manage partner relationships and assure quality of pilot initiatives, including project resources and deliverables.
• Align with MEAL requirements of the program and undertake monitoring and evaluation of the pilots. Ensure data is periodically captured and analyzed and prepare required reports.
• Document learnings from the pilot activities as well as from interactions with partners and related stakeholders.
• Manage vendors hired for the pilot projects.

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in business administration, finance, economics, international development or related areas
• At least ten (10) years of experience in the finance sector with a focus on housing finance for atleast 5 years, including supervisory roles, in one or more areas of market development such as value chain analysis, proposal development, program design, program implementation and management and impact evaluation.

Skills and Competencies

• Proven track record of success in managing projects related to market development or value chain initiatives.
• Experience in providing advisory or consulting services to private sector enterprises or government agencies.
• Excellent business judgment and strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrates ability to influence others, to work with outside actors and create collaborative projects.
• Prioritizes tasks and redirects work effort in response to new opportunities and changes in priorities.
• Strong inter-personal skills with the ability to develop and manage good relationships between the project, private sector, government, and other stakeholders.
• Quality and results oriented. Demonstrated attention to detail, highly organized and able to coordinate multiple activities simultaneously and within deadlines.
• Strong communication and presentation skills (written and oral). In particular, the ability to write clearly, succinctly, and engagingly about technical subjects in English.

Duration of the assessment:

• The consultancy is part-time with a requirement of 15 working days per month.
• The total duration of the assignment will be for 12 months starting Sep 11, 2024. The end date will be Sep 10, 2024.
• As the nature of work is dynamic, some months may require more than 10 working days and some months fewer working days. The consultant is expected to be flexible, and the total work is capped at a maximum of 180 days during the entire consultancy period.
• The consultancy will require travelling to projects locations and to TCIS Chennai office each month. In addition, the consultant may be expected to be part of team meetings in the Chennai office, as required.

Deliverables:

• The deliverables will be agreed upon each month based on work requirements. A monthly report will be submitted at the end of each month detailing the activities for each day of the month.

Reporting:

• The consultant will work with and report to Prasanna Sriraman, Manager – Housing Market Systems.
• Location: Remote working as well as in Tamil Nadu

Selection Process

• Please share a proposal explaining your suitability for the requirements detailed above. The proposal will be evaluated based on the following criteria.
• Experience in housing finance, market development, program design and management, particularly with low-income housing context.
• The profile and work experience of the candidate / Currivulae Vitae.
• The consultant should have strong communication skills in English, oral as well written.
• Habitat for Humanity International is not bound to award the contract to the consultant who provides the lowest estimate. The decision on the selection of the contractor will rest with Habitat for Humanity International.
• The above services are to be provided in accordance with Habitat for Humanity’s policies, procedures, and guidance, as well as the supervisor’s advice. For any travel undertaken as part of the project, the consultant will be reimbursed per Habitat’s travel expense policy on actuals.
• Email: Habitat email id will be provided. The consultant will have to arrange his/her own laptop.

Contact

The key contacts for this proposal are:

• Sonia Lowrence, Manager – Administration, Contracting & Communication: [email protected]
• Prasanna Sriraman, Manager – Housing Market Systems – [email protected]
• All emails will be addressed to Sonia Lowrence with a copy to Prasanna Sriraman

ONLY CANDIDATES WHO FOLLOW APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ROLE.