Lead, Inclusive MSME Finance

Department: Programs

Reporting To: Head of Policy, SME & Inclusive Finance

Direct Reports: MSME Portfolio Team

Contract Type: Full-time consultancy

The Lead, Inclusive MSME Finance will support the Head of Policy, SME, and Inclusive Finance as FSDT’s leading expert on best practices for extending Inclusive MSME Finance to women and youth-led businesses in Tanzania. This includes identifying how Tanzania’s financial markets and MSMEs may be supported through the provision of accurate and relevant market information. S/he will proactively keep abreast of global and local MSME sector, engage the private sector on product development, BDS for improving access to finance, drive engagement with Government on policy/regulatory formulation and review and the development of alternative finance solutions for provision of affordable & fit for purpose financial services for MSMEs.

Key Responsibilities

KRA 1: Policy – Inclusive MSME Finance

• Facilitate effective dialogue between government, regulators, financial service providers and consumer representatives through policy advocacy, workshops, and other related means:
• Understand how the political economies of Tanzania and East Africa impact the inclusive MSME Finance agenda and ensure these insights contribute to regulatory analysis.
• Engage private sector practitioners to understand inclusive MSME finance business models and identify potential legal and regulatory constraints.
• Build and maintain key relationships with regional and international partners, including central banks, BDS providers, financial service provider, and Funders to ensure their support and collaboration in regulations, product development and investments for MSMEs.
• Develop and articulate FSDT’s value contribution to key policy and regulatory changes in the country.
• Track FSDT’s contribution to policy and regulatory change to measure the impact of our technical assistance and capacity building.
• Work with DFS and Infrastructure and Climate Finance and Resilience Leads to mainstream needs of MSMEs and advise on policy and regulatory strategies to inform initiatives.

KRA 2: Thought Leadership & Strategy – Inclusive MSME Finance

• Act as a thought leader in Inclusive MSME Finance for women and youth; developing innovative strategies for transforming Tanzania’s finance sector, and supporting the development of inclusive and sustainable financial solutions for MSMEs that lead to improved livelihoods, wellbeing, resilience and empowerment of Tanzanian women and youth:
• Lead the comprehensive analysis of Tanzania’s markets from an Inclusive MSME Finance perspective to develop a profound understanding of the ecosystems FSDT is seeking to develop (including supply, demand and enabling environment):
• Liaise with the Head of Research to commission relevant and insightful research studies, including support for any research required to contribute to the MSME ecosystem assessment.
• Contribute substantively to the development of a whole country strategy and a balanced portfolio of projects, staying true to market system development principles.
• Develop FSDT’s strategy for market interventions in the MSME space; ensuring that a logical theory of change is developed and kept updated:
• Identify ways in which digital innovation might leverage beneficial change / overcome MSME market constraints (in supply, demand and enabling environment).
• Conceptualise potential interventions by developing logical Theories of Change and Results Chains.
• Develop strategies for addressing gaps where FSDT will not develop interventions (e.g. by catalysing others to develop interventions or earmarking interventions for future projects).
• In collaboration with the MRM Manager, devise and manage an effective monitoring framework that will yield important insights into what does or does not work for poor people and how to drive beneficial systemic change.

KRA 3: Intervention Design – Inclusive MSME Finance

• As coordinated by the CPO, lead and participate in Intervention Teams to design interventions:
• Confirm or develop the strategy for attracting potentially impactful implementing partners (IPs).
• Identify a variety of instruments that potentially stimulate inclusive financial markets development, principally where these are likely to promote targeted real sector benefits.
• Present concept notes and Project Appraisal Reports (PARs) to the Board &/or Investment Committees – depending on the level of funding being sought.
• Once an intervention is approved, drive the onboarding of IPs, support through capacity assessment and the development of project proposals that comply with BIC standards.
• Liaise with the designated Project Accountant to ensure that due diligence and contracting processes are carried out efficiently, and that partners are provided with a quality briefing concerning FSDT’s procedures for project / grant management.
• Develop detailed implementation plans, budgets and cash-flow forecasts that will achieve fund utilisation targets, ensure project success, and address capacity gaps of partners.

KRA 4: Advocacy, Communications & Relationship Building – Inclusive MSME Finance

• Clarify the ways in which achievement of FSD Tanzania’s objectives depends upon influencing the mindset or behaviour of others (e.g. Implementing Partners, policymakers, end-users & other stakeholders); lead the development, and implementation of an innovative Communications & Influencing plan for digital innovation and digital infrastructure development:
• Build on the ecosystem analysis and stakeholder mapping to set clear goals for stakeholder mindset or behaviour change; work collaboratively with the Communications Manager to convert this understanding into a concrete action plan.
• Build relationships with key actors; ensure the development and implementation of influencing strategies and interventions that drive mindset change and widespread uptake of pro-poor and pro-development financial practices.
• Provide strategic inputs and engage with policy-level work involving Government of Tanzania, development partners, private sector entities and others (notably taking responsibility for feeding experience from field-level work into higher-level policy debates).
• Contribute to the implementation of the Communication Strategy (e.g. by developing content for written materials/website, participating in campaigns etc.).
• Contribute to the development of annual and quarterly reports/newsletters and knowledge management materials.

KRA 5: Ensuring Impactful Implementation – All

• Lead the delivery of a portfolio of interventions so that results are achieved, risks are managed and quality projects are delivered; ensuring that learning from projects is fully utilised to maximise impact and innovation:
• Manage and coordinate the entire program of reviews, visits, and research as necessary to adaptively manage the performance of projects and achieve targeted outcomes and impact.
• Provide technical advice and support to implementing partners so that they are equipped to contribute effectively towards financial markets development, inclusiveness, and job creation.
• Collaborate closely with the MRM team to ensure collection of data, analysis of results and identification of opportunities for improvement in a blame-free spirit of academic enquiry:
nafasi za kazi
• If desired results have been achieved, initiate strategies for widespread awareness-raising.
• If desired results have not been achieved, either manage performance of the implementation team teams (both FSDT’s and the IP’s), or take corrective measures such as adjusting the strategy/approach.
• Periodically review theories of change, revising as appropriate.

KRA 6: Risk and Resource Management – Inclusive MSME Finance

• Secure, manage and safeguard programme resources; ensuring that each intervention achieves optimal financial efficiency, value for money, and impact, all the while ensuring compliance with FSD Tanzania and donor policies:
• Support Board and CEO, CPO initiatives to develop FSD Tanzania’s funding base; personally contribute by building relationships with potential and current investors/donor partners.
• Prepare programme/project budgets that are as accurate as possible and sufficiently detailed to support financial analysis; follow FSDT’s procedures to manage project finances effectively and achieve value-for-money targets.
• Liaise with the Grants & Project Finance Manager to support the processes associated with sub-granting. liaise with Implementing Partners to ensure their compliance with FSDT’s financial procedures and FSDT’s funders’ accountability requirements.
• Liaise with the HR & Corporate Services Manager to support the processes associated with procurement of the goods and services that are required for each intervention being managed; ensure compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• Supporting Head, Inclusive MSME Finance to manage the risks associated with all Inclusive MSME Finance activities; ensuring that a comprehensive understanding of risks has been developed and that strategies are in place and implemented for effective risk management:
• Ensure that key policies e.g. Safeguarding, VfM and Gender are fully understood and implemented by all Staff, Consultants, and Implementing Partners.
• Participate in the development and implementation of both internal and external audit plans, lead the implementation of corrective actions arising and create a culture of continuous improvement.

KRA 6: Leadership & Empowerment of the Team – All

• Lead the teams of staff and consultants deployed to each intervention in a manner that empowers them to contribute effectively towards achievement of FSD Tanzania’s strategy:
• Ensure that each intervention is resourced with the necessary talent through a combination of recruitment and management of staff and procurement of consultants.
• Lead and manage each team towards high standards of performance through clear roles and responsibilities and provision of appropriate support; proactively address performance issues through timely constructive feedback, coaching and appropriate corrective action.
• Ensure the utilisation of a leadership style that will drive employee engagement and keep the team motivated to achieve results.
• Ensure development of an inclusive environment; implement policies and ways-of-working that provide for diversity and equal opportunities.

Role Requirements

Specifications for the Role

Qualifications:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Additional professional qualification and relevant accreditations are an advantage.
• Certification in Development Practice, Public Policy, MSD, Financial Policy, SME/Value Chain Financing or any other related field is preferred

Relevant Experience:

• Minimum 8 years working experience, including at a senior level, in supporting women and youth-led MSMEs in accessing inclusive finance and business development services (e.g. financial service providers, Microfinance sector serving MSMEs, market development facilitators with MSME focus)
• Experience of business leadership, resulting in an ability to empathise with, and provide experience-based advice to Implementing Partners.
• Evidence of past success in driving transformative initiatives for addressing the needs of MSMEs.
• Track record of effective management of complex multi-stakeholder projects; ability to manage budgets in the $1-2 million range.
• Track record of managing complex stakeholder relationships and influencing key stakeholders at a national level and across Cultures.
• Experience working with youth-led, and women-led MSMEs, agriculture value chains, green economy, and digital economy for MSMEs
• Familiarity with major players in financial sector development and BSD organizations (desired).
• Experience working with IPs and DPs supporting MSMEs such as Mastercard Foundation, Enabel, EU, BMGF is preferred

Critical Technical Skills & Knowledge:

• Good general knowledge of financial management practice and high ethical & financial standards for managing funds.
• Clear understanding of how inclusive finance and relevant business development services can contribute towards growth of the MSMEs sector, job creation, and improved livelihoods, wellbeing, resilience and empowerment of Tanzanian women and youth.
• Deep and extensive technical knowledge in relevant fields (MSME finance, digital economy for small businesses, value chain analysis, youth and women empowerment, facilitating entrepreneurship through BDS, access to credit for MSME, informality of MSME sector etc.).
• Knowledge of global regulation in MSMEs financial markets, specifically for facilitating the growth of MSMEs. Ability to understand the financial and business policy, laws, and regulations in Tanzania.
• Understanding of monitoring and results management concepts and processes; track record of using learning to drive innovation in programming.
• Very good written and spoken English and (ideally) Swahili.

Behavioural Competencies or Character:

• Has a strong sense of engagement that leads to self-starting, taking initiative and acting decisively.
• Generates value-adding innovation through continuous improvement, idea generation and creativity for youth and women programming.
• Thinks clearly and intentionally, analysing information objectively, understanding issues, solving problems, and forming expert opinion.
• Is strongly motivated to achieve goals and act with accountability to deliver quality results
• Initiates and maintains positive relationships with others; discerning and appreciating the values, concerns, or feelings of others.
• Deliberately adjusts behaviour in order to address the feelings, needs or concerns of others. communicates clearly, confidently, and appropriately to influence others.
• Possesses the personal resourcefulness to deal with difficult situations, adapt to change, and facilitate the Development of self and others.

Application Deadline: 17th February 2025

FSDT is an equal opportunity employer (EEO) committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We believe that diversity strengthens our organization and enhances innovation, creativity, and collaboration. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply and join us in building a respectful and inclusive work environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.