Devfinance: Job vacancy - MISFA SME Director

[Madhavan ADP]

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Scope of Work

MISFA SME Director

Microfinance Investment Support Facility for Afghanistan

 

Background: MISFA’s Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Wholesale Lending Department was created under the aegis of the USAID-funded ARIES project with capacity building assistance provided by ShoreBank International. It has been operating since late 2006, with combined partner disbursements of more than $23 million to over 700 SME clients nationwide.  This SME Department is dedicated to developing SME lending within local financial institutions, which in turn provide appropriate and needed financing to small businesses around Afghanistan.  Participants in this program have to date included banks and MFIs. Other types of financial institutions are envisioned for future participation.  MISFA’s SME Department was established with an initial fund of $15 Million. However this fund is expected to grow substantially as MISFA expands its SME program via new and diversified partnerships in response to strong market and donor demand to do so. The SME Department staff currently consists of four local Afghan professional positions, including an SME Manager and three Credit Specialists. 

 

Position Summary: The Senior SME Director, a MISFA Senior Management Team member, will supervise the strategic and operational aspects of the MISFA SME Department, including direct oversight, management and professional development of the MISFA SME Manager and local staff.  The SME Director is responsible for supervising the execution of existing MISFA SME credit and guarantee facilities, the programmatic development and due diligence activities for new financial institution partnerships, and technical assistance delivery to those partners. The SME Director will be responsible for strategic and business planning duties for the MISFA SME Department, including departmental budgeting, profitability analyses, outreach and financial projections.

 

Position Duties:

• Further develop and refine the MISFA SME Strategic and Business Plan (immediate duty).
• In cooperation with the MISFA Operations and Finance Directors, prepare and submit the request for “SME Window” funds under Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, including all necessary documentation such as environmental and social safeguards reporting frameworks. Supervise and provide strategic guidance on this initiative.
• Review MISFA SME Department funding sources, evaluate profitability of partnerships, evaluate new partner applications and determine appropriate funding levels.
• Provide strategic direction on technical assistance to partners, with the goal to expand their SME portfolios, improve program efficiencies and ensure staff development.
• Review all technical assistance work plans for MISFA partners. Ensure technical documents, training programs and outputs for partner institutions meet partner needs and are up to international best practice standards.
• Supervise overall SME portfolio monitoring and evaluation of MISFA partners.
• Formalize SME Department technical and financial assistance programs in-line with a “packaged approach” methodology for cost recovery and eventual MISFA profitability as an SME service provider within the SME finance market.
• Attend and actively participate in all MISFA credit and senior management committee meetings, including risk management and risk rating functions and analysis for SME related assets within the overall MISFA portfolio.
• Attend MISFA board and donor meetings, providing strategic and operational details on the SME Department and respond to board member and donor requests for information
• Carry out any representational activities for the MISFA SME department, including attendance at appropriate national and international conferences, workshops and trainings. Identify and support local SME department staff participation and leadership development through these opportunities as appropriate.
• Provide advanced financial and management training to the MISFA SME Manager and SME analysts. Training will focus on technical financial analysis, accounting and program management skills, with the goal to better serve MISFA and its partners.

 

Location of Assignment: Kabul, with potential travel to partner institutions in provincial areas. Visits are made pending security assessments and resource allocation. 

 

Working Environment: Conditions in Afghanistan are variable with extremes in temperature and living conditions.

 

Duration of Assignment: Annual, renewable contracts, at-will employment status.

 

Benefits: Expatriate benefits commensurate with location and duration of service.

 

Key qualifications:     

 

·         University degree, preferably in finance or business.  Masters degree preferred.

·         Minimum of 5 years working experience in banking, private business, financial management and/or international finance program development and management. SME lending & program development experience highly desirable.

·         Strong analytical skills, with proficiency in mathematics, economics and finance.

·         Strong proficiency with computer applications such as MS Word and Excel.

·         Fluent written and spoken English.  Preference for Dari and Pashto speakers.

·        Knowledge of Afghanistan business environment.

·        Strong interpersonal skills and team management and leadership qualities.

 

 

The application should consist of a one-page cover letter explaining your interest and suitability for the position, indicating earliest joining date if selected, and a detailed CV. Interested applicants should submit their applications by 30th of November 2009 to:

Human Resources Section, MISFA LTD.
Address: House No. 195, Ismat Muslim Street, Shahr-e-Nau, Kabul, Afghanistan

Email: jobs@...

Please indicate the position for which you are applying. Please note that applications received after the closing date as mentioned above, will not be given consideration. Only short-listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted.