Business (digital) Financial Technology Systems – analyst - Specialist (ADF)

Organizational Settings

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of the Kingdom of Eswatini, and a major source of employment for more than 70 percent of the population. Eswatini’s young population and agro-based economy place the development of the country’s agro-food systems at heart of any strategy aiming to deliver employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people in both rural and urban areas. However, the sector has been impacted by the incidence of weather-induced crop failures, pests and diseases and limited access by especially smallholder farmers to financing instruments and technology. Agricultural activity has been declining in Eswatini over the last two decades. The Comprehensive Agriculture Sector Policy’s (CASP) which overall aim is to promote sustainable agricultural development, economic growth, poverty alleviation, food security and sustainable natural resource management. Through FAO support, Eswatini has now begun a process of reviewing its Agricultural Investment plan (E-NAIP Process) as an initiative to support Government to achieve the goals of the CASP and its strategic plan. It is envisaged that the E-NAIP will feed from the Agrinvest process and its associated network of institutions aimed at achieving the vision for the agricultural and natural resources sector and food security in the country within the auspices of the New Partnership for Africa (NEPAD) Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

The AgrInvest Approach in Eswatini

AgrInvest initiative, which feeds into the new generation National Agricultural Investment Plan, can play a catalytic role in the development and successful implementation of important national, continental and global strategies. The overall objective of the AgrInvest initiative is to promote private investment in agro-food systems by promoting an environment favourable to these investments and by reducing the associated risks. This initiative also promotes the alignment of these private investments with sustainable development objectives, thus contributing to a sustainable economic, social and environmental impact, including the creation of large numbers of decent jobs for young people. The AGRIVEST initiative focuses on assisting the Government, the private sector (including SMEs, farmers, farmer organizations, and financial service providers), civil society organizations (CSOs), bilateral and multilateral development partners (including donors) by facilitating the creation of an enabling environment and appropriate business climate to attract and stimulate SDG-compliant investments in agricultural value chains. The AGRIVEST approach mainly facilitates i) improvement of enabling environment and ease of doing business in agriculture; ii) de-risking, risk sharing measures and blended financing tools for value chain players; iii) setting-up viable institutional arrangements and mechanisms to enable value chain players’ access to production and commercial infrastructure; and, iv) cooperation between Governments and sector industry associations to design and implement smallholder inclusive value chain sector development plans for each priority commodities. AGRINVEST also includes assisting Government to deploy enabling measures to roll-out smallholders’ aggregation (inclusive business models) and enable value chain players to achieve objectives such as: increased export, reduced import, improved trade balance, increased consumption per capita, … and overall food and nutrition security. Implementation of AGRIVEST results in development of concrete commodity sector/value chain specific development agreement proposals that have the buy in from Government and all value chain players. These concrete investment proposals can be can be financed through different modalities by Government, private sector value chain players, bilateral and multilateral funding partners. FAO is building an alliance of multilateral institutions including IFAD, World Bank, African Development Bank, etc. and bilateral institutions to support the AGRIVEST initiative

To date, 4 sector development plans for mango value chain, baby vegetables value chain, potato, onion and carrots value chain, and the papaya litchi and peaches value chain have been developed which outline concrete investment proposals can be can be financed through different modalities by Government, private sector value chain players, bilateral and multilateral funding partners. Through the Agrinvest process, a document which outlines the country’s Agricultural Development Fund (ADF), and its Regulation has been developed. This has been noted by Parliament and Cabinet, with overall green light to establish the EADF and its Secretariat. The country now intends to make the EADF Secretariat operational and begin to deliver its mandate according to the regulation.

Moreover, with the current situation regarding Climate Change effects and the COVID-19, it is expected that the projects will also contribute towards addressing the impacts of Climate Change and those of the COVID-19 pandemic in the relevant thematic areas.

The FAO country office intends to engage a Business (digital) Financial Technology Systems – analyst (ADF) Specialist to provide recommendations of the design of the EADF’s Secretariat’s digital and computerised financial technology management systems.

Reporting lines

The Business (digital) Financial Technology Systems – analyst (ADF) Specialist will perform this assignment under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative to Eswatini, and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative/Programmes, with technical support from the Agrofood Systems and Investment Policy Specialist.

The post is located in the FAO Eswatini, Mbabane office.

Technical Focus

The Eswatini FAO Country office intends to engage a Business (digital) Financial Technology Systems – analyst (ADF) Specialist to assist with these activities, namely:

1. Situational analysis, literature review, and consultative engagements instruments and interview reports
2. Draft design recommendations of the user friendly digital financial technology suitable for Eswatini’s ADF Secretariat
3. Presentation to FAO, Government of Eswatini and other Agricultural Sector Value Chain Players
4. Final validated design recommendations of the user friendly digital financial technology suitable for Eswatini’s ADF Secretariat

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Review national and international examples on the modus operandi of secretariats of agricultural development funds; bilateral and multilateral funding partners and /or other similar funds from a digital and computerised financial technology management system perspective
• Review global and African experience with respect to digital and computerised financial technology management system for similar funds and initiatives including the Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrower’s Programme (ABP) and the Bank of Uganda Agricultural Credit Facility (ACF) models
• Prepare a document elicits who are the users of the digital platform, what are their needs, and what are the requirements for the development of the digital platform, as well as how to measure the compliance of the developer with the requirements.
• Develop the ToRs for engaging a service provider (individual or company) to develop the platform. The ToRs must specify the process for the development of the digital platform, the players and their roles, the steps to monitor compliance with the elicited requirements… The digital platform must be user friendly, accessible to the users anywhere in the country, and linked to the ADF accounting system.
• The documents prepared by the consultant will be presented to relevant stakeholders including the MoA, MoF and FAO for validation

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in Business Systems Analytics, Computerised Financial Systems, or closely related fields.
• Ten (10) or more years of concrete experience in financial technology solutions in Eswatini, Southern African and Global context
• Experience and strong knowledge of national context with reference to food, agriculture sector, natural resources management, climate change and rural development
• Working knowledge of English.
• National of Eswatini or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in working with or the modus operandi of secretariats of agricultural development funds and /or other similar funds from a digital and computerised financial technology management system perspective
• experience in the Monitoring and Evaluation
• A proven understanding of NGOs, International Organizations, Donors and/or Agricultural Sector Value Chain Players / Agricultural Development Funds.
• is considered a strong asset
• Ability to work with staff/team under pressure.
• Ability to coordinate and work with partners;
• Ability to interpret and apply administrative and financial systems rules;
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment;
• Demonstrated use of initiative and ability to make appropriate linkages in work requirements and anticipate next steps;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping clients and colleagues informed

Selection criteria

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work.
• Extent and relevance of experience in Agriculture and project / programme administrative support.
• Experience in the field of project cycle management in Eswatini in particular.
• Experience working with government ministries and/or agricultural sector stakeholders’ issues.
• Capacity to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information and present ideas and recommendations in a clear and understandable manner.
• Ability to work independently, strong analytical skills and problem solving.
• Computer literacy with Word, PowerPoint and basic spreadsheets (Excel).
• Excellent communication (both written and oral) and presentation skills in English.