Investment Officer - Microfinance - IFC

Job Description

IFC is looking for an investment officer to support its microfinance program in Africa, with an emphasis on East Africa. The person will be part of IFC’s microfinance team in the region, which currently consists of 8 staff (3 investment and 5 advisory), and will spend most of his/her time originating, appraising, structuring and supervising individual microfinance investments.

Duties and Accountabilities:

• The investment officer will primarily focus on East Africa but should be able and willing to work throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. As part of his/her responsibilities, the investment officer will:
• Identify, appraise, negotiate and structure microfinance investments that combine financial return and development impact.
• Review, analyze and monitor the financial and operating performance of microfinance clients; handle disbursements, shareholder decisions, waivers and other client interactions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with sponsors, clients, co-investors and multilateral partners involved in microfinance.
•  Ensure close integration with IFC’s microfinance advisory services in East Africa.
• Actively contribute to microfinance strategy formulation and pipeline planning in SSA.
• Actively support knowledge sharing and building of microfinance expertise in IFC.

Selection Criteria:

• 6+ years of relevant work experience that includes:
• Substantial experience in identifying, analyzing, negotiating, structuring and presenting investments, preferably both debt and equity.
• Substantial experience in analyzing and evaluating microfinance institutions that are built on microenterprise lending to individuals and/or groups.
• Solid understanding of the operational dimensions of microfinance institutions; good understanding of related topics a plus (for example mobile banking, regulatory frameworks, etc).
• Substantial knowledge of microfinance sectors in East African countries as well as global trends and developments.
• Substantial awareness of advisory interventions in financial/microfinance institutions.
• Excellent written and verbal English; proficiency in French a plus.
• A Masters degree in business administration, finance, economics or international affairs, with strong emphasis on finance related topics.
• Demonstrated motivatation to confront the opportunities and challenges of working in Sub Saharan Africa to achieve sustainable development.

The position is likely to require frequent travel across Sub-Saharan Africa. APPLY NOW