Overview
The Access to Finance and Grants Specialist will design, roll-out, and oversee the management and implementation of the UCHI Commercialization Facility and lead the financial access and investment stream of work under the UCHI Strengthening Agricultural Commercialization Project.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee the roll out and implementation of the UCHI Commercialization Facility, including developing milestones for grantees and verification tools.
- Lead the review of disbursement requests against milestone achievements and monitor a portfolio of grants.
- Ensure payments are linked to milestones, track and verify expenditures, and maintain detailed financial records.
- Provide regular financial updates on grant disbursements, financial status, and compliance.
- Monitor the disbursement of funds to grantees and prepare detailed records of fund utilization.
- Participate in due diligence exercises and ensure grant selection processes integrate gender-responsive criteria.
- Develop milestone templates that incorporate gender KPIs.
- Work closely with the M&E Specialist to develop and implement an M&E system for grant progress.
- Monitor grantee progress, identify risks, and ensure corrective actions are taken.
- Prepare quarterly and annual progress reports on funded projects.
- Integrate grants data into the Project's overall performance tracking system.
- Monitor grantee performance and alert the Project Manager of any unsatisfactory performance.
- Ensure preparation of baseline and end-line impact reports for grantees.
- Contribute to presentations on progress during meetings with funding partners and stakeholders.
- Track and report sex-disaggregated data for all grantees.
- Conduct gender-sensitive risk assessments.
- Lead engagement with financial service providers to facilitate access to finance for beneficiaries.
- Design and implement financial solutions tailored to the needs of FOs and MSMEs.
- Build strategic partnerships with financial entities to enhance financing opportunities.
- Advocate for financial products that align with commercialization needs.
- Research and facilitate development of other relevant financial instruments.
- Advise and support the development of gender-sensitive financial literacy training programs.
- Integrate modules on women’s economic empowerment and financial negotiation skills.
- Support capacity-building initiatives to enhance financial planning and business sustainability.
- Provide ongoing technical expertise on innovative financing and financial management skills.
- Support the Business Development Specialist in offering business advisory services.
- Facilitate knowledge-sharing and learning among grantees.
- Strengthen financial management and record-keeping systems for grant recipients.
- Provide technical assistance to FOs and MSMEs on budgeting and financial sustainability.
Required Experience
- Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant work experience at the national or international level managing grant portfolio, grant schemes, and project management.
- Experience with enterprise and/or Innovation Challenge Fund management services for private and international organizations.
- Experience of management of grant portfolio, matching grant schemes, impact investing, blended finance mechanisms and/or venture capital vehicles.
- Proven experience working on financing for private sector-driven agriculture development working in Malawi or Africa context.
- Sector knowledge in agriculture and financial innovation including an up to date understanding of market access frontiers for FOs/SMEs and how they may be shifted through small scale agricultural commercialization.
- Demonstrated ability to conduct gender‑responsive financial assessments and design interventions that address barriers for women and marginalized groups.
- Experience with Malawi is an added advantage.
- Proven experience integrating gender equality in access-to-finance initiatives, grant management, or private‑sector development.
- Experience working with women-led MSMEs or agricultural FOs, preferably in rural contexts.
- Strong ability to assess business models, financial sustainability, and risk mitigation strategies.
- Experience in Program/Project management and good communication skills.
- Experience in working with a UN Organization would be an advantage.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Finance, Accounting, Banking, Agribusiness, or related field from a reputable university is required.
- OR; A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
