Sr Program Officer - Agricultural Finance Development Facility (AgriFin) Job Vacancy in Washington

Background /
General description

The importance of
agriculture and rural development to the World Bank’s agenda has been
reiterated in a variety of ways, including the key flagship report, the World
Development Report 2008. The Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD)
Department supports this agenda by promoting and shaping global approaches to
various critical issues and by leading innovation and product development .

The Department’s
work program is organized into four groups respectively with:

(a) rural policies,

(b) agricultural
technology,

(d) agriculture and
natural resources .

Increasing access
to financial services in rural areas is key focus area of the agricultural
and rural markets group. . Co-funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation, ARD has set up AgriFin, the Agriculture Finance Support Facility.
AgriFin supports the scaling-up of access to financial services, especially
lending for agriculture, in rural areas in developing countries, particularly
in Sub-Saharan Africa. AgriFin does this by co-financing business development
activities and by implementing a knowledge generation and learning program.
The business development activities are co-financed in financial institutions
in developing countries on the basis of project proposals approved by
AgriFin’s Steering Committee. The knowledge generation and learning program
aims to facilitate learning on agriculture finance among a broad set of
stakeholders, primarily senior management of financial institutions in
developing countries, senior government representatives, and, World Bank task
managers. AgriFin operates as part of the Agricultural Finance and Risk
Management (AFRM) unit, within ARD. AFRM is headed by a Team Leader and
day-to-day AgriFin activities are managed by a Program Coordinator. AgriFin
coordinates its work with the activities of ARD’s regional departments, as
well as with the Financial and Private Sector Department (FPD) and IFC.

Duties and
Accountabilities

The Senior Program
Officer will be primarily responsible for AgriFin’s technical assistance
activities with the objective of bringing global good practices to AgriFin
partners on an ongoing basis. He/She will also have the opportunity to
task-manage selected AgriFin projects.

As part of his/her
responsibilities, the Senior Program Officer will:

• Periodically
assess the technical assistance needs of AgriFin clients and associated
stakeholders.

• Periodically
assess the standard of technical assistance provided by AgriFin and
recommend/take appropriate actions to maintain quality.

• Proactively
identify project opportunities and work with potential partners to structure
and appraise projects (including production of Concept Notes and Grant
Proposals for approval by the AgriFin Steering Committee).

• Undertake
implementation support missions, participate in Project Advisory Committee
meetings and maintain collaborative relationships with partners.

• Review quarterly
and half-yearly Progress Reports received from AgriFin partners.

• Contribute to AgriFin’s knowledge management
activities.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree
in economics, business, finance, or international development.

• At least eight
years of professional experience in the financial sector; experience in
agricultural finance strongly preferred, especially in developing countries.

• Experience in design, management, and
supervision of advisory services

• Excellent writing
skills with ability to succinctly present complex technical issues in a
manner that is understood by AgriFin’s broad stakeholder base.

• Excellent
organizational skills, including team building, communication, multi-tasking,
and ability to work with a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team.

• Willingness to
travel extensively .

• Excellent written
and oral skills in English, knowledge of French an advantage.

The World Bank
Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality,
culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally
encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest
confidence.

Click Here to Apply

Closing
Date: Sunday, 15 January 2012