Country Partnerships Manager – USAID Transforming Financial Markets for Agricultural SMEs in Africa

Job Description

Country Partnerships Manager - USAID Transforming Financial Markets for Ag SMEs in Africa

About Palladium:

Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact – the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people’s lives.

This Proposal Opportunity:

Palladium is seeking a Country Partnerships Manager for an anticipated USAID-funded program across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia which is anticipated to begin in 2025. The USAID Transforming Financial Markets for Agriculture SMEs is likely to be a 5-year program focused on mobilizing private capital for agricultural small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) strengthen agriculture value chains. The activity will leverage results-based tools used in USAID’s finance and investment mechanisms – supporting a range of agricultural firms to expand investments and operations via a blended finance approach.

Duration: 5 years (anticipated start in 2025)
Location: Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, or Zambia

Primary Role and Responsibilities:

• Lead Transforming Financial Markets for Agriculture SMEs’ in-country activities under the direction of the COP and DCOP.
  
• Develop a country-level partnership strategy to maximize both private capital mobilization and development impact of
• Transforming Financial Markets for Agriculture SMEs’ activities and oversee implementation of it.
  
• Lead annual work planning at the country level, ensuring that learnings from prior years are integrated to adapt the approach as needed.
  
• Maintain networks of financial institution (bank and non-bank) partners and oversee implementation of Transforming
• Financial Markets for Agriculture SMEs activities with partner financial institutions.
  
• Facilitate and coordinate technical design of innovative grant, partnership and subcontracting approaches in conjunction with the Innovative Grants Specialist.
  
• Ensure design of grants and partnerships are aligned with the project’s technical strategy and results-based methodology and in compliance with USAID rules and regulations.
  
• Lead negotiations of, in collaboration with Palladium HQ, grant terms and agreements, with potential grantees.
  
• Oversee the administration, compliance, and implementation of contracts and subawards, and ensure compliance with USAID contract and grant regulations including procurement regulations.
  
• Facilitate and manage grants and subcontracts close out and final reporting.
  
• Other tasks as deemed necessary.
  

Essential Criteria:

• Proven track record mobilizing agricultural finance and/or SME finance in country and/or similar markets.
  
• Experience with results-based financing and/or pay-for-results methodologies.
  
• Extensive networks in the financial sector, including bank and non-bank financial institutions, and agricultural sector.
  
• Demonstrated experience mobilizing financing for underserved segments, including, but not limited to, women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
  
• Demonstrated experience coordinating and collaborating with various stakeholders and grant awardees
  
• Experience in managing innovative sub-awards, performance-based sub-awards, or other mechanisms aligning performance incentives with an activity’s strategic objectives
  
• Knowledge of USAID rules and regulations around grants and subcontracts.
  
• Prior experience in a management role on a USAID funded program highly desired
  
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance or a related field in international business management or economics.
  
• Advanced knowledge of computers and MS Excel
  
• Written and oral proficiency in English required
  
• Local candidates are preferred

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status.

Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss.

Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.

About the Organization

Palladium develops and delivers solutions that create positive impact for communities, businesses, societies and economies. We transform lives and create enduring value by working with governments, corporations and non-profit organisations.


Palladium is built on the idea that progress will be supported by four key pillars: • International Development • Strategy Execution Consulting • Impact Investment • Training and Events We create positive impact through more than 100 current projects with more than 2000 employees operating in over 90 countries.