Strategic Transformation Adviser

Job Description

KEY INFORMATION

Job Title: Strategic
Transformation Adviser for a Financial Institution in Ethiopia

Sector: Economic Growth & Investment

Position Type (full/part time): Full Time

Duration/Level of Effort (long/short term): Long Term (Initial 12 Months Contract) with potential 12 months extension upon
satisfactory performance

Position Location (e.g. city, country, remote): Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (on site)

SUMMARY OF THE
PROJECT

Ethiopian Investment Advisory Facility – Phase 2 (EIAF2),
funded by FCDO, delivers high‑impact, flexible, and demand‑led technical
assistance to the Government of Ethiopia, with a particular focus on advancing
reforms across strategic State‑Owned Enterprises and public investment and
asset management. To support these reforms, EIAF2 intends to recruit and embed
a full‑time adviser (Adviser) who will work closely with the leadership team
and relevant oversight bodies of a financial institution (Financial
Institution).

SUMMARY OF THE POSITION

To support the Financial Institution’s transformation into
a financially sustainable, market-oriented organisation that effectively
contributes to Ethiopia’s national development goals.

The assignment will include, but will not be limited to the
following activities:

• Supporting
  the development of a diagnostic assessment of the Financial Institution’s
  current strategy, governance, risk systems, workflow processes, capital
  structure, and product portfolio.
• Supporting
  the mapping and identification of regional and global DFIs to identify
  best practices and identify performance and / or capability gaps.
• Facilitating
  consultations with
  relevant GoE institutions and regulators, the private sector and
  development partner.
• Co-developing
  a detailed Transformation Roadmap with clear milestones, KPIs, resource
  (financial and human) requirements and implementation responsibilities.
• Providing
  technical support and guidance in designing new financial products, risk
  frameworks, and governance protocols.
• Designing
  and supporting the delivery of targeted capacity-building programs for
  senior management and key staff members.
• Institutionalising training and
  knowledge transfer activities to build ownership by the Financial
  Institution and ensure reforms can be sustained beyond the Advisor’s
  technical support.
• Supporting
  the integration of ESG and climate-resilience criteria into the Financial
  Institution’s lending and investment policies.
• Assisting
  in preparation of documentation for potential capital-raising initiatives
  and partner engagement; and
• Delivering
  on other priority strategic initiatives assigned by the Financial
  Institution.

Deliverables

• Report
  outlining key deliverables and work plans across each quarter.
• Diagnostic
  assessment report with gap analysis, key findings and recommendations.
• Transformation
  roadmap (including strategic pillars, action plans, KPIs and resource
  implications) endorsed by the Financial Institution’s board of directors.
• Development
  of at least two new financial products for the Financial Institution. To
  include export-linked financial products and / or products to boost
  private sector investment into strategic sectors as outlined in Ethiopia’s
  Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda.
• Revised
  risk governance framework and implementation guidelines.
• High-level
  capital diversification strategy with assessments for selected
  instruments.
• Capacity
  development plan and training materials.
• Final
  consolidated report summarising all outputs, lessons learnt and
  recommendations for monitoring and evaluation.

Qualifications,Experience and Competencies

The Advisor must possess the following qualifications,
experience and competencies:

• A
  track record of delivering complex institutional reform programs with
  measurable impact in financial institutions.
• Expertise
  in development finance, capital markets, financial risk governance and
  export finance, including best practices associated therewith.
• A
  strong understanding of Ethiopia’s macroeconomic landscape, financial
  sector reforms, and state-owned enterprise governance.
• Experience working with senior
  leadership teams of organisations and their board of directors to support
  and spearhead transformational initiatives.
• Experience
  leading, coordinating and consolidating contributions from a team of
  professionals.
• Consulting
  experience in Africa or other emerging markets (an advantage).
• Excellent
  oral and written communication and presentational skills; and
• Ability
  to deliver high-quality work within set deadlines.

Duration and Place of Performance

The assignment is expected to be completed within 12 months
of the date of contract commencement. An extension of up to one additional year
may be considered, contingent upon the consultant’s satisfactory
performance.

The Adviser will provide the services in-country and be
based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Reporting, Oversight
and Performance Management

The
Adviser will report directly to the CEO of the Financial Institution. Progress
of deliverables will be reviewed quarterly. Approval of deliverables will inter
alia be based on the following key performance indicators:

• KPI
  1: Deliverable Completion – all tasks outlined in the “Deliverables”
  section are fully executed and submitted.
• KPI
  2: Quality of Output – all services and deliverables meet or exceed agreed
  quality standards; and
• KPI
  3: Timeliness – deliverables are submitted within mutually agreed
  deadlines.

Ethical and
Compliance Requirements

Full
compliance with data protection and confidentiality protocols is required.
Prior to commencing any work, the Consultant shall sign a formal Non‑Disclosure
Agreement (NDA) provided by the Financial Institution. The NDA shall govern the
Adviser’s obligations regarding confidentiality, permissible use of
information, restrictions on disclosure, and secure handling of sensitive data.

Commitment to gender equality,
environmental sustainability, and inclusive finance principles is required.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates are encouraged to apply before 24 February 2026.

For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as
followed: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity
employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to
professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not
discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion,
sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

We thank all applicants, however only that shortlisted will be
contacted.

ABOUT US

Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading
global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with
corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila,
Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully
delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95
countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities
implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional
strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for
all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better
tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led
to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best
Managed Companies since 2017.

We thank you for your interest in building a better
tomorrow. KEY
INFORMATION

Job Title: Strategic
Transformation Adviser for a Financial Institution in Ethiopia

Sector: Economic
Growth & Investment

Position Type (full/part
time): Full Time

Duration/Level
of Effort (long/short term): Long
Term (Initial 12 Months Contract) with potential 12 months extension upon
satisfactory performance

Position
Location (e.g. city, country, remote): Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (on site)

SUMMARY OF THE
PROJECT

Ethiopian Investment Advisory Facility – Phase 2 (EIAF2),
funded by FCDO, delivers high‑impact, flexible, and demand‑led technical
assistance to the Government of Ethiopia, with a particular focus on advancing
reforms across strategic State‑Owned Enterprises and public investment and
asset management. To support these reforms, EIAF2 intends to recruit and embed
a full‑time adviser (Adviser) who will work closely with the leadership team
and relevant oversight bodies of a financial institution (Financial
Institution).

SUMMARY OF THE
POSITION

To support the Financial Institution’s transformation into
a financially sustainable, market-oriented organisation that effectively
contributes to Ethiopia’s national development goals.

The assignment will include, but will not be limited to the
following activities:

• Supporting
  the development of a diagnostic assessment of the Financial Institution’s
  current strategy, governance, risk systems, workflow processes, capital
  structure, and product portfolio.
• Supporting
  the mapping and identification of regional and global DFIs to identify
  best practices and identify performance and / or capability gaps.
• Facilitating
  consultations with
  relevant GoE institutions and regulators, the private sector and
  development partner.
• Co-developing
  a detailed Transformation Roadmap with clear milestones, KPIs, resource
  (financial and human) requirements and implementation responsibilities.
• Providing
  technical support and guidance in designing new financial products, risk
  frameworks, and governance protocols.
• Designing
  and supporting the delivery of targeted capacity-building programs for
  senior management and key staff members.
• Institutionalising training and
  knowledge transfer activities to build ownership by the Financial
  Institution and ensure reforms can be sustained beyond the Advisor’s
  technical support.
• Supporting
  the integration of ESG and climate-resilience criteria into the Financial
  Institution’s lending and investment policies.
• Assisting
  in preparation of documentation for potential capital-raising initiatives
  and partner engagement; and
• Delivering
  on other priority strategic initiatives assigned by the Financial
  Institution.

Deliverables

• Report
  outlining key deliverables and work plans across each quarter.
• Diagnostic
  assessment report with gap analysis, key findings and recommendations.
• Transformation
  roadmap (including strategic pillars, action plans, KPIs and resource
  implications) endorsed by the Financial Institution’s board of directors.
• Development
  of at least two new financial products for the Financial Institution. To
  include export-linked financial products and / or products to boost
  private sector investment into strategic sectors as outlined in Ethiopia’s
  Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda.
• Revised
  risk governance framework and implementation guidelines.
• High-level
  capital diversification strategy with assessments for selected
  instruments.
• Capacity
  development plan and training materials.
• Final
  consolidated report summarising all outputs, lessons learnt and
  recommendations for monitoring and evaluation.

Qualifications,
Experience and Competencies

The Advisor must possess the following qualifications,
experience and competencies:

• A
  track record of delivering complex institutional reform programs with
  measurable impact in financial institutions.
• Expertise
  in development finance, capital markets, financial risk governance and
  export finance, including best practices associated therewith.
• A
  strong understanding of Ethiopia’s macroeconomic landscape, financial
  sector reforms, and state-owned enterprise governance.
• Experience working with senior
  leadership teams of organisations and their board of directors to support
  and spearhead transformational initiatives.
• Experience
  leading, coordinating and consolidating contributions from a team of
  professionals.
• Consulting
  experience in Africa or other emerging markets (an advantage).
• Excellent
  oral and written communication and presentational skills; and
• Ability
  to deliver high-quality work within set deadlines.

Duration and
Place of Performance

The assignment is expected to be completed within 12 months
of the date of contract commencement. An extension of up to one additional year
may be considered, contingent upon the consultant’s satisfactory
performance.

The Adviser will provide the services in-country and be
based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Reporting, Oversight
and Performance Management

The
Adviser will report directly to the CEO of the Financial Institution. Progress
of deliverables will be reviewed quarterly. Approval of deliverables will inter
alia be based on the following key performance indicators:

• KPI
  1: Deliverable Completion – all tasks outlined in the “Deliverables”
  section are fully executed and submitted.
• KPI
  2: Quality of Output – all services and deliverables meet or exceed agreed
  quality standards; and
• KPI
  3: Timeliness – deliverables are submitted within mutually agreed
  deadlines.

Ethical and
Compliance Requirements

Full
compliance with data protection and confidentiality protocols is required.
Prior to commencing any work, the Consultant shall sign a formal Non‑Disclosure
Agreement (NDA) provided by the Financial Institution. The NDA shall govern the
Adviser’s obligations regarding confidentiality, permissible use of
information, restrictions on disclosure, and secure handling of sensitive data.

Commitment to gender equality,
environmental sustainability, and inclusive finance principles is required.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Candidates are encouraged to apply before 24 February 2026.

For your application to be considered, please upload your documents as
followed: Candidate Last Name, First Name, date, Title of the Position.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity
employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to
professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not
discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion,
sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.

We thank all applicants, however only that shortlisted will be
contacted.

ABOUT US

Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading
global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with
corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila,
Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully
delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95
countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities
implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional
strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for
all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better
tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led
to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best
Managed Companies since 2017.

We thank you for your interest in building a better
tomorrow.

About the Organization

ABOUT US

Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading
global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with
corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila,
Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully
delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95
countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities
implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional
strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for
all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better
tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led
to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best
Managed Companies since 2017.

We thank you for your interest in building a better
tomorrow.