AGRA\u00a0is an African-led institution that actively supports the drive towards inclusive agricultural transformation and sustainable food systems. We do this by empowering the continent\u2019s 33 million small-farming households to transform their agriculture from a struggle to survive to profitable businesses. The continent\u2019s farmers regularly face challenges, and we aspire to provide uniquely African solutions that respond to their agricultural and environmental challenges, leading to increased harvests for reduced hunger and more income.
\nWorking in alignment with the development priorities of our focus countries, we enable farmers to access improved and high-yielding seeds, gain knowledge on sustainable farming, and link to profitable markets.
\nIn our work, we aspire to build the alliances, partnerships, and networks required to drive an inclusive agricultural transformation. We work with our partners to create an equitable, youth-friendly environment that harnesses the youth dividend on the continent to drive growth and facilitate open employment opportunities for young women and men.
\nThe Program
\nThe RE-GAIN program \u2013 Scaling solutions for food loss in Africa, aims to address the impacts of climate change on harvest and post-harvest food losses in seven African countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. The program focuses on strengthening food security by supporting the innovative adaptation of the harvest and post-harvest value chain. It seeks to reduce food loss, improve food quality, enhance local capacity, and reduce climate risks through the wide-scale adoption of Food Loss-Reduction Solutions (FL-RS) among smallholder farmers. The program operates across three primary pathways: farmer-centric, supplier-centric, and institutional support.
\nAn important component in the market development for FL-RS is the provision of smart subsidies that benefit the smallholder farmers through access to more affordable products and services. AGRA will (partially) procure FL-RS for further distribution to smallholder farmers. To ensure impact delivery, the smart subsidies will only be released upon delivery of FL-RS to eligible farmers.
\nThe Position
\nAssociate Program Officer \u2013 Inclusive Finance and Business Development (BDS) RE-GAIN Job Reference: APO\/BDS\/ZA\/05\/2025
\nThe Associate Program Officer \u2013 Inclusive Finance and Business Development will focus on the implementation and stimulation of private sector investment and innovation by addressing systemic barriers to finance and business support services, with the goal of achieving commercial viability, sustainability, and impact at scale. The Associate Program Officer will work to strengthen the enabling environment for inclusive finance, foster commercially viable delivery channels for FL-RS, and facilitate sustainable partnerships that reduce market inefficiencies and promote long-term competitiveness across the value chain.
\nThe ideal candidate will work closely with Zambia\u2019s in-country and regional partners including financial institutions (microfinance institutions, Fintechs, cooperatives, private investors, banks, etc.), blended finance instruments (including guarantee and other funds), business development services providers, food system stakeholders (SMEs including farmers organizations, input suppliers, off-takers, processors, etc.), insurance service providers, regulators, and policymakers to ensure effective implementation, troubleshooting, and provision of overall technical guidance on The implementation of access to finance models for smallholder farmers and SMEs in Zambia and implementation of the business development component for improving the performance and bankability of MSMEs, youth groups and cooperatives involved in the distribution and provision of FL-RS to smallholder farmers.
\nKey Duties and Responsibilities:<\/p>\n
Champion, support and monitor the multi-partite contracts as proposed for model 1 and 2 that will enhance the accessibility and affordability of FL-RS for smallholder farmers.
\nEnsure that maximum leverage is obtained from the smart subsidies available under the RE-GAIN program (value for money).
\nImplement business development programs that adopt the best practices and contribute to improved competitiveness of market actors in FL-RS provision.
\nIdentify and assess available agricultural finance solutions and actors that enhance the financing of agricultural value chain actors with a special focus on MSMEs in postharvest management and delivery of FL-RS to smallholder farmers.
\nMonitor and analyze the cost-benefit of FL-RS adoption for farmers as well as FL-RS provision by MSMEs. This includes the documentation of the business case and bankability of threshing, drying and other services provision that reduce food losses.
\nTroubleshoot and scale innovative financial and non-financial solutions for (young and female) Agri SMEs and farmers (such as climate finance, leveraging technologies, regulatory\/policy framework changes, non-bank led finance, trade finance, supplier finance.
\nPromote and continuously link ecosystem players and solutions that enhance access to finance and non-financial services for postharvest management food system actors.
\nSupport the integration of the RE-GAIN partner\u2019s performance in the Agri SME performance monitoring systems.
\nSupport the development of a simple but robust Agri SME performance monitoring system in consultation with the M&E unit, business unit lead, and country staff.
\nAdapt, adopt, and scale RE-GAIN agricultural finance solutions and models at the country level and with relevant partners
\nDevelop knowledge-sharing products and events to position the RE-GAIN program and AGRA as an innovative practitioner in deploying blended finance instruments to grow the market for postharvest management
\nRepresent the RE-GAIN Program (and AGRA, where needed) in events, networks, and relevant fora.
\nFacilitate targeted business development services (BDS) and broker linkages between MSMEs, financial institutions, and market players to strengthen FL RS performance.
\nProvide oversight, technical support, and advice to implementing partners on issues related to the RE-GAIN program and any other related topics in financing and SME development in postharvest management.
\nDevelop relevant partnerships to connect RE-GAIN program beneficiaries, especially youth and young women, to financial and non-financial services providers.
\nEnsure that implementing partners and country staff collect the correct data on access to finance and business development services for AGRA\u2019s monitoring system and analytics.
\nContribute to periodic reports as required by RE-GAIN.
\nContribute to activity and budget planning for the RE-GAIN Program<\/p>\n
Key Qualifications and Experience Required:<\/p>\n
Advanced degree in Finance, Economics, Business, or a related Field.
\nProfessional experience in agricultural finance.
\nRelevant experience in the development and design of rural or agricultural finance solutions and programs, preferably in both the private and public sectors (financial services providers, development programs, public institutions, DFIs\/IFIs, digital finance, agricultural companies).
\nSolid experience in an advisory role, engagement of financial ecosystem stakeholders, and knowledge of product development.
\nExperience in conducting needs assessments, terms of reference development, procurement processes, and management of consultants and trainers in the agricultural finance sector.
\nPossess a solid network of relevant agricultural finance and Agri SME actors at the national level.
\nStrong negotiation skills and private-sector acumen.
\nGood understanding of food crop value chains, access to markets and trade for small-scale food crop producers and Agri SMEs, and youth engagement in the agricultural sector.
\nExcellent writing (ToRs, grant proposals, and knowledge documents) and communication (conducting webinars, chair meetings, panels, and moderation roles) skills.
\nDeep understanding of emergent opportunities in inclusive finance, agriculture finance, digital finance, and related ecosystem actors. Familiarity with existing industry challenges and constraints for accessing financial services, especially for youth and young women.
\nDemonstrates extensive experience working with partners to manage agricultural value chain development programs and design and implement capacity-building initiatives for SMEs and smallholder farmers in developing countries, particularly in Zambia.
\nExhibits sound knowledge of the financial sector in Zambia, including rural and green finance, and experience working with financial sector actors to develop and deliver innovative digital financial services tailored to the needs of SMEs and smallholder farmers.
\nDemonstrated knowledge of Environmental and Social Management systems and green finance concepts, with experience in incorporating sustainable practices and climate resilience into agricultural value chain interventions while assessing and mitigating associated risks.
\nDemonstrates extensive experience in designing and implementing innovative solutions for delivering Business Development Services (BDS), financial literacy programs, and financial services, with a strong emphasis on leveraging digital technologies to enhance access and effectiveness for underserved communities, including SMEs and smallholder farmers.
\nFluency in English is required.<\/p>\n
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