BACKGROUND:

Passing Gifts Private Limited (PGPL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Heifer International USA and it provides services in educating, consulting, training, advising, and providing professional and technical services to individuals, associations, and entities in India and abroad, particularly those who support or are working in the areas of social advancement and sustainable development. This position may also require service agreements, secondment agreements, between entities, etc.

PGPL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identify, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.

FUNCTION:

The Project Officer- Access to Finance will lead Passing Gifts PVT LTD project activities on connecting producer owned FPOs and self-help groups with financial institutions. S/he will lead the development and execution of the overall strategic vision, goal and objectives of the access to finance component. S/he will also work on the strategic relationship with Government and private sector supported finance schemes such as loans, entrepreneurs fund and other provision related promoting FPO business, farmers ‘enterprises.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES: (including approximate percentage effort) Enterprise Development (20%):

• Formulate the enterprise development strategy for signature programs, focusing on Access to Finance;
• Implement policies, procedures, systems, and tools for enterprise development in alignment with Passing Gifts PVT LTD’s Signature Program strategy;
• Facilitate enterprise development activities for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), self-help group (SHG) members, community agro-vet entrepreneurs (CAVEs), cooperatives, and value chain actors;
• Deliver capacity-building activities in the areas of agribusiness, value chain, and market development;
• Map the value chain actors, flow of information and products, infrastructure, and financial institutions to help strengthen the enterprises;
• Monitor, support, and backstop the various categories of enterprises for effective functioning;
• Prepare manuals, briefs, guidelines, technical papers, and information, education, and communication (IEC) materials related to Access to Finance (A2F) and enterprise development;
• Play an active role at the local/state level to build partnerships with the Government and private sectors for financial support for the groups and FPOs;
• Establish a lineup with leading banks for access to financial services;
• Strategically work on the mode of operation and mapping out different finance sectors related to our targets.

Marketing & Branding (20%):

• Implement policies, procedures, and systems for market development in alignment with Passing Gifts PVT LTD’s Signature Program strategy (including operational guidelines for collection center, transport vehicles, etc.);
• Share internal intelligence and knowledge on business development issues and trends within the livestock sector;
• Contribute to corporate and sector marketing plans, prepare donor strategies, and contribute to the branding of commodities among stakeholders;
• Connect cooperatives to the end market for the sale of products;
• Facilitate multi-stakeholder consultation meetings, workshops, and business-to-business meetings for better market linkages;
• Facilitate functional relationships with value chain and market actors to overcome bottlenecks in the market system.

Access to Finance (60%):

• Implement the access to finance strategy for the Signature Program;
• Explore, assess, and identify appropriate financing providers and opportunities and float those opportunities to potential clients (individual/cooperative/corporate MSMEs);
• Collaborate with the Government and BFIs to develop, improve, and scale up appropriate financial products and services for all types of MSMEs;
• Assist bank staff in identifying potential clients (MSMEs) among the target groups and build a pipeline of loan deals;
• Expand access to risk mitigation products, such as agriculture/livestock insurance;
• Identify financial gaps among value chain actors;
• Engage financial intermediaries such as banks and MFIs in allocating capital for Passing Gifts PVT LTD Programs;
• Facilitate the guarantees or underwriting of loans and debt/equity investment opportunities;
• Build a pipeline of potential impact venture opportunities;
• Facilitate the process of accessing potential impact investments;
• Support MSMEs, cooperatives, producers, and value chain actors to develop bankable business plans and connect with relevant financial and non-financial service providers;
• Facilitate the financial literacy and education of cooperatives and women and youth entrepreneurs;
• Work on the strategies linking Government, leading banks, and private sector collaboration for financial services.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, Enterprise Development or other related field and a minimum of Four (4) years of experience with an international organization in a similar context is required. Experience in working with FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations) and associated business is highly recommended;

• Technical experience with commercial sector, agribusiness development in a mix of economic growth/trade, value chain competitiveness, investment promotion, or agriculture development;
• Prior work experience in a USAID funded project;
• Clear understanding of the dairy and poultry value chains;
• Innovative, analytical, and solutions oriented;
• Knowledge of enterprise development and linkages to poverty alleviation;
• Strong interpersonal/people management skills and excellent oral and written communication skills a must;
• Excellent organizational and leadership skills;
• Proficient knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation tools, electronic mail (Microsoft Office preferred) and Internet.

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate challenging situations to achieve goals and deadlines;
• Demonstrate a high degree of honesty and integrity;
• Motivated to work responsibly with little supervision;
• Ability to meet and deal with others in a courteous and tactful manner;
• Ability to work with sensitive information and to always maintain confidentiality;
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule;
• Fluent in Hindi, English, and Local Language spoken as well as written;
• Have an interest in animals/agriculture community development;
• Willingness and ability to travel locally and internationally;
• Knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, PowerPoint, web designing, collaboration platform and tools, and electronic mail software (Microsoft preferred);
• Constant sitting, standing and walking, with occasional bending and lifting; may work at a computer for extended periods of time.