Description
IFC—a sister organization of the World Bank and member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2019, we invested more than $19 billion in private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit http://www.ifc.org.
Private sector financial development is essential to the promotion of successful and sustainable economies in low-and-middle income countries around the world. Sound and efficient financial markets can ensure that resources are allocated where they are most productive, assisting job creation and spurring economic growth. IFC’s goal is to prioritize investment in the financial sector because it promotes development in all other sectors.
IFC has embarked on an ambitious new Upstream strategy to stimulate more investment activity, especially in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict affected States (FCS). This new strategy aims at creating our own opportunities for private investments in markets by proactively working in these countries to create, deepen, and expand the markets themselves.
The Financial Institutions Group (FIG) is one of the major industry groups at IFC, responsible for managing roughly 40% of IFC’s overall business in terms of volume and capital at risk. FIG’s main objectives include: 1) financial inclusion 2) servicing the real economy and 3) mobilizing third-party resources. FIG engages in a wide range of sub-sectors including Microfinance, SME, Gender, Climate, Insurance, Capital Markets, Digital Financial Services, Housing, Distressed Assets, and other areas, with both investment and advisory services delivered to IFC’s clients through our global network.
FIG’s advisory services (AS) are closely coordinated with investment services (IS) and help financial institutions across the region to build or improve their operations and are provided across the following focus areas: Financial Inclusion, which includes Microfinance, Small and Medium Enterprise Finance, and Gender Finance; Risk Management; Digital Financial Services; and Climate Finance.
The External Term Consultant (ETC) will be part of the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) FIG AS team, with the primary role of developing and managing its growing advisory projects portfolio with financial institutions (FIs) in LAC, in coordination with the FIG IS team. S/he will be based in Sao Paulo, Brazil or Mexico City, Mexico
Duties and Accountabilities
The External Term Consultant will be responsible for the business development, design and implementation of client advisory projects aimed at the above product areas, including identifying Upstream and Covid -19 response opportunities. This will be done in coordination with the relevant FIG AS, IS, Upstream and regional teams to jointly identify FIG client opportunities and client engagement strategies. The design and implementation of advisory projects will be done as part of a team that includes the relevant Product Specialist(s), other FIG Operations Officers and the FIG AS Manager.
Responsibilities will include but are not be limited to:
- Actively participate in identifying FIG market opportunities to help formulate both investment and advisory strategies to pursue these opportunities (including Upstream and Covid-19 response), in coordination with the IS and country teams.
- Analyze client, sector, and market data to design potential solutions to create and unlock markets or improve sector and firm performance and develop pipeline of bankable projects.
- Actively participate in the scoping and client diagnostic engagements to identify client needs as a basis for FIG business development, and designing of FIG AS projects, leveraging IFC’s Regional and Global Technical Experts.
- Develop and contribute to top quality client appraisal reports, client project proposals, donor reports and internal project documentation such as Implementation Plans, Project Supervision and Completion Reports. Engage with peers, including industry, sector, product, as well as legal, Results Measurement, and finance staff, to integrate feedback on proposed projects to improve concept and project approvability.
- Negotiate project scope, targets, work plan details and Advisory Agreements with clients, and provide inputs to the investment negotiations with clients wherever needed.
- Actively participate in the implementation of FIG AS projects, taking on both project management as well as technical roles to provide the best possible high-quality service and value to IFC clients in an effective and timely manner.
- Identify appropriate consultants for advisory assignments, from drafting terms of reference to taking part in the evaluation and selection of proposals.
- Work closely with the Results Measurement team to develop indicators and tools that collect the necessary data for evaluating the impact of the projects, to ensure high quality Development Effective (DE) and AIMM ratings.
- Monitor the progress and impact of projects through regular reporting and evaluation of consultants and project performance.
- Ensure close and effective collaboration with FIG IS, AS Global Technical Teams, Regional and Country Managers, and other relevant IFC divisions.
- Ensure knowledge sharing; prepare presentations and communication materials to disseminate results and accomplishments. Represent IFC in selected regional conferences, workshops and training seminars.
- Manage relationships with stakeholders internally and externally as well as development partners to understand their interests and build support for client engagement work.
- Contribute to raising donor funds when needed.
Selection Criteria
- Master’s degree in business, finance, economics, or related fields.
- 8-12 years’ experience in banking and/or in management consulting to financial institutions in emerging markets.
- Strong project design, project management, sales and client relationship management skills, including the ability to develop and maintain mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships and ensure timely and appropriate follow-up.
- Experience in managing or advising on development finance issues such as SME Finance, Microfinance, Sustainable Energy and Climate Finance, Gender Finance, Digital Financial Services or Risk Management.
- Highly motivated, energetic, team player with excellent interpersonal skills and client service skills with the ability to multi-task, deal with conflicting priorities and deliver high quality work on schedule.
- Ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, and credibly represent IFC with clients and stakeholders, including at the senior executive level.
- Ability to build long-term engagement with clients and credibility by demonstrating knowledge of their business, sector, and culture, and maintain an ongoing dialogue on their business needs, operations, and strategies as well as opportunities for strategically aligned business deals.
- Sound business judgment and problem solving, negotiation and commercial skills.
- Ability to interact directly and independently with the management of potential clients and of financial and technical partners.
- Solid people management and organizational skills.
- Ability to respond to situations of high demand and pressure in a timely manner.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, Portuguese and Spanish languages.
- Experience living and working in a developing country.
- Willingness to travel as needed.
- Genuine commitment to sustainable development.
Note: The selected candidate will be offered a one-year appointment, renewable for an additional one year, at the discretion of the World Bank Group, and subject to a lifetime maximum ET Appointment of two years. If an ET appointment ends before a full year, it is considered as a full year toward the lifetime maximum. Former and current ET staff who have completed all or any portion of their second-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.
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