Position open until filled. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Female applicants encouraged to apply
Access to Finance Specialist

USAID/Haïti Programme d’Appui à la Rentabilisation de l’Elevage (PARE)Activity

Cap Haitien, Haiti


Activity Summary:

The USAID/ Haïti Programme d’Appui à la Rentabilisation de l’Elevage (PARE) is a five-year activity implemented by Land O’Lakes Venture37. The PARE activity aims to improve the resilience capacities to enable households and communities to withstand recurrent shocks and stresses, while helping them experience increased food security. The purpose of PARE is to increase the resilience of households and communities in the Northern and Southern Resilience Focus Zones through the improvement of the livestock market system. Its three main objectives are to:




1) Improve productivity of the livestock sector in the resilience focus zones;

2) Increase the accessibility of inputs and services in the livestock market system; and

3) Improve marketing and private sector engagement in the sector.



The activity aims to advance livestock production (cattle, poultry, goats, sheep, eggs, and dairy) market systems and to diversify incomes to increase the resilience of communities in two Resilience Focus Zones (RFZ) - one is located in the southern region (South Department) and the other in parts of the north (North, Northeast and Plateau Central Departments). The Activity will address key opportunities and constraints to increase livestock productivity, facilitate private sector engagement, and manage environmental and natural resource considerations. PARE will build upon lessons learned from past USAID and other donor funded activities and will coordinate closely with existing and planned USAID and other development partner programs and will align with the Government of Haiti’s priorities.



About the Organization:

Land O'Lakes Venture37 is a 501(c)(3) non-profit committed to helping communities around the world thrive through agriculture. Affiliated with Land O'Lakes, Inc., Venture37 has more than 40 years of experience implementing agricultural development projects in more than 80 countries around the world. Venture37 strengthens economies by improving local agriculture, helping agribusinesses create jobs and linking farmers to markets. It delivers integrated solutions that help build and improve food and agriculture systems through more competitive markets, more resilient systems, healthier and more nutrition-secure communities, and more inclusive societies.

Position Summary:

The Access to Finance Specialist will support the implementation of activities for Objectives 2 and 3 of the PARE Activity. This position will support the Marketing and Private Sector Partnerships Lead to foster and facilitate private sector partnerships that identify incentives and facilitate private sector investment and financial lending in the livestock market system. With the Marketing and Private Sector Partnerships Lead, the Access to Finance Specialist will identify a range of opportunities to engage with the private sector including intensifying production, strengthening existing private sector networks, fostering innovative input supply models, identifying last-mile input delivery solutions, and increase the volume of safe livestock commodities sold on both the informal and formal Haitian markets. The Access to Finance Specialist will report to the Marketing and Private Sector Partnerships Lead and will be based in Cap-Haitien with 30% travel to the Resilience Focus Zones.



Primary Responsibilities:

Develop pipeline of Haitian financial institutions and facilitate opportunities for participants’ and market actors to access finance through co-investment grant funding
Co-create proposals for co-investment grants to improve access to finance, spur private sector investment, incentivize the broad participation of livestock market systems actors, and facilitate entry of new actors and new investment into the livestock sector.
Support technical implementation of marketing and private sector engagement activities in close collaboration with the Chief of Party (COP), Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), and Objective Leads on the project.
Design technical assistance scopes of work for business development services (BDS) who will support enterprises under consideration for co-investment grant funding to become investor/credit ready
Collaborate with USAID and other donors supporting women/youth led rotating savings groups (MUSO) involved in livestock production to access formal financing
Assess balance sheet, profit & loss statements and credit/equity potential of pipeline companies during initial due diligence stage in collaboration with grants team
Prepare quarterly project reports and annual work plan sections related to access to finance;
Collaborate with the activity Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) staff to capture project data.

Required Skills and Qualifications:
An undergraduate degree in business, marketing, economics, finance, accounting, agribusiness, agricultural or rural development, international development, or another relevant field.
A minimum of 4 years of demonstrated experience working for or partnering with financial services providers (caisse populaire, microfinance or commercial bank) to increase access to credit and other financial services to smallholder producers and/or small and medium size enterprises in Haiti.
Proven technical capacity to build and facilitate high-level relationships.
Experience preparing or assessing company balance sheets/profit & loss statements.
Ability to communicate effectively, instilling trust and confidence.
Strong interpersonal, written and oral presentation skills.
Fluency or proficiency in oral and written French.
Oral and written fluency in Creole, as well as in depth knowledge of the local operating environment in Haiti.


Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

Experience and/or technical knowledge in designing and managing development projects and activities, particularly related to livestock and agricultural productivity.
Familiarity/direct experience managing digital financial services (DFS), agricultural input-based lending or third-party banking agent model
Familiarity/direct experience managing leasing (especially for agricultural/livestock equipment), warehouse receipts or equity financing
Experience completing due diligence of prospective companies for equity or debt investments in the agriculture or livestock sectors
Experience in fostering private sector engagement, co-creation and co-design of proposals (e.g., public private partnerships), particularly with local partners with a focus on economic growth and agricultural development.
Experience in facilitating new private investment and incentivizing market-based relationships between private businesses and smallholders that result in win-win partnerships between the private sector, emerging entrepreneurs, and smallholders.
Track record of writing proposals and reports
Functional oral and written English.

CV and Cover Letter

To apply, follow this link:
https://lol.avature.net/Careers/JobDetail/Cap-Haitien-Haiti-Access-to-Finance-Specialist-Haiti-PARE/1691

Email applications will NOT be accepted.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. No phone calls will be accepted.



Land O’Lakes Venture37 never requests money or payment from candidates for any position type. Please report any such requests to Land O’Lakes Venture37.



Land O’Lakes Venture37 is an equal opportunity employer and an organization striving to help global communities thrive through agriculture. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status, among other factors. Our culture values a diversity of voices. So, bring us your unique experiences, your workstyle, and your dreams — they’ll only make us stronger.

2023-08-11