National Blended Finance Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country  level. 
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources. 
Specifically, FAO Country Offices: 
•     Support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate.
•     Assist in providing technical and delivering core services. 
•     Assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation. 
•     Assist in positioning FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation;
•     Support in ensuring risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

Background

Access to sufficient and appropriate finance for forest and landscape restoration remains a major constraint in Africa, particularly for smallholder forest and farm producers, forest and farm producer organizations (FFPOs), and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The finance that they can access, typically in the forms of small grants or loans from development agencies, NGOs, and microfinance institutions, is limited and insufficient. Finance is also challenging for SMEs (often off-takers of products coming from restored landscapes) that are too large to be served by microfinance institutions but too small to attract large funding and investments from banks (the “missing middle”).  
The Supporting AFR100 Programme – “Achieving AFR100 with Forest and Farm Producers” seeks to address this constraint by supporting African countries in implementing their AFR100 restoration commitments through direct financial and technical support to local communities, FFPOs and enterprises. A core pillar of the programme is to strengthen engagement with national financial institutions, facilitate blended finance approaches, and mobilize additional public and private investment to scale up locally driven forest and landscape restoration. 
The Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) is a partnership housed in the FAO and supported under an umbrella programme and a multi-donor Trust Fund, focusing on climate-resilient landscapes and improved livelihoods. 
Under the Supporting AFR100 Programme, FFF leads key activities focused on financial institution engagement, investment matchmaking, and the pilot of financing instruments.
To effectively deliver on these objectives, FAO requires specialized national-level blended finance expertise capable of engaging financial institutions, supporting blended finance design, contributing to investment matchmaking processes, and facilitating knowledge exchange at country level. 
This Call for Expressions of Interest is intended to establish a roster of qualified National Blended Finance Specialists who may be contracted on a short-term, demand-driven basis to support such activities under the Supporting AFR100 Programme or similar programs in Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Togo.

For Madagascar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Togo, the Call for Expressions of Interest is available in French.

Reporting Lines

The National Blended Finance Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the FAO Forestry Officer at NFO and the AFR100 Programme Manager Based in RAF.

Technical Focus

Support national-level engagement with financial institutions in the Supporting AFR100 programme countries, with the aim to improve the availability of and access to finance by smallholder forest and farm producers and small enterprises.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the FAO Forestry Officer at NFO and in collaboration with the AFR100 Programme Manager based at RAF, the National Blended Finance Specialist will: 
•     Support national engagement with financial institutions to advance blended finance solutions for forest and landscape restoration, with particular attention to smallholders, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, FFPOs and MSMEs.
•     Contribute to the organization and delivery of matchmaking events and meetings of the blended finance working group. In these meetings, the incumbent will
•     Provide technical assistance for the preparation of case studies, speaking notes, terms of references, Letters of Agreements, reports, and related analytical products in support of the forest finance work of the country office, related to the theme of local finance institutions.
•     Contribute to strengthening partnerships with financial institutions, financing vehicles and initiatives that are piloting blended finance solutions for restoration in Africa, with attention to smallholders/local communities/FFPOs/SMEs. 
o    Present the assessment of and analyses of relevant national financial institutions
o    Contribute on preparation of investment memos, concept notes and investment teasers
o    Engage with, motivate and prepare selected financing institutions for their active participation
o    Provide technical input, as relevant, to matchmaking events and blended finance working group meetings organized in other Supporting AFR100 programme countries, to promote cross-country learning and coherence.
•     Support in communication and knowledge exchange between national-level restoration finance initiatives FAO-supported international or regional blended finance working groups.
•     Support monitoring of the Supporting AFR100 Programme, specifically on the following indicators:
o    Amount of additional funding or investments mobilized for FLR, including grant and non-grant resources 
o    Tracks grants, loans, investments, matching funds, and in-kind contributions leveraged by enterprises or partners beyond project resources. Includes both realised and earmarked funds.
o    Number of Local Communities (including FFPOs) and MSMEs with improved access to incubation, acceleration and services
•     In addition, the National Blended Finance Specialist may:
o    Support FAO personnel to liaise with the financial institutions partnering with FAO (example: CRDB in the ongoing pilot called the “capitalization of financing instruments” in Tanzania);
o    Support the blended finance focal point in the day-to-day activities related to co-design of financial instrument; definition of eligibility criteria; disbursement of funds; tracking loan performance; monitoring; dissemination of lessons through various means.
o    Support the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned through appropriate knowledge and communication products

FAO Standards and guidelines:

•     Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes. 
•     All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including: 
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en    
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia    
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en   
FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en    
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm    
FAO Names of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en       
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff). 
•     Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

•     Advanced university degree in economics, finance, development finance, environmental economics, sustainable finance, business administration or a related field. 
•     At least 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience in green finance, development finance, rural or SME finance, value chain finance or investment facilitation, with demonstrated relevance forestry, agroforestry, women and youth-led enterprises.
•     Working knowledge of English
•     National of the country of assignment or a resident in the country of assignment with a valid working permit

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Professional Experience in Multiple Locations or Fields of Activity and within an International Organization. 
•     Extent and Relevance of Experience in Supporting Financial Institutions to Advance Blended Finance Solutions for Forest and Landscape Restoration Activities with Particular Attention to FFPOs and MSMEs
•     Demonstrated Ability to Analyse, Structure and adapt Blended Finance Interventions in line with the Operational realities of Local Financial Institutions and the Specific needs of Actors in the Forest Landscape Restoration (FFPO, MSMEs, Local Communities).
•     Ability to Provide Quality Technical Support to Produce Strategic and Analytical Deliverables, ensuring their Quality, Consistency and Relevance for Dialogue with Financial Institutions and National Partners (Guidance, Documents, Analytical Frameworks, Decision Support Tools)
•     Solid Experience in Developing and Consolidating Financial Partnerships including the Ability to Navigate between Different Types of Actors (Banks, Funds, Pilot Initiatives) and to Support Collaborative Processes Related to Experimentation of Innovative Financing Instruments.
•     Ability to Facilitate Technical Exchanges and Cross Learning Ensuring a Smooth Flow of Information and Good Practices Between National, Regional and International Initiatives on Restoration Financing.  

Selection Criteria

•     Demonstrated understanding of financial models and instruments, combined with experience working in development-oriented or blended finance contexts, including the use of grants, concessional loans, guarantees or technical assistance.
•     Proven experience engaging with financial institutions and financing vehicles that operate in emerging markets or development contexts (e.g. development banks, public financial institutions, impact investors, green funds, microfinance institutions).
•     Experience supporting or contributing to the preparation of investment-related documentation (e.g. concept notes, investment memos, pipeline assessments, teasers), particularly for projects with development, environmental or social objectives.
•     Experience in undertaking interviews/consultation with multiple stakeholders, and in field surveys.
•     Strong analytical synthesis and writing skills, with the ability to translate financial concepts into practical, context-appropriate recommendations.    
•     Strong interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity and focus on results.