JOB OPPORTUNITY

Senior Challenge Fund Associate

Location: Nepal
City: Janakpur
Contract Type: Staff
Grade: X7
Salary scale: Country Scale
Contract Duration: Until 31 December 2025
Deadline: 16/09/2024
Job Reference: STA2615

INTRODUCTION TO GGGI

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting strong, inclusive and sustainable economic growth in developing countries and emerging economies. To learn more please visit about GGGI web page.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Challenge Fund Associate (SCFA) will oversee the implementation of the TAECF S/he will be responsible for ensuring that grants are implemented in timely manner and the process adheres to TAECF guidelines. The Senior Associate will be in charge of designing and implementing a monitoring and evaluation system for grantees, ensuring that data is collected, tracked, and analyzed regularly per grant agreements. S/he will also oversee general execution, management, monitoring, and closeout of grants under the project.

The Senior Associate will work closely with GGGI under the leadership and guidance of the Country Representative, Senior Project Coordination Officer, and Program Management Officer to ensure that the outputs delivered are in line with the CSA project KPIs.

PURPOSE

Specific tasks for this assignment shall include the following:

Implement the TAECF – a) develop selection criteria for the accelerator and the champion program; b) select wining agribusinesses based on criteria through a competitive process; and c) disburse seed capital to wining agribusinesses
Review and support financial and technical reporting of grantees while building their financial management capacity.
Monitor and assess the implementation of all grantee projects, including services provided to smallholder farmers and the achievement of expected targets and objectives (outputs and impacts)
Provide tailored technical support and a platform for peer-peer learning and networking.
Oversee administrative and financial implementation and monitoring of grants, ensuring compliance with donor regulations
Lead mobilization of climate finance from bilateral or international climate funds to support scale-up and replication nationally – a) scope potential public and private sector investors to support scale up of program for Phase II; b) shortlist five priority investors; c) undertake required agricultural assessments and studies; d) prepare two proposals for scaling-up the program.
Other relative duties assigned by the Country Representative

ENGAGEMENT

Assist engagement with key government counterparts, private sector institutions, relevant academic institutions and non-governmental agencies to identify best-practices, lessons to be learned in development of and implementation of capacity-building related to production systems, and promotion of climate-resilient agri-businesses and associated government agencies.
Support coordination among GGGI/partner experts to mainstream social/gender inclusivity consideration across the project/country portfolio and ensuring that this is effectively reported upon.
Support organizing events and sessions between farmers, entrepreneurs and enabling institutions, and potential investors.

DELIVERY

Develop Operation Guidelines for the Accelerator and Championship programs of the TAECF
Develop selection criteria for the Accelerator and Championship program of the TAECF
Following a competitive process select winning agribusinesses based on developed eligibility criteria;
Disburse seed capital to winning agribusinesses based on evaluation and scores received
Build a peer-to-peer learning platform for grantees
Support in preparing and finalizing semi-annual financial and technical reports for grantees.
Identify and map potential public and private sector investors to shortlist five priority investors
Gather and submit information for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) purposes, and support technical reporting and administrative reporting needs.
Prepare monthly/quarterly progress report.

REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

University degree in business administration, development studies or related field.
At least 7 years of relevant experience in grant management, particularly in agriculture sector. Additional years of experience are considered advantageous.
Experience in agribusiness development and market and risk assessment is must.
Track record experience in project cycle management including grant management is desired.
Excellent fluency in English and Nepali, both written and verbal is required.
Experience in working with Government of Nepal, local governments, bilateral organizations and I/NGOs.
Experience in engaging with multiple stakeholders, including intergovernmental organizations, financial institutions, government institutions, NGOs, civil society, and others would be an advantage.
Work experience in Madhesh Province is preferred.

FUNCTIONAL

Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Nepali context as it relates to grant management and agribusiness development is desired.
Strong understanding of the needs and challenges of agribusinesses, smallholder farmers and other agribusiness value-chain actors in Nepal or similar contexts.

CORPORATE

Understand and actively support GGGI’s mission, vision, and values,
Promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect, and partnership,
Has strong client orientation,
Process and share information easily and is excellent at problem solving,
Manage emotions and stress positively, builds rapport and resolves conflict easily,
Demonstrate high level of integrity in handling privileged information and in stewardship of public resources, and
Value the importance of promoting environmental sustainability within the workplace and green growth within society as a whole.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The Senior Challenge Fund Associate is an X7, national grade level in GGGI’s salary scale. For X7 local grade, the base salary starts from USD 17,185. Determination of base salary is subject to candidate’s experience, academic background, and internal equity.
GGGI provides 15% of base salary towards retirement plan/long-term savings, 27 days of annual leave, and private health insurance that covers dental and vision.
GGGI is committed to providing a work environment that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate diverse life-cycle challenges and assist staff members to achieve a better balance between work and personal/family commitments, thus ensuring high performance, long-term productivity, and well-being of staff members.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Nepal’s Terai Flood Plain is hard hit by recurrent climate emergencies and a humanitarian crisis induced by returning economically displaced migrant workers. The KOICA-funded project, titled ‘Building Climate Resilience and Reintegrating Economically Displaced Workers through Climate Smart Agriculture in the Terai Flood Plain, Nepal (2022-2025)’ – hereafter KOICA CSA project – supports widespread adoption of climate smart agriculture to reduce vulnerability and improve food and job security, especially for women and returned migrant workers. It does this by a) improving emergency management in the agriculture sector to protect lives and livelihoods; b) strengthening resilient agriculture planning and implementation; and c) building and financing climate smart agriculture businesses for job creation and long-term resilient green growth.

KOICA CSA project’s output 2.2 aims to invest in climate-smart agriculture for job creation and competitiveness by establishing Terai Agribusiness and Enterprise Challenge Fund (TAECF), USD 1.56 million, to incubate selected climate smart agribusinesses in the region. This Challenge Fund will allow for CSA opportunities to be significantly scaled up across municipalities, generating a further estimated 530 jobs over the project life. The Challenge Fund will create employment and business opportunities in value chains which can benefit landless people as well. Seed capital can be spent to hire labour, acquire needed equipment, or to implement new crop, soil, or water resources management practices in line with CSA principles. In addition, the project aims to mobilize USD 20M in financing to support the scale up of such practices in other part of Nepal.