Feed the Future Nepal USAID Agricultural Transformation

Position Title: Senior Business and Market Systems Manager – Finance
Location: Kathmandu (Frequent Domestic Travel Required)
Unit: Agriculture, Resilience, And Water 
Reports To: Sr. Business and Market Systems Director  

Background:
The new five-year Feed the Future Nepal USAID Agricultural Transformation (“USAID Agricultural Transformation”) aims to catalyze the transformation of Nepal’s agricultural sector required for long-term inclusive economic growth. USAID Agricultural Transformation is implemented by Winrock International in collaboration with Center for Environmental and Agricultural Policy Research, Extension and Development (CEAPRED), Forum for Rural Welfare and Agricultural Reform for Development (FORWARD), CrossBoundary, Banyan Global, and the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS). USAID Agricultural Transformation’s working area will include 26 districts across six provinces, with the goal to reach more than 500,000 farming households.  

Building on successful Feed the Future (FTF) investments in Nepal, USAID Agricultural Transformation will apply a refined evidence-based market systems development approach that empowers Nepali private and public actors to identify, design, implement, and own solutions that address root causes of market inefficiencies across five target value chains (fine rice, industrial maize, high-value vegetables, lentils, and goat) through four interrelated objectives: 

Objective 1: Agricultural productivity, competitiveness, and diversification increased  
Objective 2: Enabling environment for private sector investment in agriculture and equitable access to market systems improved  
Objective 3: Climate and economic resilience of women, youth, and marginalized communities enhanced  
Objective 4: Capacity of national agricultural research institutions and extension systems strengthened.  

USAID Agricultural Transformation will place women, youth, and marginalized populations at the center of intervention design to strengthen their economic participation and address underlying constraints to accessing productive resources, markets, and information. Strategic facilitation pathways will catalyze new investment in inclusive business models, facilitate adoption of climate smart practices, technologies, and services tailored to the diverse needs of users, and strengthen the Government of Nepal (GON) at all three tiers. 

Position Description:
This position will lead activities related to integrating inclusive finance in USAID Agricultural Transformation’s design at private sector partner and farmer levels. As a key position in the Business and Market Systems team, the Senior Business and Market Systems Manager - Finance will coordinate closely with consortium partners to improve access to a variety of financial tools, products and services while ensuring the application of market system principles to project interventions. S/he will stay abreast of emerging trends in the finance sector (e.g., green finance taxonomy, domestic equity, development finance institution activity, digital finance intermediaries, etc.) and will lead outreach to banking and financial institutions to promote strategic partnerships including Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). This position will support development of an improved business development services (BDS) ecosystem that is responsive to the variable needs and sizes of diverse agri-firms. The Senior Business and Market Systems Manager- Finance will identify agri-businesses strategically placed to drive agricultural economic development (especially in the USAID Agricultural Transformation’s Economic Growth Centers) and support development of customized packages to strengthen the capacity of partners to ensure efficient supply chain functions across targeted value chains. S/he will play an important role in advising the component leads and senior management team on finance-related policy issues. 

Essential responsibilities:

• Support the Senior Business and Market Systems Director in:
  a. Identifying and analyzing different markets and trends across working area, particularly centered on the USAID Agricultural Transformation’s five Economic Growth Centers (Dhangadhi, Nepalgunj, Butwal, Bharatpur, Birgunj), and providing strategic input to determining targeted value chain and private sector partnership opportunities.
  b. Building strategic partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders (local, national and international).
  c. Identifying and addressing barriers to economic empowerment of women, youth and marginalized groups (WYM) by generating new opportunities to engage in profitable agribusinesses.
  d. Identifying and promoting enterprise opportunities to improve the resilience of rural households through diversification into off-farm agricultural enterprises.
  e. Collaborating closely with the policy team regarding private sector policy requirements in the agricultural sector (e.g., inclusive finance; mechanization; research and extension; climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technology promotion and climate change adaptation; warehousing standards and financing; crop insurance; contract adherence and timely payment to farmers etc.) to ensure integration of activities into overall project design. 
• Develop a network of lead/anchor firms and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and contribute to a strategic framework for engaging them with tailored support plans (inclusive of improved access to finance). 
• Lead outreach to banking and financial institutions, including digital service providers and intermediaries, to develop strategic linkages and incorporate suitable financial tools and products into USAID Agricultural Transformation design.
• Collaborate closely with the consortium finance partner to synchronize access to finance activities. 
• Coordinate closely with Business and Market Systems Team to support integration of cross-cutting themes and activities including finance, crop insurance, digital resources, climate resilience and risk-mitigation etc. 
• Coordinate closely with the Senior Business and Market Systems Manager (Organizational Strengthening) to support development of a robust BDS ecosystem with new modalities and domestic partnerships; and to link grantee firms and farmer group members with financial tools, products and resources.
• Coordinate closely with the Senior Business and Market Systems Manager - Resilience to advise on Business Literacy Program content and training delivery modality updates. In addition, provide technical support to development of crop insurance products. 
• Collaborate with major commodity associations such as the Seed Entrepreneurs’ Association of Nepal (SEAN), the Association of Nepalese Rice, Oil and Pulses Industries (ANROPI) and the Nepal Agri-machinery Entrepreneurs’ Association Nepal (NAMEA). 
• Collaborate with national and district level business and banking associations such as the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and the Nepal Bankers’ Association (NBA).
• Coordinate closely with other component leads to ensure integration of activities (including GESI considerations) into overall project design.  
• Participate in and contribute to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives. 
• Provide technical inputs on USAID Agricultural Transformation annual workplans (verbal and written) related to activity design, sequencing, outcomes, location, partner responsibility, as well as quarterly and annual reports.
• Undertake other related tasks assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements: 
Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required (preferably in agriculture or agri-business). Master’s degree in related field (Master’s in agri-business, agri-economics or business administration preferred).  

Required Experience & Skills: 

• At least 5-7 years of experience working in agriculture/agribusiness, with demonstrated experience integrating GESI considerations in implementation. 
• Proven experience in market systems development, private sector engagement and enhancing value chains.
• Experience in forming strategic partnerships with agri-firms of different sizes and supporting capacity strengthening initiatives for them.
• Ability to design and integrate financial inclusion interventions into broader capacity-building initiatives.
• Proven experience with partnership management tools including use of digital technologies and resources.
• Experience collaborating with financial institutions, commodity associations, business networks, and digital service providers.
• Proven experience working with BDS providers.
• Demonstrated experience linking agri-firms and/or producers with improved access to finance. 
• Experience with digital finance tools and providers. 
• Knowledge of green finance taxonomy, domestic equity actors and development finance institutions.
• Demonstrated experience in strengthening business and value chains (particularly for rice, maize, lentil, and other high-value commodities). 
• Experience facilitating public-private partnerships. 
• Demonstrated ability to work with government counterparts at different levels.
• Demonstrated cultural competence, organizational skills and experience working in diverse, multi-disciplinary teams and environments.
• Strong coordination and communication skills.

Language: Fluent Nepali is required. Fluent/advanced English is required, including excellent report writing and English communication skills, with the ability to deliver high-quality reports/technical documents.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA): 
Winrock International seeks to cultivate an environment where all candidates relish equal employment opportunities devoid of discrimination, misconduct, fraud, and abuse. Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) and Localization guides our practices not just in hiring, but also in staff retention, growth, and policy implementation. This commitment signifies that we value diversity in all its forms including age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, and cultural background. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, recognizing the rich tapestry of the communities in which we live and work. 

Disclaimer: Winrock does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (resume submission, interview, processing). Any canvassing during the application and recruitment process will result in disqualification.