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| Project Manager (Operations Officer) - 091894 |
Basics | Job #: | 091894 | | Title: | Project Manager (Operations Officer) | | Job Stream: | Technical Assistance & Advisory Services | | Location: | Dushanbe, Tajikistan | | Close Date: | 22-Nov-2009 |
| Background / General description: | | IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $15 billion in fiscal 2009, helping channel capital into developing countries during the financial crisis. For more information, please visit www.ifc.org
The Programme: IFC's Access to Finance program is aimed at improving the access to finance in the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The objectives of the program are to promote direct investment in the private sector, build local businesses and financial intermediaries, and help improve the business enabling environment. Individual projects will cover the products of agri-finance, SME-Banking and microfinance.
The goal of the Tajikistan Agribusiness Finance and Business Environment project is to address the two primary areas preventing the growth and development of the agricultural and agribusiness sectors, with the objective (i) to improve the business environment for agriculture and agribusiness entities through streamlining administrative barriers and requirements; and (ii) promote agri-finance through a focus on agri-leasing.
The first objective will yield an estimated $7 million in aggregate cost savings for Dekhan Farmers and Agribusiness entities resulting from the improved and eliminated procedures. This estimate is based on IFC methodology developed to capture the economic effect of passed legislation using estimates of cost and time reduction and the number of firms affected.
Work under the second objective should stimulate the growth of the agri-leasing market from zero in 2008 to at least $6M in new private sector agri-leases in 2012 (excluding the state leasing agency). This will be accomplished through advisory services to leasing companies and banks/microfinance institutions that provide leases to help expand or introduce agricultural financing programs, over time followed by IFC investments to those financial institutions. By focusing on agri-leasing, IFC expects that farmers will be able to access superior equipment and improve agricultural production, contributing to rural development and economic growth.
This project will be implemented as part of the European Union s Private Sector Development Programme, which also funds EBRD s Tajikistan Agricultural Finance Facility, and an advisory project focused on supporting financing of working capital of farms in Tajikistan. Close cooperation will be sought with this project.
This new project builds on the experience and success of IFC s current project South Tajikistan Cotton Lending Project, where a specific lending technology was pioneered for financing small cotton farmers within the specific context of Tajikistan. This technology is now being used at Tojiksodirotbank (TSB) and First MicroFinance Bank (FMFB), for financing cotton production at small and medium farms in southern Tajikistan. | Duties and Accountabilities: | | The Project Manager will oversee all aspects of project development and project implementation including compliance with all donor obligations and agreements as well as all IFC and World Bank Group policies.
In view of the complexity and scope of responsibility in this position the hiring department would like to encourage candidates with an international profile to apply.
The overall tasks of the Project Manager will be to oversee all aspects of further elaborating the design and implementation of the Tajikistan Agrifinance project, including assuring that all program work exemplifies internationally accepted best practice. This covers:
Manage and oversee the professional development of a team of local professionals including legal, financial consulting, and communications staff, as well as support staff;
Ensure development of proposals for regulatory reform, covering issues of taxation (VAT for leasing, taxation of farmers) and regulation;
Identify anticipated client needs and proactively design new leasing and equipment financing products, services and delivery methods to address these needs;
Represent IFC and the project at many important committees, including the Foreign Investor Council, EU PSD, and within the context of the reforms of the Government of Tajikistan, actively participate in the Working Group on Financing Mechanisms for the Agricultural Sector;
Systematically consolidate and analyze lessons learned from project implementation experience and share, along with subject matter knowledge, with team members and colleagues across the region and IFC;
Build a visible presence for the Project within the country and IFC in the region and manage a local public awareness campaign to support project activities;
Monitor potential local market receptivity to new IFC projects and/or services in the region and participate in the development of such projects;
Identify potential sources of additional project funds and funding for new projects in Tajikistan;
Control local expenditures against grants according to IFC and donor guidelines;
Report to and maintain an effective working relationship with the EU, and its local representatives;
Ensure clients and donors clearly understand IFC s strategy in the country and region and resolve conflicting stakeholder needs when necessary;
Manage relations with project partners and other international organizations working on corporate development issues in Tajikistan;
Represent IFC in-country as needed;
Other tasks as delegated by the Regional Business Line Leader.
The Project Manager shall rely on the support of minimum five staff, two for each component, and a project assistant. Staff on the leasing component shall primarily be recruited from the ongoing Cotton Lending project, staff for the BEE component need to be recruited. | Selection Criteria: | | At least 10 years of banking and/or microfinance and/or agri-finance experience.
Thorough understanding of the financial sector and knowledge of best practices. Leasing experience is preferred.
Experience in the design and delivery of technical assistance programs in developing economies.
Prior work experience in Central Asia preferred,
Masters or an equivalent advance degree in Finance and Banking or related areas.
Ability to lead a diverse, multi-country team and develop staff expertise
Self starter, and energetic person that can work effectively across different departments of the Corporation with the ability to coordinate multiple projects and client relationships simultaneously
Excellent writing, presentation, and communications skills
Fluency in English is mandatory, knowledge of the Russian language is desirable
Willingness to work ideally full-time in Tajikistan |
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