Ref.
2024/SLCSFS/11841
Job offer type
Field staff jobs
Type of contract
Fixed-term contract (CDD)
Deadline date
2024/10/04 23:59
Contract
Wage portage
Duration
12 months
Sri Lanka – CIRCULAR – Sustainable Finance Specialist (W/M)
Département Développement durable - DD > Développement Urbain et Economie circulaire
Published on : 2024/09/24
ASIE
SRI LANKA
Mission description
To support the implementation of the “CIRCULAR : Promoting a Circular Economy in the Food Sector” programme in Sri Lanka, funded by the European Union, Expertise France is setting up a Project Team based in Colombo.
The Sustainable Finance Specialist position will be part of the Colombo-based Implementation Team (the Project Team). He/she will formulate and implement all activities directly related to supporting Sri Lankan financial institutions in increasing the accessibility and availability of finance for MSMEs and large enterprises engaged in circular economy initiatives in the food sector and single-use plastics (SUP) reduction
Under the supervision of the Project Manager and the Deputy Project Manager – Technical, the Sustainable Finance (SF) Specialist will lead the delivery of the access to finance component via;
• Output 2.3: MSME, startups, social enterprises, cooperatives have increased access to finance and Business Development Services (BDS) related to sustainable and gender sensitive business models and practices
Indicative tasks to be carried out by the SF specialist would include:
1. Develop a technical intervention strategy to achieve the project’s objectives of output 2.3 of increasing access to finance for MSMEs and large enterprises in the circular economy, in consultation with key stakeholders and in close collaboration with the Project Team
2. Conduct a diagnostic of the circular economy financing ecosystem in Sri Lanka and develop the ‘access to finance’ approach of the project
3. Execute ‘Access to Finance for the Circular Economy’ interventions, including organizing, managing, and facilitating workshops and various events to drive engagement and support
4. Serve as the focal point on sustainable financing issues for CIRCULAR and for financial sector stakeholders and organise dialogue platforms with public and private stakeholders
5. Foster collaboration between businesses and financial sector actors (Banks, VC funds) to enhance sustainable financial services and support innovations in SUP reduction
6. Design and implement activities to raise awareness and build the capacity of financial institutions to invest in the circular economy (including CE practices, the Green Taxonomy, etc.)
7. Analyse risks and implement actions to mitigate and minimize them (especially the risks of expenditure ineligibility).
8. Manage, supervise and coordinate the work of related short-term experts and service providers
9. Collect and compile results, support monitoring and evaluation in close collaboration with the project's MEAL specialist of the project.
10. Compile relevant information and data to support the preparation of periodic progress and technical reports.
11. Closely collaborate and coordinate with GIZ to implement activities under this component.
12. Perform any other related duties as assigned to support the overall objectives of the team and organization
Project or context description
The EF project is part of a threefold umbrella “CIRCULAR” programme funded by the European Union (EUD-Sri Lanka), for 36 months (2024-2027). This umbrella programme is implemented by three Implementing Organisations (IOs): Expertise France (EF), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
CIRCULAR takes an integrated approach to “promote a circular economy in the food sector” in Sri Lanka, especially aiming at the reduction of food waste and loss, as well as the reduction of Single-Use-Plastic.
The Specific Objectives (outcome) of the Action are twofold:
• Specific Objective 1 (SO1): to increase recovery, processing and supply of edible and safe food surplus and/or waste for the benefit of vulnerable consumers and/or food producers.
• Specific Objective 2 (SO2): to enhance effectiveness of the sustainable production, distribution and consumption models related to food waste/loss and single-use plastic food packaging.
Only SO2 is tackled by EF, with a focus on Single-Use Plastic (SUP) reduction. SO1 will be tackled by FAO.
The Outputs necessary in order to achieve SO2 are:
• Output 2.1. Increased awareness (and behavioural changes) among the general public, economic operators, consumers and civil society about public incentives, sustainable products, solutions and services on the market
• Output 2.2. MSME, startups, social enterprises and cooperatives have increased access to sustainable and gender sensitive business models and practices that utilize new technologies and innovations
• Output 2.3. MSME, startups, social enterprises, cooperatives have increased access to finance and Business Development Services (BDS) related to sustainable and gender sensitive business models and practices
• Output 2.4. Enhanced technical capacity of workers and business staff related to sustainable and gender sensitive business models that integrate waste reduction
Expertise France (EF) will work on reducing SUP in the food sector by raising awareness of actors along the SUP supply chain via Output 2.1., and enabling access to finance for growth- and expansion-stage companies via Output 2.3.
Required profile
Education
- Advanced degree in Finance, Development Economics, Business Administration, Environment, or equivalent. Any other profile in line with the tasks to be performed can also be considered.
Professional experience
- At least 6 years of overall experience in the following fields: finance, banking, insurance and sustainable development
- Demonstrated experience in designing, formulating, and implementing sustainable finance interventions to enhance access to finance for MSMEs
- At least 2 years of proven experience engaging with the finance industry (Banks, VC funds) to facilitate investments or advocate for ESG/impact investments in MSMEs
- Experience working on green economy-related topics (sustainable energy, climate change, circular economy, environmental conservation etc.)
- Experience of working with a bilateral or multilateral institutional partner (in particular the EU) or a public institution would be an asset
Knowledge
- Circular Economy: Deep understanding of circular economy principles and practices
- Financial Ecosystem: Knowledge of financial ecosystems, including investment
mechanisms and financial products relevant to sustainable business
Qualification and skill
- Full professional proficiency in English is mandatory
- Full professional working proficiency in Sinhala and/or Tamil is considered an asset
- Professional working proficiency in French is an asset
- Strong analytical skills to assess financial offers, diagnose ecosystem needs, and identify gaps
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with stakeholders, presenting findings, and producing reports
- Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with capital providers and intermediaries
- Strong interpersonal skills to maintain effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
- Strong teamwork skills, initiative, organizational skills and autonomy
Additional information
Localisation: Expertise France’s offices at the centre of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Type of contract: Wage portage
Contract duration: 12 months (renewable)
Themes: Sustainable Development, Circular Economy
Work structure: Full time
Remuneration: based on profile
Estimated start date: 15/10/2024
Deadline to apply: 04 October 2024 at 11:59 pm (Paris time).
Expertise France reserves the right to choose a candidate before this date.
To apply, please send your resume (max. 4 pages) and cover letter (max. 2 pages) via the link below.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Deadline for application : 2024/10/04 23:59
Expertise France is the public agency for designing and implementing international technical cooperation projects. The agency operates around four key priorities :
- democratic, economic, and financial governance ;
- peace, stability, and security ;
- climate, agriculture, and sustainable development ;
- health and human development ;
In these areas, Expertise France conducts capacity-building initiatives and manages project implementation, leveraging technical expertise and acting as a project coordinator. This involves combining public sector expertise with private sector skills to drive impactful results.