Ref.
2026/SLBAIS/14996
Job offer type
Field staff jobs
Type of contract
CDDU
Activity sectors
Sustainable development
Deadline date
2026/04/10 19:00
Contract
Wage portage
Duration
16 months
Sri Lanka –CIRCULAR – Business and Investment Specialist (W/M)
Département Développement durable - DD > Développement Urbain et Economie circulaire
Published on : 2026/03/10
ASIE
SRI LANKA
COLOMBO
Mission description
To support the implementation of the Access to Finance component under the European Union funded project “Circular Economy in the Food Sector (CIRCULAR)” in Sri Lanka.
The Business and Investment 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 reduction.
Under the management of the Project Manager and the supervision of the Deputy Technical Manager and the Sustainable Finance Specialist, the Business and Investment Specialist will support 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 related to sustainable and gender sensitive business models and practices
Indicative tasks to be carried out by the Business and Investment specialist include:
1. Contribute to the implementation of the Access to Finance Strategy for Circular Economy investments in the food sector. This includes mentoring for businesses, technical trainings for financial institutions and stakeholder events with an emphasis on improving the bankability and investor readiness of circular economy food businesses.
2. Support the investment readiness of food sector businesses seeking finance for circular investments through targeted financial analysis and advisory support, in coordination with Circular Business Mentoring Experts and the Sustainable Finance Specialist.
3. Facilitate technical trainings on circular financing for banks, NBFIs and investors, ensuring follow-up and engagement with the financial institutions and the participants.
4. Assist in pipeline development and investor matchmaking activities, including the identification, preparation, and coordination of potential circular investment opportunities, locally and internationally.
5. Facilitate business matchmaking between entrepreneurs, technology providers, and financial institutions to support viable circular economy investments.
6. Contribute to the planning and coordination of project events and stakeholder engagement activities.
7. Support monitoring, reporting, and coordination tasks, including data collection, risk monitoring, and contributions to technical and progress reports.
8. Perform other related duties as required to support the objectives of the CIRCULAR programme.
CHECK THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR DETAILS
Project or context description
“Circular Economy in the Food Sector (CIRCULAR)” project, is a three-year initiative funded by the European Union and partly co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project is jointly implemented by Expertise France (EF), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
CIRCULAR takes an integrated approach to promoting a circular economy in Sri Lanka’s food sector, focusing in particular on reducing food loss and waste, as well as limiting the use of Single-Use Plastics (SUP). The overall objective of the project is to promote a Circular economy approach in the food sector, while increasing resilience to food crises and climate change.
The specific objectives (outcomes) of the project 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 (implemented by FAO).
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 (implemented by EF and GIZ).
Expertise France contributes under the following outputs:
· Output 2.1: Increased awareness (and behavioural change) among the general public, economic operators, consumers and civil society about public incentives, sustainable products, solutions and services on the market.
· Output 2.3: MSME, startups, social enterprises, cooperatives have increased access to finance and BDS related to sustainable and gender sensitive business models and practices.
Via output 2.3, EF will be taking a holistic approach to increasing access to finance for Circular Economy targeting growth and expansion firms requiring financing of $500,000 to $5 million and by working with Accounting firms, certification bodies, insurance companies, banks, NBFIs, DFIs and other key actors in improving the circular economy financing ecosystem.
CHECK THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR DETAILS
Required profile
Education
Advanced degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Sustainable development, Agriculture or equivalent. Any other profile in line with the tasks to be performed can also be considered.
Professional experience
ü At least 6 years of overall experience in the following fields: finance, banking, insurance and sustainable development
ü Demonstrated experience in designing, formulating, and implementing sustainable finance interventions to enhance access to finance for SMEs
ü At least 2 years of proven experience engaging with Financial Institutions (Banks, NBFIs, DFIs, Impact Investors) to facilitate investments or advocate for circular/sustainable investments in SMEs
ü Experience working on green economy related topics (climate resilient agriculture, sustainable energy, circular economy, biodiversity, etc.)
ü Experience of working with a bilateral or multilateral institutional partner (in particular the EU) or a public institution would be an asset
Knowledge
ü Investment ecosystem: Knowledge of investment readiness, mechanisms, financial products relevant for businesses to access funding
ü Circular economy: Deep understanding of circular economy principles and practices
Qualification and skill
ü Full professional proficiency in English is mandatory
ü Full professional working proficiency in Sinhala and/or Tamil is considered an asset
ü Strong analytical skills to assess financial performance and identify gaps
ü Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with stakeholders, presenting findings, and producing reports
ü Existing networks with stakeholders from the food sector and the financial sector
ü Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
Commitment to Sustainability
ü A genuine passion for addressing food waste and single-use plastic challenges in Sri Lanka
Additional information
Deadline to apply: 10 April 2026 at 19:00 (Paris time) / 22:30 (Colombo 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.
https://expertise-france.gestmax.fr/cv/upload/vacancy/14996
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Deadline for application : 2026/04/10 19:00
File(s) attached : 2026 03 10_Business and Investment Specialist_Job Description_FINAL.pdf
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.