- Access to Finance Officer
Company: Industry: Non-Profit and Social Services Job Location: Amman, Jordan Career Level: Intermediate (Experienced non manager) Date Posted: 02-12-2024 Ref. Number: 163592 Citizenships Jordan Residence Country Jordan Years of Experience 3 - 4
Access to Finance Officer
Job Description and Requirements About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is powered by the belief that a better world is possible. To do this, we know our teams do their best work when they are diverse and every team member feels that they belong. We welcome diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be stronger and have long term impact.
The Program / Department Summary
Mercy Corps has been operating in Jordan since 2003. In partnership with civil society organizations, the private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Jordan has reached more than 3.4 million Jordanians and displaced populations in the country. Working throughout Jordan, Mercy Corps is driven by the mission to contribute to the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Jordan which is inclusive of youth and women. We seek to build a future for Jordan in which all people feel secure, believe in the goodness of communities and institutions around them, and are on a sustainable path toward economic self-reliance. Our strategic directions focus on promoting strong communities and governance, peace and social cohesion and environmentally sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
The USAID Informal Livelihoods Advancement Activity (Iqlaa) is a five-year USAID-funded program that aims to support Jordan's Home-Based Businesses (HBBs) and Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) to grow, transform, and become resilient to future shocks. The Iqlaa approach will explore new ways of doing business and improving access to finance, markets, and services. The program focuses on four sectors: agriculture, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, and services, with special attention to technology development and implementation. Iqlaa infuses a gender, youth, and social inclusion lens throughout all its interventions.
Through research and adaptive, collaborative learning, Iqlaa will identify opportunities, incentives, and market constraints that facilitate or restrict formalization and growth. Based on the findings, Iqlaa will implement best practices in enterprise strengthening, inclusive job creation, and financial sector development within a market systems development (MSD) framework, leveraging innovative behavioral change methodologies to facilitate long-term, sustainable changes in the MSEs ecosystem in Jordan.
Implementing Organizations: Mercy Corps (Lead Implementer), Andersen for Legal and Tax Consultancy (Andersen), Dalberg Design (Dalberg), Expectation State, Middle East Investment Initiative (MEII), Migrate-Jordan (Migrate), Q-Perspective, and American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan (AmCham).
General Position Summary
The Access to Finance Officer will provide support to the Access to Finance Specialist and work closely with the Access to Finance Lead to assist in implementing the Access to Finance Component’s activities. The goal is to contribute to Iqlaa’s objectives under Result 3 (R3: Increased access to appropriate financial services and products for MSEs) and related Sub-Results (3.1: Strengthened MSEs financial skills and 3.2: Increased capacity of financial service providers to better serve MSEs).
Essential Responsibilities
Program Implementation
● With guidance provided by the Specialist and Lead, coordinate with consortium partners (Expectation State and Middle East Investment Initiative) and market actors involved in access to finance, focusing on areas such as MSE lending, microfinancing, loan guarantees, digital financing, mobile wallets, and financial literacy.
● Collaborate with the Access to Finance Specialist and Lead to help plan and execute activities, ensuring they align with timelines, targets, and budgetary constraints.
● Aid in establishing partnerships with local financial service providers, assisting in the creation of support packages that enable providers to improve products and services for MSEs.
● Help manage sub-grants in line with USAID and Mercy Corps standards, including:
- Drafting scopes of work, assisting with sub-grant agreements, and monitoring the fulfillment of milestones.
- Supporting sub-grantee payments to ensure timely and compliant fund disbursement.
Program Quality and Report Writing
● Contribute to drafting high-quality progress reports for donors and internal leadership, including weekly, quarterly, annual updates, as well as Annual Work Plan (AWP).
● Work seamlessly with other components and teams including the research, Outreach, Performance, Quality and Learning (PQL), Market System Development (MSD) Communications, and GYSI teams to maximize synergies within Iqlaa components for optimized results and targets.
● Support the monitoring and evaluation of component activities in collaboration with the PQL team and consortium partners.
● Gender, Youth, Social Inclusion (GYSI): Work closely with the Inclusion Lead to ensure that all implemented activities are compliant with inclusion standards ensuring the component is sensitive and responsive to different opportunities and barriers faced by women and youth, as well as to fulfill GYSI-related targets,
● Ensure adherence to Mercy Corps PM@MC minimum standards within the component, including Community Accountability Reporting Mechanism (CARM).
● Support the Specialist with the development of communication materials (including presentations, success stories, etc.).
● Model and uphold safeguarding policies and practices in all interactions.
Financial and Compliance Management
● Assist in preparing budget inputs for interventions and activities, including Terms of References (TORs) and grants.
● Support the evaluation process as delegated by senior leadership by drafting required scopes and procurement/solicitation documents to align with the work plan.
● Ensure strict adherence to USAID and Mercy Corps regulations, maintaining full compliance throughout all processes and activities.
Safeguarding Responsibilities
● Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work
● Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
● Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options
Supervisory Responsibility: None
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Access to Finance Lead
Works Directly With: DCOP/Programs, DCOP/Operations & Finance, Access to Finance team members, Iqlaa technical teams, PQL and Communication teams, Partnership Manager, and other relevant support teams.
Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills
● Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business administration, international development, or a related field.
● Minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience in the field of financial services, MSE financing, or development programs with a focus on access to finance.
● High level of accuracy in tracking sub-grant progress, ensuring milestones are met and properly documented.
● Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adjust to changi
