Finance Specialist (Catalytic Finance) Homebased Retainer, Multiple positions

1. Summary of functions: 

The Catalytic Finance Specialist will: 

• Support the scoping of pipeline opportunities/targets (in particular enterprises in a first step) and partners for providing catalytic financing (see overview below) including gaps and needs for enhancement in SHF’s priority countries (with an initial focus on East Africa). 

• In collaboration with the technical team, support the identification and development of approaches for catalysing pipeline targets with identified partners.

• The specific geographic focus will be discussed and agreed at the beginning of the assignment. 

2. Core responsibilities:

The key deliverables will include the following (detailed work packages will be discussed and agreed with the technical team during onboarding):

• Work plan agreed with the hiring manager and technical team.

• Desk review of existing documentation, SHF work and intelligence in this area, including SHF’s MH Market Maturity Assessment Tool as a starting point for further analysis. 

• Scoping support for identifying pipeline opportunities/targets and partners for catalytic financing in the below areas (including potential new programmes) covering gaps, needs and scaling opportunities, as well as identifying barriers or limitations that prevent partners from engaging in MH markets:

  • Enterprises (private sector) active in the MH product supply chain (including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, e-commerce, etc.) - research and stakeholder interviews should cover (depending on data availability): enterprise development stage (investment readiness/bankability); geographic presence; strategy and business model; market and competition; financial KPIs; fundraising status and (blended) financing needs, etc. 

  • Incubation & acceleration programmes that support enterprises in the MH value chain.

  • Local financial institutions/intermediaries for on-lending programmes, with either an existing sector related programme or an interest in developing such programmes (to incentivise local currency financing (loans) for market-based MH solutions).

  • Blended impact investment funds (regional/global scope) in related sectors (including potential future funds/facilities) and relevant investors (including DFIs, impact investors etc.) more broadly to analyse investment criteria, priorities, challenges and opportunities. 

• Structuring and validation support building on the mapping described above by conducting comprehensive stakeholder engagement to inform suitable approaches, structures and instruments to catalyse market-based MH solutions and identify the most suitable partners to implement these.

• Support the preparation of an overview of in-country pipeline opportunities/targets, partners and most suitable contributions (TA and/or financing) in the form of a database (updated on a regular basis).

• Building on the insights from finance and investment stakeholders, support in informing an engagement strategy and develop content for Capital M to engage with these partners. 

• Where relevant, represent SHF at selected sector conferences/events to support the network expansion of potential pipeline targets and partners and coordinate with the wider SHF team for further opportunities besides supporting the SHF technical team on related workstreams as needed.