JOB- Senior Technical Advisor, International Finance Corporation, South Tajikistan

Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian Studies

JOB- Senior Technical Advisor, International Finance Corp., South Tajikistan

Posted by: Ekaterina Zakharenko <EZakharenko@ifc.org>

International Finance Corporation
World Bank Group

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, promotes private sector
investment in developing countries which will reduce poverty and
improve peoples lives. IFC executes a major donor-funded program of
private sector advisory work in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

IFC is running a Cotton Farm Lending Project in Tajikistan, in
partnership with CIDA. This is based on IFCs project in Northern
Tajikistan Farmers Ownership Model North, 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 (or TSB) and First MicroFinance Bank (FMFB), for
financing cotton production at smaller farms in southern Tajikistan.

The Project has transferred the core technology to TSB and FMFB by the
development of procedures manual, training of loan officers,
assistance in client analysis, setting up borrower supervision
procedures, assistance in the marketing of the final cotton product,
and review of lending conducted. Successful transfer of the technology
will be assisted by IFC through the transfer of staff from the project
in the North and continued networking with marketing services
previously established.

The goal is to enable cotton farms access finance on competitive
terms, and in this way improve their production, profitability, and
long term viability. The remaining project tenure is 12 months, from
July 1st, 2008 June 30th, 2009.

We seek applicants for the position of

Senior Technical Advisor
Cotton Farm Lending Project
South Tajikistan

The Senior Technical Advisor will be responsible for the
implementation and management of the Project. The position is
initially resident based in Dushanbe in Tajikistan, with the initial
level of effort expected at up to 120 days in the period 1 July-31
December 2008 under a short-term consultant contract, with the
possibility an extension for up to June 2009. A further extension of
the project of 6-12 months beyond June 2009 is currently being
assessed. The Senior Technical Advisor reports to the Senior
Operations Manager (Access to Finance) at IFC Belgrade.

Specifically, the Senior Technical Advisor is expected to:
* Manage the project to achieve project objectives to best fit with
local environment and address client needs;
* Prioritize tasks, set goals and develop project action plan
together with the Regional Team Leader with minimal support or
supervision from the Senior Operations Manager;
* Ensure quality and time delivery of the project work program;
* Identify project issues, opportunities and risks and consult with
management to address them;
* Develop and maintain effective relationships with colleagues,
donor, finance and market institutions, local authorities and other
key players;
* Provide support to/coordinate with other departments within IFC as
may be required from time to time;
* Share own and team experience across Access to Finance projects in IFC
* Provide regular reports on projects progress and a Completion
Report, due latest by 30th June 2009.

The Senior Technical Advisor shall rely on the support of a full-time
Regional Team Leader, capable of handling all operational activities
in the regions. His duties include:
* Advise the client in the lending process, ensuring proper lending
decisions are taken in accordance with developed lending technology,
and that loan officers and management understand the lending technology
* Supervise the lending activities of the team and the Partner banks
* Manage the budget and be accountable for all expenditure;
* Support in the implementation of a monitoring and evaluation system
* Ensure compliance with IFC and CIDA policies and procedures in the
conduct of the Project.
* Supervise the activities of the local specialists;
* Provide regular reports on projects progress to management, the
donor and others

Applicant Requirements

The Senior Technical Advisor will ideally have a background as an
international rural banker, ideally with experience in agriculture
(cotton farming), fulfilling the following criteria:
* A proven track record as an agro-banking expert in similar
projects, ideally in transition economies.
* Relevant university level degree (preferably economics, business,
finance, or agriculture)
* Good understanding of key agribusiness drivers;
* Project management experience - preferably in transition economies;
* Training/teaching skills, preferably in comparable banking conditions;
* Excellent communication skills in English (written and oral);
* Tajik or Russian language is desirable (but not prerequisite);
* Ability to live and work in remote and challenging conditions

Recruitment is open to all applicants. Canadian nationals are however
encouraged to apply.

IFC offers a stimulating work environment, and internationally
competitive conditions. For corporate information, please visit

www.ifc.org/eca. Send your resume and cover letter to Tadjikrecruit@ifc.org

Closing date for applications is 30 June 2008.

Ekaterina Zakharenko
HR Analyst
Central and Eastern Europe, IFC
36, Bld.1, Bolshaya Molchanovka Str.
Moscow 121069 Russia
Tel: +7 (495) 411 7555, ext.2005 Fax: +7 (495) 411-7565
Email: EZakharenko@ifc.org Web: www.ifc.org

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