National/Regional Gender Consultant for the Consulting Services (Digital SME Finance, ESG, and Gender) for a selected microfinance institution in Malawi

Background:

 

The MicroLoan Foundation Malawi (MLF Malawi) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) are embarking on a project to improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers through greater agricultural productivity and more sustainable practices of natural resource use in Malawi.

The project will work towards developing and testing an ESG-compliant loan product.
A second phase of the project, subject of a subsequent tender, will then focus on launching the developed financial loan product coupled with a savings product.

 

Project Activities/Tasks:

  1. Development and integration of an ESG framework into MLF Malawi’s operating procedures including but not limited to staff and clients training, loan assessment procedures, and effective ESG compliance monitoring.
  2. Identification of three bankable ESG compliant investment opportunities and development of business models for the demand side.
  3. Based on business models identified, development of two categories (secured and unsecured) of individual loan products.
  4. Analysis and – if necessary – strategy for adaptation of internal processes and procedures to ensure product can be rolled-out successfully.
  5. Assessment of the risk and impact of including men in the lending portfolio – recommendations on gender strategy.
  6. Training of staff in one pilot branch on ESG compliant individual loan product.
  7. Testing of ESG compliant digital individual loan product with 50 MSMEs and smallholder farmers

 

Tasks of Expert 2:

  • Conduct assessment with clients and external and internal stakeholder of the impact, opportunities, and risks of including men in the portfolio. Conduct mainstreaming assessment of MLF Malawi’s operations.
  • Analyze market research results, existing product range and operations and present findings and recommendations to MLF Malawi senior management team, and draft gender strategy.
  • Contribute to reports and analysis.
Qualifications: 

 

  • Education/training: University qualification (min. Bachelors) in Gender studies or other relevant course of study.
  • Language: Strong business language skills in English, proficiency in Chichewa an advantage.
  • General professional experience: 10 years of experience of international development projects and research with a focus on gender.
  • Specific professional experience: 5 years of experience in financial inclusion sector.
  • Regional experience: 2 years of experience in southern African region.
  • Added Advantages: Leadership/management experience: 5 years of project management experience. Development Cooperation (DC) experience: 5 years of experience of DC projects. Other: evidence of 5 years of experience in (a) gender mainstreaming assessments of financial institution and (b) developing gender strategy and organizational capacity building. Evidence of 2 years of experience in in-field qualitative and quantitative research on social norms and women’s economic empowerment.

 

Start / Duration: 

From 15 September 2022 until 31 May 2023 (Period of assignment).

Please upload your latest CV here. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.