Albania: Expert for financial product design - Albania

Work Context

Cesvi works in Albania since 1997, when it has intervened in the central and southern areas of the Country. At the end of the ’90s together with the emergency sector interventions, Cesvi started carrying out development projects linked to the Health sector.
Since 2004, Cesvi works in the Southern regions of Albania (Regions of Argirocastro and Berat, Districts of Permet and Skrapar), focusing its action in tourism promotion and territorial marketing sectors (through the creation of labels for typical products) and in the set up of new job opportunities for the enhancement of rural population’s life quality.
In this context, Cesvi ensures specific trainings to the different categories of involved beneficiaries, providing them with technical assistance, small grants and loans at preferential conditions. Moreover, Cesvi collaborates and reinforces partnerships with local organization, in order to contribute to a sustainable growth model, able to take advantage to the opportunities linked to the area and to the local agriculture production.
The aim of the project is to develop an integrated system of tourist reception in the areas of Permet, Berat, Girocastro and Skrapar. The general objective is to contribute to good governance in natural and rural tourism services and to contribute to SMEs competitiveness increase in the sector of cultural and natural/rural tourism in Argirocastro and Berat regions.

Job Description

The collaboration will be split into two phases: the first one in the first year of the project implementation (24 days in September 2017), the second one in the third year of the project implementation (6 days in February 2019).
The expert will be responsible of designing ad-hoc financial products for micro business activities in the tourism sector in line with Cesvi and AICS procedures and rules and within the expected timing.
The expert will have to collaborate with Fondi Besa, a micro-finance institution working in Albania. The designed financial product should enable formal and informal SMEs working in the tourism sector to be funded, notably fostering youths and women coming rural areas, who previously attended training courses in business planning, proposals drafting and business management. The expert will also guarantee the enhancement of access credit conditions.

Main tasks and duties:

S/he will ensure the production and delivery of technical documents resulting from carried out meetings, outlining guidelines for the use and assignment of Besa funds: prevision of third parties and no mortgage guarantees acceptance, grace period;

S/he will ensure the application of the following credit conditions:

• Application of below-market interest rates (of about 20%, in order to cover provision costs), without distorting
• Arrangement of additional incentives per youths and women
• Prevision of repayment timing of 1-3 years and adequate grants concessions (2000-15000 EUR);

S/he will arrange monitoring tools for micro-credit activities;

S/he will provide updating and evaluation reports on the progress of the works;

S/he will arrange the necessary tools for the follow up of the service after the end of the project;

S/he will manage the activity, reaching the objectives within the expected timing, guaranteeing an efficient management of resources;

S/he will collaborate with Fondi Besa, Cesvi Senior Expert, project partners and local staff;

Required Competencies

• University or postgraduate degree in Finance/Business
• Demonstrated experience in the same position, preferably in the sector of tourism and developing countries
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in financial and administrative management with 2 years in developing countries
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with INGO and Donors
• Ability to prepare financial reports
• Good knowledge of main donors' administrative rules and procurement procedures, in particular: AICS.
• Communication skills with ability to work closely with CESVI local, expatriate staff and partners
• Ability to support national and expatriate staff
• Cross cultural awareness, sensitivity, and patience
• Very flexible and with a positive attitude
• Ability to work under pressure (respecting deadlines)
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Computer literacy, particularly in Microsoft Office Programmes such as Word and Excel as well as accounting packages & other database competencies
• Excellent knowledge of English - written and spoken.

Desirable Competencies

• Prior experience in developing country
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work cooperatively
• Effective team membership integration ability
• Highly flexibility
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
• Knowledge of Albanian

Unfortunately, due to the high number of applications we receive we are unable to provide feedback if unsuccessful at applicant stage. Only short-listed candidates will be updated on the status of their application.

TO APPLY: https://www.cesvi.org/jobs/expert-for-financial-product-design-albania/