Access to Finance Manager, Laos Trade Integration and Competitiveness

Position description

ACDI/VOCA is seeking an Access to Finance Manager for an upcoming Trade Integration and Competitiveness Activity in Laos funded by USAID. The anticipated program will aim to diversify economic growth in Laos by stimulating trade and investment, strengthening private sector competitiveness, and facilitating regional integration.

The Access to Finance Manager will establish working relationships with finance institutions and assess their perceptions, limitations, and concerns regarding extending access to finance to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The program is anticipated to start in 2025 and this position will be based in Vientiane, Laos.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead implementation of MSME growth and financing strategies including commercial and innovative financing mechanisms;
• Support MSMEs to improve financial management capacity and adopt best practices;
• Promote awareness within financial institutions of alternative financing products to finance cash flow, receivables, letters of credit and other export products and investments;
• Link information on financing opportunities in support of MSMEs and participants to programs designed to facilitate access to finance for SMEs;
• Coordinate activities that provide training and direct technical assistance to MSMEs on the development of business plans, making credit applications, and keeping appropriate business records needed to support credit applications;
• Work with business associations and others to Identify obstacles to accessing finance that are encountered by various MSMEs working along the targeted value chains; (producers, processors, and buyers) and support business associations and others to articulate the issues clearing in appropriate meetings;
• Work with the MEL Specialist to identify feasible M&E indicators and target results that speak to finance accessed by participants via various mechanisms supported;
• Collaborate with the program team to identify activities related to improving access to finance and assist in developing Annual Work Plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Finance, Business Development, or relevant field is required; master’s degree is desired;
• Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in the promotion of access to finance for MSMEs or similar programming;
• Knowledge of and experience with USAID and/or other international donor programs’ rules and regulations;
• Experience supporting MSMEs in financial management and accessing finance;
• Proven ability to facilitate high-value partnerships with communities, private and public-sector stakeholders;
• Knowledge of the financial sector in Laos including financial institutions, beneficiaries, laws, and regulations;
• Experience working in Laos preferred;
• Fluency in English is required.

Application instructions

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