Programme Background

Malawi Value Chains (MVC), implemented by Adam Smith International (ASI), is one component of the Malawi Trade and Investment Programme (MTIP), a six-year FCDO-funded initiative which aims to break Malawi’s cycle of low growth through driving exports. The overall objective for MVC is to implement the value chain component of MTIP with the goal to increase the productivity, quality, production and export performance of the macadamia and mango value chains, as well as support increased mining investment and ultimately exports. Other complementary MTIP components are focused on cutting the time and costs of trade and logistics (implemented by TradeMark Africa (TMA).

MVC is recruiting an Agri-Finance Expert (AFE) to provide sustained technical support to the programme’s work with MSFs and other agricultural market actors. The role will strengthen the programme’s understanding of farm-level financial performance, improve the financial management capabilities of MSFs, assess and document sources of finance and facilitate connections with financial institutions, and help viable businesses identify and prepare for suitable sources of finance.

The Expert will work as a member of the Agricultural Competitiveness team over the next two years, combining technical analysis, tool development, stakeholder engagement, training and tailored advisory support. The assignment requires an individual who can engage with banking/finance service providers to train their staff and raise their interest in finance for macadamia and mango estates, commercial farmers and mid-sized farmers. There will be a limited amount of support to macadamia and mango entities that require help in preparing bankable business plans. The AFE will work closely with colleagues across the programme, including the agronomy team, and will be expected to adapt their outputs in response to feedback from the finance sector and emerging programme needs.

About you

You will possess:

15+ years professional experience in agricultural finance, commercial banking, investment, corporate finance, transaction advisory or a closely related field, including experience in a senior advisory or technical role.

Demonstrable understanding and wide knowledge of the commercial financing needs, operating models and constraints of agri-businesses, including farms, outgrower schemes, aggregators/farmer organisations, processors or other value-chain actors.

Practical knowledge of agri-finance products, credit appraisal processes, collateral and risk considerations, and the requirements of banks, development finance institutions, impact investors, grant funds and other providers of capital.

Experience designing and conducting structured trainings for a specific target audience

Demonstrable ability to translate technical financial concepts into accessible tools, guidance and training materials for the bankers/financiers to understand commercial farms/processors/aggregators and for non-finance specialists commercial farm owners.

High-level competency in teamwork and collaboration with programme teams, senior staff, external experts, businesses, financial institutions, government and development partners.

Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage several linked deliverables, meet agreed deadlines, maintain clear records and respond constructively to feedback from testing.

A high professional standard of spoken and written English. Knowledge of Malawi’s agricultural and financial sectors, and relevant local language capability, would be essential.

Scope of Work

Agricultural lending market assessment

Map and survey banks and financial institutions in Malawi that currently include agricultural/agri-business lending in their portfolios or have a credible intention to enter or expand such lending. Institutions with no current or planned interest in agricultural lending should not be prioritised.

Gather information on lending policies, eligibility criteria, appraisal and approval procedures, collateral requirements, pricing and tenor, the structure and experience of agri-finance teams, current portfolio composition and performance, plans for portfolio growth, and relevant donor- or project-supported agri-finance initiatives.

Conduct interviews in person wherever practical, document findings consistently, and prepare a summary report by mid-December. The report should compare institutions, identify realistic financing pathways for MSF/aggregators/processor financing and highlight material barriers or information gaps.

Concessional and international finance review

Review sources of concessional and international finance available to Malawi-based entities, including relevant grant and challenge funds, impact investment funds, climate finance facilities and development finance institutions.

The review should consider, where relevant, facilities offered by organisations such as FMO, MAIIC, Old Mutual and IFC, alongside other suitable providers identified through the assignment.

Prepare a summary report by the end of December setting out each facility’s purpose, target beneficiaries, typical financing instrument and size, key eligibility requirements, application route, timing and potential relevance to MSFs or other MVC-supported businesses.

Assess demand for formal finance (commercial and concessionary) among MVC’s mid-sized farmers, processors and aggregators

Assess MVC's current information/knowledge of MSF/aggregator/processor finance needs/experience.

Design, offer and deliver an awareness session for macadamia and mango MSFs, aggregators and processors on the opportunities for obtaining appropriate formal finance, including available concessionary finance. Document macadamia and mango MSF/aggregators/processors that are ready or potentially ready to access finance so as to determine potential pipeline for support in access to finance (January).

Summarise levels of interest and way forward by mid-December.

Design and deliver awareness raising of macadamia and mango value chain financing opportunities targeting financial sector teams