Vacancies at Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

AGRA is an alliance led by Africans with roots in farming communities across the continent. We understand that African farmers need uniquely African solutions designed to meet their specific environmental and agricultural needs so they can sustainably boost production and gain access to rapidly growing agriculture markets.

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• Contents
• Open Jobs
  1. Senior Specialist – Blended Finance
  2. Associate Program Officer – Post-Harvest Management and Delivery RE-GAIN
  3. Head – Inclusive Finance
• Method of Application

• Job TypeFull Time
• QualificationBA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
• Experience
• LocationNairobi
• Job FieldFinance / Accounting / Audit&nbsp

The Position

 Senior Specialist – Blended Finance Job Reference: SS/IMTF/04/2025

 Senior Specialist – Blended Finance supports governments and public institutions, including development banks, to play their role of leadership in creating an enabling environment that motivates potential funders (like DFIs/IFIs and financial services providers) to enter the food systems/agricultural sector, which is perceived as risky with low returns. This role influences governments and public institutions to make the agricultural finance sector more attractive for financial sector players through effective design and deployment of public sector instruments like input subsidy, guarantee schemes, and other de-risking tools and policies.

The ideal candidate will forge partnerships between Governments, public institutions, and financial sector players in the development, funding, and deployment of blended finance instruments that address the risks and gaps in financing the agricultural sector. S/He will support the development of models and instruments that enable the financial ecosystem to effectively fund the agricultural sector. The role holder will actively co-develop innovative risk mitigating instruments (including insurance) that unlock financing for Agribusinesses and farmers and promote, where necessary, the use of digital channels for financial services delivery to reduce risk and costs of financing the agricultural sector.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assess, analyze, and understand the Agricultural Finance situation in each of AGRA’s 15 focus countries in relation to the country plans, focus value chains, availability of youth-focused funding, and AGRA’s investment portfolio.
• Identify risks and market gaps in financing the input and output markets for the identified value chains in collaboration with the AGRA country staff.
• Identify relevant public sector partners (Ministries, Central bank, de-risking schemes, DFIs/IFIs, donors) that are instrumental in designing and deploying de-risking instruments and relevant policies and regulations that enhance financing of food systems with a focus on the agricultural sector.
• Support AGRA’s country teams to engage public sector actors and enhance their role in reducing the cost and risk of financing the agricultural sector by introducing innovations and best practices through consultancies, convenings, and catalytic
• Initiate dialogue with public sector partners on their role in financing the agricultural sector and the support that AGRA could bring to expand and improve financing of food systems. This could be through consultancies, grants, and convenings.
• Engage with public sector actors to support them in identifying opportunities and potential partners that improve access to financial services for food system actors.
• A trusted technical advisor to the Governments and, based on skills and evidence, advocates for the deployment of public funds to catalyze agricultural finance in the
• Build strong networks in agricultural finance and stay abreast of market developments to proactively disseminate knowledge and experience to AGRA’s partners, networks, and other stakeholders in Africa.
• Develop and optimize tailored solutions that grow the agricultural finance sector (using public and donor funding) as a project proposal or program, including facility structuring, negotiations, documentation, and delivery.
• Achieve Resource Mobilization for AGRA and the focus countries to expand the blended finance portfolio and profile of AGRA.
• Optimizes relevant data and information and analytics to support the Head – Inclusive Finance to drive effective negotiations with governments and donor agencies involved with dense, functional networks of blended finance partners throughout AGRA’s program
• Document and disseminate learnings derived from the blended finance

Key Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from a reputable academic institution in a relevant field, such as public finance, agricultural economics, or business economics
• A master’s degree in (agricultural) business, macroeconomics, or another relevant field is desired.
• Experience in financial development, preferably in a public (funded) institution or an agricultural finance program in Africa
• Good knowledge of the structure and functioning of public sector institutions that can reduce the cost and risk of agricultural finance.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing blended finance structures that mobilize private capital to support inclusive and sustainable agricultural development.
• Experience in the financial and agricultural sector and working with relevant public institutions that influence the functioning of the financial ecosystem.
• Ability to align blended finance mechanisms with development outcomes and climate resilience in the agriculture sector.
• Proficiency in structuring concessional finance instruments (e.g., guarantees, subordinated debt, technical assistance) tailored to agricultural value chains and rural development context.
• Ability to work effectively and build the knowledge base of both national and regional teams in the specialized field of blended finance for food systems.
• Knowledge of market systems development (MSD) approaches and their interaction with blended finance intervention.
• In-depth understanding of the financing needs and challenges across agricultural value chains, especially in smallholder-dominated markets.
• Knowledge of the public regulatory regimes operating at the national level to identify areas for improvement in the financial instruments and products available to the agricultural sector.
• Proven experience working with bilateral and multilateral donors, development finance institutions (DFIs), and philanthropic organizations to mobilize capital and align funding with agricultural development objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to build partnerships that enhance the scalability and sustainability of blended finance interventions in agriculture.
• Excellent writing skills (ToRs, grant proposals, and knowledge documents) and communication skills (conducting webinars, chairing meetings, panel and moderation roles).

• Job TypeFull Time
• QualificationBA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
• Experience
• LocationNairobi
• Job FieldAgriculture / Agro-Allied&nbsp , Project Management&nbsp

 The Position

 Associate Program Officer – Post-Harvest Management and Delivery RE-GAIN Job Reference: APO/PHM/KE/04/2025

 The Associate Program Officer – Postharvest Management and Delivery will guide the implementation of extension services interventions, training, and capacity building, and support farmers on the use of climate-resilient Food Loss – Reduction Solutions (FL-RS) interventions of the RE-GAIN program in Kenya. The Associate program officer will further ensure the coordination of multiple actors in the harvest and postharvest management phases of value chains.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for leading the implementation of postharvest management interventions under the RE-GAIN program in Kenya. The role will focus on creating demand for post-harvest solutions by smallholder farmers, creating local capacity for adoption and marketing of food loss reduction solutions that would enable reducing food losses, improving food quality, and enhancing climate resilience among smallholder farmers by promoting the adoption of Food Loss-Reduction Solutions (FL-RS). The Program Officer will work closely with in-country partners, farmer organizations, extension service providers, government agencies, and the private sector to ensure effective and sustainable implementation of postharvest technology.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Grant Management & Compliance

• Support the programmatic, financial, and administrative management of grant activities, ensuring compliance with AGRA, GCF, and government regulations.
• Work closely with the finance team to track expenditures, prepare budget forecasts, and ensure efficient use of program funds.

Program Implementation & Technical Support

• Work with implementing partners to support the rollout of FL-RS interventions, ensuring they are climate-smart, cost-effective, and scalable for smallholder farmers.
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to farmers, cooperatives, extension agents, and agribusinesses on best practices in postharvest management.
• Mobilize smallholder farmers and key market players, create demand among smallholder farmers and their local institutions.
• Coordinate with innovators such as research institutions and technology providers to facilitate access to innovative postharvest solutions that reduce food loss.
• Promote harvesting best practices, cleaning and sorting produce, drying technologies, storage solutions, packaging and transportation, processing and value addition, pest and disease management, and smart monitoring and digital solutions.

Capacity Building & Stakeholder Engagement

• Design and implement training programs for extension service providers and smallholder farmers to enhance their knowledge and skills in climate-resilient postharvest technologies and practices
• Work with government bodies, development partners, and the private sector to create an enabling environment for increased adoption of food loss reduction technologies.
• Foster partnerships with local and regional stakeholders to scale up postharvest management solutions across Kenya.

 Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL):

• Collaborate with the M&E team to track program performance, ensuring that interventions achieve their intended impact.
• Develop and maintain a knowledge management system that captures key learnings, success stories, and best practices for replication and scale-up.
• Contribute to the preparation of technical and financial reports, case studies, and impact assessments for internal and external stakeholders.

 Green Climate Fund (GCF) Considerations:

• Ensure compliance with GCF environmental and social safeguards, particularly around gender equity, smallholder inclusion, and climate adaptation metrics.
• Track and report on climate resilience indicators, ensuring that postharvest interventions align with GCF’s adaptation and mitigation priorities.
• Facilitate stakeholder coordination to meet GCF’s rigorous reporting and accountability frameworks.

 Key Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in agricultural extension and advisory services or a relevant field
• Experience in agricultural development projects in Kenya.
• Experience in grant management, financial reporting, and donor compliance, preferably with climate finance mechanisms like GCF.
• Strong ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector partners, and development organizations.
• Excellent skills in training, facilitation, and knowledge transfer to farmer organizations and extension providers.
• Experience in monitoring and evaluation, with the ability to track program impact and report on key indicators.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of how climate change impacts agricultural systems.
• Must be familiar with climate-smart practices that enhance Food Loss reduction solutions against climatic shocks.
• Demonstrate the ability to roll out capacity building and extension services at the community level and devise and implement effective strategies for packaging, promotion, and farmer outreach to ensure the dissemination of best practices
• Demonstrate the ability to develop/design and lead the implementation of capacity-building activities that integrate FL-RS sustainability principles into Kenya’s agricultural transformation, equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and skills necessary for the effective achievement of the program goals.

• Job TypeFull Time
• QualificationBA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
• Experience
• LocationNairobi
• Job FieldFinance / Accounting / Audit&nbsp

The Position

 Head – Inclusive Finance Job Reference: IF/IMTF/04/2025

 AGRA’s approach is to build an inclusive agricultural finance system based on partnerships and opportunities that will reduce the cost and risk of agricultural finance. The strategy focuses on three critical integrated components that can make the agricultural finance system work inclusively for food crops. These are: availability of concessional, blended capital, capable providers of financial services, and finance-able SMEs and farmers.

Head – Inclusive Finance will be responsible for designing and implementing a strategy to improve the availability of affordable financial services (credit, investment capital, savings, insurance, etc.) to the actors across the agricultural value chains, including smallholder farmers. The person should be committed to delivering, be agile and responsive to different stakeholders and opportunities. S/he should be entrepreneurial and open to innovative ideas and able to draw and build on consultative input from other AGRA stakeholders where needed.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage AGRA’s Inclusive Finance sub-unit in scaling AGRA’s transferable assets in inclusive finance through leveraging partners’ funds and making catalytic investments in new solutions that can reduce the cost and risk of agricultural finance.
• Lead the implementation and regular review and adjustment of AGRA’s Inclusive Finance Strategy, including the hypothesis, the theory of change, action, and the interventions.
• Lead our SME and BDS ecosystem development strategies within and across input and output markets, mechanization, gender and youth inclusion, as well as around policy and state capability.
• Drive AGRAs efforts in shaping the continental policy and regulatory agenda on agri-lending as a critical driver of agriculture transformation driven by small farmers and SMEs.
• Co-lead in the implementation of inclusive finance and insurance initiatives and programs at country and regional levels, such as MAJI, REGAIN, RK-FINFA, among others.
• Identify, build, and maintain strong relationships with other partners, working to improve access to finance for agriculture in Africa to understand the landscape of current efforts, refine AGRA’s role in ensuring appropriate access to financial services for food systems actors, and to improve collaboration in investments that further this work by sharing the lessons that inform future.
• Inspire high-level intellectual leadership to enable the team to develop innovative solutions that reduce the cost and risk of agricultural finance and catalyze private sector investment in food systems in Africa.
• Build and maintain a wide network of stakeholders and contributors to the inclusive finance Including networks such as SAFIN, AMEA, AFRACA, and others.
• Disseminate insights and results through written and verbal
• Inspire and grow teamwork, partnership, and collaboration among the center of expertise and country teams to raise the overall quality of deployment of financial resources in AGRA’s grant-making activities.
• Achieve talent development of existing staff, hiring new staff as necessary, and managing team dynamics of the team to ensure a high-performance team.
• Direct and provide coaching to relevant program and country staff and
• Oversee the current Inclusive Finance investments to ensure that they are being executed effectively and make any adjustments needed.
• In partnership with the Resource Mobilization team, contribute to fundraising of sufficient resources to AGRA’s operations, as well as investments directly into dedicated programs in the IMT&F business line.
• Represent AGRA on governing bodies of returnable grant investments (ABC fund, IAHCL, and ASIF) and report on those portfolios.
• In partnership with the monitoring and Evaluation team, set indicators of success and support the measurement plans for these indicators to be well-defined (SME performance, leverage) and effectively implemented for each investment

Key Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Master’s degree in finance, rural development, business, economics, or another relevant field.
• Bachelor’s degree from a reputable academic institution in a relevant field, such as agriculture, agricultural economics, rural development, business, or economics.
• Experience spanning operational, strategic managerial, and leadership in the financial services sector, preferably in Africa, specifically in the areas of rural and agriculture finance, advisory and analysis, knowledge development and dissemination, and partnership development.
• Proven writing and communication skills, including an ability to edit and/or produce final strategy documents and proposals for external review.
• Deep familiarity with the agricultural finance landscape in Africa, including its challenges and opportunities, and ability to develop creative and innovative solutions that improve access to financial services for Agri SMEs and farmers.
• Strong networks that can be leveraged to reduce cost and risk of Agri-financing in partnerships can reach the scale and depth necessary to achieve a sustainable food systems transformation.
• Familiar with key developments, research, and industry trends centered on innovative products for financial inclusion such as blended finance, long and short-term credits, savings, and insurance.
• Ability to engage in high-level policy dialogue with regulators, central banks, and financial service providers to promote enabling environments for inclusive finance.
• Strong skills in managing large-scale inclusive finance programs and donor-funded initiatives, ensuring alignment with KPIs, timelines, and impact targets.
• Ability to translate innovative concepts and models into investment opportunities for AGRA’s grant-making activities.
• Fluency in English required; ability to communicate in French is an added

Method of Application

If you believe you are the right candidate for this position, please submit your application, including a detailed CV (with your email and telephone contacts), to recruit@agra.org. Please quote the job reference number in the subject line of the application e-mail.

Applications must be received on or before 25th April 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.