The project aims to provide sustainable access to financial services for already operating but also start-up SMEs in Iraq for an improved job creation with focus on youth and women. This will take place through credit guarantees offered to commercial banks which lend to SMEs. Capacity building within project national partners including ICBG and participating financial institutions is a first step followed by funds injection in ICBG. The overall objective is to contribute to Iraq’s private sector development through enhancing the productivity of SMEs and hence their job creation potential.
The proposed Project structure combines three components, which are considered necessary for a significant contribution to the financial inclusion of SMEs in Iraq:
SME window established by selected private PFIs through their own capital funds for SMEs
an effective credit guarantee scheme: which is critical to overcome the obstacles that SMEs face in securing acceptable collaterals.
Technical assistance to capacitate the Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs), Iraqi Company for Banking Guarantees (ICBG), as well as the SMEs.
The Technical Officer will report to the Chief Technical Advisor and will work under the overall supervision of the ILO Country Coordinator in Iraq. The incumbent will receive technical guidance from the Regional Enterprise Specialist in the Decent Work Team in Beirut, as well as Social Finance and SMEs units of the HQ Enterprise Department. The incumbent will work closely with PROSPECTS team in Iraq. Duties:
Contribute to the effective implementation of the project components related to access to finance for SMEs, Credit guarantees and entrepreneurship promotion through timely provision of inputs and outputs, and undertaking field missions to plan, control, and monitor project activities, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and administrative and financial procedures.
Provide technical support and advice to national implementing partners, project partners, consultants on the implementation of the access to finance for SMEs and entrepreneurship components.
In collaboration with national project partners, and in coordination with the technical officer for guarantees, develop a detailed action plan for the implementation of activities related to the access to finance for SMEs and entrepreneurship components.
Identify potential national project partners namely PFIs, lead negotiations and capacity building measures and establish cooperation agreements with a view of facilitating systemic change in the wider financial sector.
Coordinate with the other agencies on entrepreneurship development activities namely referrals pathways and maintain close liaison with constituents, key stakeholders, and financial institutions to ensure smooth implementation of the project.
Prepare and submit technical reports related to project implementation and progress reports for submission to donors and other partners.
Draft and/or provide technical input into the development, peer review and editing of policy briefs, working papers, reports, publications and other knowledge products and contribute to their dissemination. Provide evidence-based technical content for social media, digital and other knowledge-sharing tools and platforms, with a view to reaching broad and diverse audiences.
Synthesize and share good practices and lessons learned, taking into account complementarities with other technical areas of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.
Participate in the identification of capacity development needs of constituents in relation to access to finance and entrepreneurship components and make proposals on how to address them. Prepare related training and learning materials and activities. Deliver training to diverse audiences using innovative methods and communication tools and leveraging the use of digital technologies. Participate in knowledge sharing activities.
Provide substantive inputs to the design, development, implementation, monitoring, reporting to the project.
Participate in national, regional, international and UN inter-agency and other stakeholder working groups, consultations and forums to engage with potential and existing partners to present and promote the ILO approach on the matter and discuss joint work/initiatives.
Organize, assist in and/or facilitate meetings and other events in the areas of access to finance, and entrepreneurship, including proposing agenda items, identifying participants, preparing technical materials, proposing facilitation techniques, preparing, and delivering presentations, drafting summary reports and monitoring follow-up.
Perform any other duties as assigned.
Required qualifications:
Education:
Advanced level university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, development studies or other relevant fields.
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned field(s) or other relevant field with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Experience:
At least five years of experience of relevant professional experience at the national and/or international level involving access to finance to SMEs in the context of local economic development, entrepreneurship and business start-up development including non-financial business development service provision. Experience working with financial institutions is a must. Familiarity with ILO enterprise development work is an asset.
Languages:
Excellent command of written and spoken English. Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
