VisionFund’s work seeks to end intergenerational poverty through financial products and services. We’re about the long-term change that ensures children can break free of the poverty cycle, for good.
By supporting people and communities living in poverty to develop and grow their livelihoods, VisionFund is catalysing sustainable economic growth to break the cycle of poverty, so that children can reach their potential as communities thrive.
Learn more about us: visionfund.org
Application Deadline: 12th August 2024
Location: Applications are welcome from any country in the world where WVI is registered to operate
Overview
VisionFund is World Vision’s microfinance provider serving vulnerable clients through loans, savings, and insurance.
We enable families to grow their livelihoods in hard to reach, rural locations in 28 countries so that caregivers can create secure futures for their children.
We believe in brighter futures for children; empowering families to create incomes and jobs; unlocking economic potential for communities to thrive. Join Vision Fund as we seek to end intergenerational poverty through microfinance
Job Summary
The WASH Finance Director will form part of the core team of the new World Vision Inclusive Finance Group, a group of specialists dedicated to working with WV, external entities and systems to impact vulnerable children and their families at scale.
This person will lead the lead and guide initiatives that expand financing frontiers to address water and sanitation needs among vulnerable communities, seeking sustainable solutions that can be scaled.
They will also be an integral member of the WV US WASH team, technically supporting the design and implementation of field-based projects. While this position will leverage VF’s retail experience in WASH microfinance, they will be primarily focused on financing for community-level water and sanitation systems.
This is a new role, and we are seeking candidates who are comfortable working across the finance spectrum, from household-level microfinance products to district-wide financing strategies for both capital and operational expenditures.
Key Responsibilities
Provide technical support to projects that test models for financing the construction, and in some cases repair and/or maintenance of community-based water systems.
- Provide technical guidance in the design and oversight to field implementation, including supporting the preparation of financial projections to assess financing feasibility, advising on potential blended finance strategies, and developing risk mitigation mechanisms in accordance with the local context.
- Engage with relevant stakeholders to guide successful implementation.
- Guide the adaptive learning process – both knowledge creation and application to future action – during these pilots.
Support the design and implementation of capital investment models for district wide water and sanitation services
- Design blended financing models
- Establish district-level revolving funds
- Guide and support implementation by WV, partners and financial institutions
- Financial modelling of lending products
- Accompany capital assets team in identifying appropriate investors
- Support WV US fund-raising teams in working with donors
Engage with external partners and position WV/VF as a leader in WASH finance
- Identify key areas for research
- Support research processes including development of TORs, hiring of consultants, documentation, and presentation of outcomes
- Publish reports, present at conferences, and write blogs and posts that shape sector knowledge regarding WASH finance
- Represent VF at WASH meetings
Identify frontier opportunities in WASH finance that can be innovated and tested through WV and VF field/retail operations
- Take stock of internal (WV/VF) WASH financing programs, lessons, and areas of excellence within WV and VF
- Identify and track with external (non-WV/VF) WASH finance programs and innovations, as well as overall industry trends and areas of opportunity
- Map strategic opportunities (location and focus) for WV/VF to innovate and eventually scale through WASH finance both at a country and global level.
- Build internal knowledge and capacity at global and field level to implement innovative WASH finance.
Knowledge, Skills and Capabilities
Required Professional Experience ​
- University degree in any relevant field
- An experienced professional with at least 8 years working in finance, infrastructure and/or development work.
- Experience in designing and implementing financing solutions for underserved markets in developing countries.
- Experience in managing relationships with multiple stakeholders such as local government officials, humanitarian/development organizations, community users’ groups, and financial entities.
- Experience in problem solving, especially adapting global best practice to local context
- Proven ability to take a concept or product to market beyond just a pilot
- Considerable experience in managing relationships across cultures and via remote communications
- Experience negotiating with and influencing high level executives and organizational decision-makers
- Strong written and oral communication abilities.
Preferred Knowledge/Qualifications for the role
- Master’s degree in a relevant field (MBA, economics, finance and/or water policy)
- Knowledge of water and sanitation programming approaches in the developing world
- Knowledge of financial and capital markets, and structuring of social investments
- Knowledge of retail microfinance or banking
- Knowledge of how private donations and grant-funded projects can be built into financing strategies
- Experience implementing water, sanitation or other types of infrastructure investments
- Experience of reporting to funders
Travel and/or Work Environment
- The position requires ability and willingness to travel internationally, potentially 35% of the time.
- Able to work and deliver effectively from home