Financial Inclusion Specialist, GFRA - Resonance

Resonance is an award-winning frontier market solutions firm based in Burlington, Vermont that helps a variety of donor, commercial and investor clients around the world to catalyze lasting impact. We envision a prosperous and just world of thriving markets, healthy ecosystems, and vibrant communities where business, governments and citizens work together creating a better world for all.

Resonance seeks to catalyze large-scale social, environmental, and economic change by fostering new and dynamic forms of collaboration. We do this by fostering public-private partnerships, facilitating sustainable investment, and providing deep analytical insights in frontier markets. We strive to merge strategic insight with practical on-the-ground knowledge into an integrated approach that emphasizes results.

Resonance was recently named one of Inc. 5000’s fastest growing privately-held companies. We seek candidates who are ready to apply their analytical and problem-solving skills to some of our planet’s greatest challenges in an entrepreneurial, fun, and fast-paced environment. We are looking for passionate and committed people who can work in a highly collaborative environment to deliver results for our clients and stakeholders around the world.

Resonance is currently seeking Financial Inclusion Specialist candidates to propose for an upcoming 5-year USAID/Ghana funded Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity (GFRA) project. The purpose of this activity is to mitigate the near-collapse of the small pelagic fisheries sector in Ghana and establish a durable basis for its recovery. The Financial Inclusion Specialist will support increase access to finance for project participants to encourage investment in value-addition activities within the fisheries sector and diversification of livelihoods into other sectors.  

The Financial Inclusion Specialist will work closely with the Livelihoods and Market Integration team, members of the Resonance home office project management team, and other internal and external stakeholders to link fish processors and youth from fisheries households to credit to support value-addition activities and participation in diversified livelihoods. S/he will identify appropriate financial partners and sources of finance, link fish processors and youth to credit, organize trainings to strengthen financial management capacity of participants, and work with the Grants Manager to develop creative grants mechanisms to increase the impact of financing activities.

This will be a full-time position based in Accra, Ghana. 

Responsibilities

• • Develop and oversee approaches and activities to increase access to finance for women fish processors to increase value and integration in markets, and youth in fisheries household to pursue diversified livelihoods opportunities 
  • Assess the financing needs of women fish processors and youth from fisheries households for investment in value-addition activities and diversified livelihoods  
  • Identify potential financial intuition partners and other sources of financing in the civil society and public sectors and screen for alignment with project objectives and specific credit needs of participants
  • Develop partnerships with financial institutions, savings organizations and government program to provide financing for youth entrepreneurship, workforce development, and fisheries value addition activities
  • Conduct training of trainers for partners and grantees  on financial literacy and financial management
  • Work with the Livelihoods Specialist and Market Integration Officer to link project participants to credit
  • Work with financial institution partners to monitor repayment rates and impacts of access to credit on participant’s incomes and wellbeing
  • Document implementation successes, challenges, and lessons learned and share them with through regular program reports
  • Other duties upon request

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in degree in business, finance, economic development, or a relevant field
• Ten (10) years of experience designing and implementing financial inclusion activities
• Experience with credit for micro-entrepreneurship, specific experience working with small scale fisheries value chain a plus
• Experience supporting access to credit for youth and women
• Ability to develop effective working relationships with local organizations, community groups, microfinance institutions, and other program partners and stakeholders
• Ability to conceptualize, plan, guide, and implement access to finance activities, with demonstrated experience in financial inclusion.
• Demonstrated ability to work within cross-cultural teams
• Proven ability to meet targets and deadlines for a project of similar scope and size
• Excellent communication skills and demonstrated track record of working effectively in a teamwork environment
• Experience providing technical assistance, including organizing and conducting workshops and trainings

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. No phone calls please. Resonance is an Equal Opportunity Employer.