The Aga Khan Foundation, Afghanistan (AKF (Afg)) is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of international, private, non-denominational development agencies working to improve living conditions and opportunities for people in some of the poorest parts of the developing world. The Network’s organizations have individual mandates that range from the fields of health and education to architecture, rural development and promotion of private-sector enterprise and institutions that seek to empower communities and individuals, usually in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities. 

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a non-denominational international development agency established in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan. Its mission is to develop and promote creative solutions to problems that impede social development, primarily in Asia and East Africa. Created as a private, non-profit foundation under Swiss law, it has branches and independent affiliates in 19 countries. 

AKF seeks to provide sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and ill health. In Afghanistan, AKF works with rural communities in mountainous, remote or resource poor areas to improve quality of life in the areas of natural resource management, market development, governance, education, and health. 

POSITION OBJECTIVE
Economic Inclusion is a key sector within AKF Afghanistan Program addressing 4 key thematic pillars 1. Small and Medium Enterprise and Market Development. 2. Employable Skills development 3. Promotion of Renewable Energy 4. Financial Inclusion   with objective of work, employment, private sector engagement, linking rural communities with local, national and regional broad markets and providing access to finance opportunities to marginal and vulnerable communities. 
As of now the focus of access to finance was in the informal sector financial support through Community Based Saving Groups [CBSG] and CBSG clusters. With changing realities, donor priorities and financial need of communities, economic inclusion is expanding access to finance scope to providing affordable loans to the successful microenterprises for upscaling their business through formal financial institutions as there are significant number of enterprises they have matured and in a stage of taking bigger risk of expanding their business. These micro enterprises were supported with equipment and material support in past under value chain development or skill development. 

The proposed new position of Regional Coordinator Micro and small enterprise [MSE] financing will be responsible at regional level for managing EI capacity building and linking micro and small enterprises with formal financing for expanding their business with scaling up or technical upgradation. This coordinator’s role will require the ability to work in a high paced and dynamic environment that will focus on providing high quality micro and Small Businesses. It will require building a high quality and investment ready pipeline and building an entrepreneurial technical team so that the micro and small enterprises are facilitated for expanding their business with affordable loans and expanding the reach of FFI to these micro and small businesses.

The position responsible for leveraging the creative power and commercial instincts of the private sector in identifying, reviewing and supporting local entrepreneurs with capacity building, ideation and investment-readiness, and financing potential businesses in priority value chains and sectors, to address the needs and challenges of budding entrepreneurs, and existing Micro and small businesses. She / he will report to the sector lead.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Program Delivery and Technical Assistance
Support in coordinating program design, marketing, promotion, delivery of quality EI sector services to micro and small businesses in Afghanistan within priority sectors, Value chains and geographies.

•    high potential micro and small businesses pipeline by conducting market assessments, marketing, awareness-raising and ideation events.
•    Building a network of mentors, technical and business experts.
•    Conducting application screening, selection of investable ideas and growing businesses.
•    Developing training and advisory content, providing training and technical assistance to micro and small businesses in the form of business mentorship, technical and management capacity building programs in-person and via Virtual platforms.
•    Conducting investment pitch sessions and building a strong pipeline for financing and investment of Formal Financing institutions. 

Investment-readiness and Financing
•     Coordinate to ensure and make graduated businesses investment-ready and deploy financing and investment.
•    Developing business plans and financial model including sector analysis in person with entrepreneurs.
•    Conducting field level due diligence, structuring financial models and managing default and financing risks.
•    Preparation of pitch deck materials for businesses proposed for financing, for review by the AKF financing Committee.
•    Preparation of mandatory business documents for financing and presenting the financing case to AKF Investment Team and National Office.
•    To carry out the responsibilities of the role in a way which reflects AKF (Afg)'s commitment to safeguarding staff, beneficiaries and protecting children from harm and abuse in accordance with AKF (Afg)s Safeguarding policy.  
•    To report any suspicions or actual violations of the Safeguarding Policy and/or Child Safeguarding Policy as per the given training.

OCCASIONAL SIGNIFICANT DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
•    Provide training and advisory services to businesses graduating from capacity building and ideation programs in priority sectors.
•    Make businesses investment-ready for Formal Financing Institution including conducing due diligence and developing financial model and pitch decks.
•    Deploy financing to businesses with highly growth potential in priority sectors.

JOB SPECIFICATION
•    An individual with a master’s degree in business administration or accounting or related field.
•    Proficiency in English and Dari or Pashto is required.
•    At least 3 years of investment and finance experience in Afghanistan in
•    Delivering training, mentorship and advisory to early-stage micro and small businesses.
•    Micro and Small Enterprises [SME] financing, private equity, venture capital and/or financial services.
•    Dealing with investment analysis in early-stage enterprises.
•    Developing new strategies, processes and capacities for start-up phase or early-stage micro and small enterprises.
•    Priority will be given to candidates with experience of banking enterprise financing.

REQUIRED CORE COMPETENCIES
•    The candidate must have the ability to work with different people and in different working circumstances.
•    Effective communication and training skills to discuss and negotiate agreements on specific issues with a variety of partners.
•    Skill of working in a team and as an individual.
•    Good writing skills to draft the project progress reports and other required documents.

APPLICATION
Interested applicants should submit their CV along with a cover letter to bamyan.hr@akdn.org no later than 04th November 2024. 

Important Notes: 
•    Please quote the Vacancy Number as the Subject of the e-mail when applying. 
•    No supporting documents (e.g., diplomas, recommendation letters, identification card(s) etc.) are required at this stage. 
•    Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for further assessment.
•    Salary scale: Grade C based on NTA Salary scale. 

The Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan (AKF- Afg) promotes a transparent and equitable recruitment process. We reiterate that all services related to job applications, including processing, seminars, and training programs, are provided free of charge. 

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications through our designated email address: bamyan.hr@akdn.org. Please note that each job vacancy is assigned a unique identification number for your reference. 

Aga Khan Foundation - Afghanistan (AKF- Afg) recruitment and selection process reflect our commitment to equal opportunity and protecting children and at-risk adults, beneficiaries, partners, community members and employees from safeguarding violations. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work with children and at-risk adults are recruited to work for us. In the process of recruitment, selection and appointment AKF (Afg) implement a range of procedures and vetting checks including criminal records disclosures to ensure everyone associated with AKF (Afg) is kept free from harm and abuse is prevented.
 
Protection from Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) is the responsibility of everyone, and all selected individuals will be required to comply with AKF (Afg)s Safeguarding Policy at all times. 

By sharing your cover letter and resume with AKF (Afg) in response to this job application, applicants consent AKF (Afg) to keep this information on file for Recruitment and Human Resources Management purposes.

We request all job seekers to be attentive and report any instances of individuals or entities claiming to charge fees on behalf of AKF Afghanistan to AKFA.HR@akdn.org. Our commitment to ethical practices ensures that your career aspirations are supported without any financial burden during recruitment.