Financial Intermediary Advisor (FIA) Retour vers les opportunités

Scope of Work

Background: The Power Tunisia activity  seeks to advance self-reliance in Tunisia by strengthening the country’s institutional capacity to manage, operate, and maintain a modern, diversified and financially sound electricity system. The activity has three core objectives: 

• Strengthening the energy sector’s performance
• Diversifying and securing energy supply
• Promoting advanced technology pilots and partnerships

Position Overview: Lead in designing a workstream which advances the roles of financial intermediaries (FIs) in the advancement of a clean energy market, focusing on renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) in Tunisia. The goal of the program is to increase financing for small (up to $20K), medium ($20K to $2M), and large ($2M and above) projects where clean energy technology solutions are adopted by private sector players. The FIA will accomplish this by improving the capacity of the clean energy market stakeholders such as FIs including commercial banks, microfinance institutions (MFI), private capital firms, and potentially leasing companies. The FIA workstream will support financing (debt and equity) private sector stakeholders through the evaluation of existing debt and equity investment models for applicability to clean energy projects, the collaborative design and deployment of new lending products, identification of innovative power contracting agreements (Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (CPPAs), third party ownership, direct purchase, etc.), and application of lessons learned from leading project development practices to improve financing capacity and increase lending and investment of clean energy solutions. 

The FIA will manage a grants program that incentivizes Tunisian FIs to increase lending for small-scale RE and EE solutions through performance grants. Simultaneously, the FIA will support FIs to i) develop clean energy loan products and providing supplemental support that helps them operationalize the loan products ii) bundle loan products as part of a to-be-developed green strategy, and iii) advance FIs towards a pathway to accessing International Financing Institutions (IFIs) funding for expanded clean energy lending.

Detailed Responsibilities:

• Advance understanding by stakeholders of clean energy lending products and the role FIs can play in clean energy financing 
• Review market in Tunisia and assess the capacity of the sector as a whole to deliver clean energy solutions
• Identify international leading practices and case studies, which demonstrate successful implementation of RE/EE loan products, including capacities of the financial sector that delivered them
• Prepare a methodology and recommendations for FIs to conduct market diagnostics for clean energy product design and deployment resulting in product uptake
• Meet with select Tunisian FIs to review existing loan products and brainstorm strategies to increase penetration of existing loan products (where applicable), the design of new clean energy products, and the development of a broader green strategy
• Develop surveys for internal loan officers to understand their attitudes towards selling a clean energy product and for FIs to gauge the interest of their clients and potential new clients for clean energy borrowing to inform product development and design a loan marketing program
• Oversee FI grants program to incentivize increased lending for small-scale clean energy projects
• Identify and assess potential RE and EE projects that require financing, evaluating their feasibility, risk profiles, and potential for positive environmental impact
• Conduct comprehensive financial analysis of RE and EE projects to determine their financial viability, return on investment, and potential risks; assess various financing structures and models to optimize project funding
• Engage IFIs so as to help facilitate new lines of credit to Tunisian FIs
• Collaborate with FIs and investors to develop tailored investment strategies that align with their risk tolerances, financial goals, and commitment to sustainable energy development
• Cultivate strong relationships with FIs, project owners, government agencies, and other stakeholders involved in the energy sector to foster collaboration and partnerships
• Assist in structuring funding and financing arrangements for RE and EE projects, leveraging various financial instruments, grants, loans, and public-private partnerships
• Identify and mitigate potential risks associated with clean energy projects and loan products
• Stay updated on relevant regulations and policies related to clean energy financing and ensure compliance with all applicable laws and guidelines
• Conduct market research and analysis to identify emerging trends, potential investment opportunities, and competitive dynamics in the clean energy sector
• Evaluate the environmental and social impact of RE and EE projects, providing insights into their contribution to sustainability and meeting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria
• Be the Program’s leading subject matter expert on advances in financing mechanisms in Tunisia and leading practices worldwide as they relate to clean energy technology financing; share knowledge and insights within the organization and with external partners
• Advocate for sustainable finance initiatives and policies that support the growth of clean energy projects and promote environmentally responsible investments

Supervisor and Reporting Responsibilities

For all routine responsibilities and duties, either directly or indirectly related to the position description, the FIA shall report directly to, and be supervised by the Deputy Chief of Party. The Employee’s Supervisor may change from time to time on an ad hoc or temporary basis depending on the needs of the Project. 

1. Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or other relevant degree; MBA preferred
• Minimum of five to seven (5-7) years’ work experience in the banking sector with detailed experience in at least three of the following: loan product development and/or sales, structured finance, risk management, investment banking, corporate finance, project finance, clean energy financial products, credit analysis, back-office banking systems design and/or management
• Practical experience working for or advising commercial banks and/or MFIs
• Relevant, recent experience with at least one of the following energy sources or technologies: alternative and RE (wind, solar, hydropower, biofuel, storage), EE (industrial, commercial and/or residential) and/or transportation sector energy technologies (preferred)
• Expertise in revenue flows and conducting market assessments
• Established relationships with local commercial banks and/or MFIs
• Previous experience in a commercial bank (relationship manager, loan officer, risk manager) 
• Experience developing and accessing business plans developed for loan application purposes
• Demonstrated ability to: lead teams; succeed in an interdisciplinary environment; and to work in challenging political and security situations requiring good judgment, discretion, and political savvy

• Previous experience designing and delivering training preferred
• Experience in Tunisia or another MENA developing country economies 
• Prior experience on USAID or donor-funded projects preferred
• Excellent communication skills, including strong presentation, networking and facilitation skills 
• Capacity to work as a member of a team as well as work independently
• Positive attitude 
• Fluent in French and/or Arabic required 
• Fluent in English (both oral and written) preferred