Technical Cooperation Coordinator
Role Overview
The EBRD's involvement in the agribusiness sector focuses on investing throughout the production chain from farming, processing and trading to food distribution, packaging and retail. The Bank strives to help the agribusiness sector in the region recover from the financial crisis and move further towards fulfilling its potential as the world's bread basket. In 2012 the EBRD committed €874 million to 62 agribusiness projects across 24 countries. Total commitments in the sector, including commercial cofinancing, amounted to €1.25 billion and represented around 10 per cent of the Bank's annual commitments.
In addition to financing, the EBRD's Technical Cooperation (TC) programme in the agribusiness sector plays a crucial role in contributing to achieving high transition impact in the EBRD's countries of operations. The Bank provides TC support and makes a significant contribution to policy dialogue, leading the way with its Private Sector for Food Security Initiative. It also leads other strategic initiatives focusing on (i) resource efficiency, (ii) food quality standards, (iii) retail, and (iv) direct company assistance.
The TC Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of TC projects with private sector clients and governments across the EBRD countries of operations. This role will require strong project management skills and include such aspects as fund-raising, project design, monitoring and dissemination. In addition, the TC Coordinator will be responsible for fostering partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with which the EBRD has a long-standing Framework Agreement.
The TC Coordinator will be based in London and will report to the Director of Agribusiness banking team.
Key Responsibilities and Deliverables
- Managing TC projects with the agribusiness companies and governments by overseeing all activities related to operations, including project design, fund-raising, project implementation, administration, dissemination activities and monitoring;
- Playing a key role in mobilizing funding from bilateral governments and multilateral institutions by preparing project proposals and closely liaising with Donor Co-Financing team;
- Guiding strategy and planning of the Team's TC programme by providing significant inputs to TC Grant Planning Outlooks and other internal documents;
- Fostering partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO);
- Assisting Agribusiness bankers in identifying potential TC projects;
- Leading internal TC approval processes, including submissions to Technical Cooperation Committee (TC Com) and Strategy and Policy Committee (SP Com), among others;
- Overseeing all aspects related to procurement of the Agribusiness TC projects, in close collaboration with Technical Cooperation Team;
- Monitoring progress of individual TC projects and overseeing reporting to donors;
- Organizing relevant visibility activities of the Agribusiness team in the region.
Essential Skills, Experience Qualifications
- Strong academic background with relevant degree from a leading university in the country of education (business administration, international relations, economics or finance);
- 5+ years of project management experience gained within finance, business development, consultancy or entrepreneurship;
- Familiarity with basic business and accounting concepts;
- Proven, strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret data;
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the EBRD mandate;
- Experience in the field of agribusiness would be an asset;
- Computer literate: Windows XP; excellent knowledge of Microsoft Excel; Outlook; Word; ability to learn new systems quickly;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
Competencies Personal Attributes
- Communication Skills - the ability to communicate appropriate, concise and accurate information in written and verbal formats, to the right audience at the right time;
- Concern for Accuracy and Detail Orientated - the capacity to ensure and maintain a high degree of accuracy and quality in work delivered during pressure periods;
- Problem Solving - judgement and initiative in decision making process. Ability to tackle issues and problems in a logical, step-by-step way and propose practical and realistic solutions to address them;
- Planning and Organising - operating independently and taking responsibility for decisions within own area. Effectively manage a high volume of more tasks autonomously and using initiative to assist the decision-making process;
- Team working - building effective communication and relationships both within and outside the team. Sharing knowledge, information and best practices with others;
- Customer Focus - the ability to listen to the views of all stakeholders, to be sensitive and understand cultural differences, transition success factors and the complexity of political constraints; provide optimal solutions and manage expectations;
- Results Orientated - following up and following through to ensure goals are achieved and exceeded. Striving to improve the ways things are done.
This job description is not limited to the responsibilities listed and the incumbent may be requested to perform other relevant duties as required by business needs.
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