Financial Sector Study (FSS) Local Financial Expert

Banyan Global is an international development consulting firm committed to improving livelihoods through market approaches for a broad and lasting impact. The firm is headquartered in Washington, DC with staff working in several developing countries. Banyan Global operates seamlessly within five practice areas: health, economic growth, gender, youth, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning. Banyan Global implements the USAID/Malawi Learn to Perform (L2P) Activity which seeks to improve the Mission’s performance management, enhance program efficiency, and advance Mission learning.

L2P is conducting a Financial Sector Study (FSS) to explore historical and current SME-focused lending programs (public and private) in Malawi to determine their effectiveness in facilitating access to finance. This includes assessing small and medium enterprise (SME) credit guarantees, government-supported SME lending programs, donor-funded SME lending programs, and other innovative approaches to catalyze sustained SME financing. The study focusses on agricultural SMEs lending but includes green businesses (solar, renewable energy), healthcare enterprises, and natural resource management operations – among others. The study also broadly explores the legal and regulatory environment and its impact on the delivery of financial services to Malawi’s SMEs. The study’s findings will consolidate learning from SME-focused lending programs in Malawi and provide recommendations on effective approaches for future project funding.

Banyan Global is recruiting a Local Financial Expert to support with conducting field visits, compiling and analyzing data, and supporting the compilation of a final report that summarizes findings and provides recommendations for USAID/Malawi. The Local Financial Expert will work directly with L2P’s FSS point of contact and under the overall supervision of L2P’s Chief of Party. The anticipated level of effort (LOE) for the study is 20 days running for approximately 6 weeks. Only Malawian applicants are eligible for this position.

• Provide expert guidance during field visit/data collection, including on the selection of key stakeholders to be interviewed.
• Participate in data collection and writing of study reports,
• Support the development/review of the study data collection instruments.
• Facilitate introductions to key stakeholders (banks) and other interviewees and conduct key informant interviews and other data collection activities as requested by L2P’s Chief of Party.
• Transcribe and analyze both text and audio recordings.
• Participate in report writing, including designing and leading validation workshops and/or recommendation, and co-creation workshops with relevant stakeholders.
• Support L2P’s Chief of Party in presenting preliminary study findings to USAID/Malawi and other agreed-upon stakeholders.

• At degree in Financial Management, Business Administration, Auditing, Economics, or other related qualifications, master’s degree in a relevant field preferred.
• 5-7 years of experience in smallholder finance and SME financing in Malawi.
• Experience in conducting similar studies for USAID or other donors preferred.
• Experience in preparing documents that are objective, evidence-based, and well-resourced.
• Experience working in the Malawi banking sector is essential.

Banyan Global is committed to diversity and inclusion in our workforce. We do not discriminate against employees based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender expression. We recognize the importance of a diverse and inclusive workplace and intentionally strive for diversity and inclusion at all organizational levels.

Interested candidates should submit their CV, a cover letter outlining their relevant experience, and contact information for three professional references to careers-banyanglobal.icims.com.