FSD Africa Principal Innovation and Resilience Jobs in Kenya

FSD Africa Principal Innovation and Resilience Jobs in Kenya

About the Organisation

FSD Africa is a specialist development agency working to help make finance work for Africa’s future. Based in Nairobi, FSD Africa’s team of financial sector experts work alongside governments, business leaders, regulators, and policymakers to design and build ambitious programmes that make financial markets work better for everyone.

Our investment arm, FSD Africa Investments, provides early-stage, risk-bearing, catalytic and patient capital to inventive commercial organisations in order to stimulate capital flows in support of green economic growth benefiting people and planet. Established in 2012, FSD Africa is incorporated as a non-profit company limited by guarantee in Kenya. It is funded by UK aid from the UK government.

Overall, Job Purpose

The Principal, Innovation for Resilience contributes to the implementation of overall Risk and Resilience pillar strategy by leading the development and implementation of programmes that work to catalyse new risk transfer solutions and improve the enabling environment for risk markets in Africa.

This involves leading research, analysis and thinking around ecosystem development. Building on a strong foundation of understanding, the Principal, Innovation for Resilience will conceptualise and lead a portfolio of impactful intervention projects e.g. working with the insurtech ecosystem, incumbent insurers and regulators to drive innovation.

It also includes conceptualising and implementing evidence-based advocacy campaigns, combining data gathering and analysis with sophisticated communication techniques to address the big issues affecting risk management and transfer in African markets.

In addition, the Principal, Innovation for Resilience will lead an Engagement Manager (and independent Consultants as required) providing clarity of direction for the team and delivering a leadership style that results in staff engagement and effective performance.

Key Responsibilities and Role Requirements

Thought Leadership & Strategy Development

As a thought leader in the management & transfer of risk in Africa; display a profound understanding of how to develop innovation ecosystems and enabling environments so that risk is better managed and transferred, whether to reduce household or business vulnerability or de-risk investment, aiming to boost innovation and enhance regulation and market infrastructure:

Stay abreast of local, regional and international insurtech and insurance regulatory market developments to determine their potential impact on FSD Africa’s strategy.

Ensure regular engagement with experts and decision makers in SSA countries and elsewhere to understand strategic priorities for the development of effective risk markets and products.

Develop and strengthen partnerships with key and emerging players in the African and global insurance industries.

Develop and communicate a deep and comprehensive understanding of how to drive beneficial eco-system change, especially in insurance markets.

Lead the development of strategy and plans for the innovation for resilience programme with a view to facilitating innovation, increasing financial inclusion and closing the risk protection gap for households, businesses, sub-sovereigns and sovereigns.

Project Design & Implementation and Risk Management

Ensure the effective implementation of innovation for resilience and insurance regulatory projects; ensuring that the results anticipated in the MRM framework are achieved:

Conceptualise, design and write investment proposals including results measurement and risk management frameworks.

Following approval, develop detailed implementation plans; including budgets and procurement of consultants / implementing partners as required.

Ensure the effective implementation of projects so that milestones of the project plan are achieved on time and to standard.

Lead monitoring, results management, and learning for all projects being implemented; ensuring objective analysis of results and appropriate corrective actions as required to optimise FSD Africa’s beneficial impact.

Provide high quality technical advice and support to Implementing Partners, Consultants and other project stakeholders in Government Debt Markets

Ensure comprehensive and timely communication with all project stakeholders.

Financial management & fundraising

Lead the management of the finances associated with the Innovation for Resilience and Insurance Regulation Programmes, aiming to optimise the impact that is achieved with resources and ensuring compliance with FSD Africa’s and Donor

policies:

Identify opportunities for fundraising and co-funding for the work of FSD Africa & support with proposal development as requested.

Conceptualise how funds and other limited resources may be best allocated to achieve optimum impact; including supervising the work of consultants to optimise value for money.

Track and monitor budget spend and associated activities ensuring cost effective utilisation of resources and timely achievement of financial targets.

Ensure that the accountability requirements of donors are met and that good relationships with funders are maintained at all times.

Influencing & Communicating for Impact

Drive transformative market development through effective influencing, advocacy, and communication strategies:

Lead stakeholder mapping; identifying key decision makers/ power brokers/ customer groups and developing innovate ideas for influencing them and/ or transforming their mindsets.

Develop and implement strategies for influencing key stakeholders and driving market and risk management innovation; for instance, advocating for policy reform.

Work collaboratively with the Advocacy and Communications team to develop and implement work plans and budgets; ensuring that efforts are monitored and evaluated to ensure impact.

Contribute to the implementation of the Communication strategy (e.g. by developing content for written materials/ website; participating in campaigns etc); participate in and contribute to the development of annual and quarterly reports.

Represent FSD Africa in public forums and networking opportunities and/or convene stakeholders in order to build awareness and influence the thinking around risk market development; at all times behaving in a manner consistent with FSD Africa’s brand and values.

Implementing partner engagement & capacity building

Support the Director, Risk and Resilience in identifying, engaging and empowering key implementing partners; so that they are equipped to operate effectively and contribute to development objectives:

Ensure appropriate selection of partners; ensuring optimal combinations of partners to bring out their synergies for the programmes e.g. political economics, due diligence, influence, etc.

Build and maintain relationships with senior leaders in chosen implementing partners, leveraging new opportunities that may arise and dealing promptly with relationship difficulties.

Engage partners in joint strategizing and the development of projects that will leverage change and have a positive impact on insurance market development.

Team Leadership and Unit Management

Lead staff and consultants in a manner that empowers them to add value to FSD Africa and deliver high standards of performance:

Qualifications and Education

Masters degree and 12 years of experience or Bachelors Degree and 14 years of experience in areas if technical specialism, including at a senior level in Financial Markets environment

Excellent skills in written and spoken English

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills

At least 12 years of experience in the areas of technical specialism, including at a senior level, in a financial markets environment.

Ability to manage project portfolio of significant budget

Ability to manage project diversity and complexity

Ability to manage significant complexity and conceptual sophistication

Successful track record of delivery of results in the area of technical specialism and the provision of technical assistance

Track record of managing relationships and influencing key stakeholders at leadership or specialist level

Experience in conducting and analysing research

Understanding of the development world and strategic MRM (preferred)

Desirable

Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment

Knowledge of donor policies and procedures

Previous experience of working in FCDO-funded projects

Languages: French, local African languages

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; FSD Africa Principal Innovation and Resilience Jobs in Kenya

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