The posting
Programme Background
Malawi Value Chains (MVC), implemented by Adam Smith International (ASI), is one component of the Malawi Trade and Investment Programme (MTIP), a six-year FCDO-funded initiative which aims to break Malawi’s cycle of low growth through driving exports. The overall objective for MVC is to implement the value chain component of MTIP with the goal to increase the productivity, quality, production and export performance of the macadamia and mango value chains, as well as support increased mining investment and ultimately exports. Other complementary MTIP components are focused on cutting the time and costs of trade and logistics (implemented by TradeMark Africa (TMA).
MVC is recruiting an Agri-Finance Expert (AFE) to provide sustained technical support to the programme’s work with MSFs and other agricultural market actors. The role will strengthen the programme’s understanding of farm-level financial performance, improve the financial management capabilities of MSFs, assess and document sources of finance and facilitate connections with financial institutions, and help viable businesses identify and prepare for suitable sources of finance.
The Expert will work as a member of the Agricultural Competitiveness team over the next two years, combining technical analysis, tool development, stakeholder engagement, training and tailored advisory support. The assignment requires an individual who can engage with banking/finance service providers to train their staff and raise their interest in finance for macadamia and mango estates, commercial farmers and mid-sized farmers. There will be a limited amount of support to macadamia and mango entities that require help in preparing bankable business plans. The AFE will work closely with colleagues across the programme, including the agronomy team, and will be expected to adapt their outputs in response to feedback from the finance sector and emerging programme needs.
About you
You will possess:
- 15+ years professional experience in agricultural finance, commercial banking, investment, corporate finance, transaction advisory or a closely related field, including experience in a senior advisory or technical role.
- Demonstrable understanding and wide knowledge of the commercial financing needs, operating models and constraints of agri-businesses, including farms, outgrower schemes, aggregators/farmer organisations, processors or other value-chain actors.
- Practical knowledge of agri-finance products, credit appraisal processes, collateral and risk considerations, and the requirements of banks, development finance institutions, impact investors, grant funds and other providers of capital.
- Experience designing and conducting structured trainings for a specific target audience
- Demonstrable ability to translate technical financial concepts into accessible tools, guidance and training materials for the bankers/financiers to understand commercial farms/processors/aggregators and for non-finance specialists commercial farm owners.
- High-level competency in teamwork and collaboration with programme teams, senior staff, external experts, businesses, financial institutions, government and development partners.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage several linked deliverables, meet agreed deadlines, maintain clear records and respond constructively to feedback from testing.
- A high professional standard of spoken and written English. Knowledge of Malawi’s agricultural and financial sectors, and relevant local language capability, would be essential.
Scope of Work
Agricultural lending market assessment
- Map and survey banks and financial institutions in Malawi that currently include agricultural/agri-business lending in their portfolios or have a credible intention to enter or expand such lending. Institutions with no current or planned interest in agricultural lending should not be prioritised.
- Gather information on lending policies, eligibility criteria, appraisal and approval procedures, collateral requirements, pricing and tenor, the structure and experience of agri-finance teams, current portfolio composition and performance, plans for portfolio growth, and relevant donor- or project-supported agri-finance initiatives.
- Conduct interviews in person wherever practical, document findings consistently, and prepare a summary report by mid-December. The report should compare institutions, identify realistic financing pathways for MSF/aggregators/processor financing and highlight material barriers or information gaps.
Concessional and international finance review
- Review sources of concessional and international finance available to Malawi-based entities, including relevant grant and challenge funds, impact investment funds, climate finance facilities and development finance institutions.
- The review should consider, where relevant, facilities offered by organisations such as FMO, MAIIC, Old Mutual and IFC, alongside other suitable providers identified through the assignment.
- Prepare a summary report by the end of December setting out each facility’s purpose, target beneficiaries, typical financing instrument and size, key eligibility requirements, application route, timing and potential relevance to MSFs or other MVC-supported businesses.
Assess demand for formal finance (commercial and concessionary) among MVC’s mid-sized farmers, processors and aggregators
- Assess MVC's current information/knowledge of MSF/aggregator/processor finance needs/experience.
- Design, offer and deliver an awareness session for macadamia and mango MSFs, aggregators and processors on the opportunities for obtaining appropriate formal finance, including available concessionary finance. Document macadamia and mango MSF/aggregators/processors that are ready or potentially ready to access finance so as to determine potential pipeline for support in access to finance (January).
- Summarise levels of interest and way forward by mid-December.
Design and deliver awareness raising of macadamia and mango value chain financing opportunities targeting financial sector teams
- Following the review of supply and demand side status and needs, determine level of interest among formal finance entities and willingness to have a closed entity-specific training and/or open sessions (January)
- If appropriate, design an awareness raising/training programme for formal finance sector actor staff of the potential for finance to macadamia and mango players with guidance on requirements for successfully completing deals (February).
- Deliver awareness-raising/training session(s) potentially in March-Apil 2027.
- Review, adapt if necessary and determine additional work programme.
Farm finance model and user guidance
- Review the current practical farm finance module in Excel that enables MSF owners to enter core operational and financial data and generate simplified profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow statements, as well as other training content on file.
- Ensure the model is proportionate to users’ capabilities, uses clear assumptions and definitions, and includes appropriate validation checks and explanatory notes (by end January).
Determine with management and AC team what the potential is for its use, either by MVC or other parties, such as banks (by end February). Tailored support to MSF/aggregators/processors OR Large-Scale Entities as required
- Provide finance-raising support to specific MSFs/aggregators/processors as agreed with management.
- Review current portfolio and progress on facilitating access to finance for large scale players and make recommendations for further possible support on access to finance (December).
Additional roles/tasks
- Additional tasks and level of effort will be agreed following successful completion of the initial tasks above.
- These will be captured in a workplan.
Ongoing team support and coordination
- Provide timely technical input to other team members on finance-related questions and proactively seek information from colleagues where it is needed to complete the assignment.
- Participate in relevant planning, review and learning discussions, and communicate emerging findings, risks and dependencies that may affect delivery.
- Maintain a regular physical presence at ASI’s office for team meetings and other informal collaboration, with additional in-person engagement as reasonably required by the workplan.
Other Responsibilities
- Team meetings: Participate in AC and overall MVC team meetings and other relevant technical or workstream discussions to maintain awareness of programme activities, coordinate inputs and identify where agri-finance analysis or advice can add value.
- Reporting and planning: Write/edit progress updates and results to quarterly and annual programme reports.
- Knowledge management: Ensure that all working documents, interview tools and records, datasets, Excel models, guidance, training materials, reports and presentations produced under the assignment are saved in the appropriate MVC Teams folders in clearly labelled, editable formats.
Timing and Duration
The Agri-Finance Expert will be engaged as a part-time consultant, starting as soon as possible. The role is intended to provide technical assistance to MVC until 31 December 2027, subject to programme requirements, funding and satisfactory performance.
The engagement will be shaped by programme needs and the candidate’s performance. The level and scheduling of inputs will be agreed through a workplan that reflects the time-bound deliverables set out above as well as ongoing advisory and team support. Malawi-based candidates are strongly preferred.
How to Apply
Please submit a CV and brief cover letter explaining your suitability for the Agri-Finance Expert role, with particular reference to agri-finance, financial modelling, engagement with financial institutions, and experience supporting agri-businesses or comparable clients. Applications should be submitted by 13 November 2026. Applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis, and early submission is encouraged.
