(Associate) Investment Officer - MSME financing and Small Loan Guarantee Program

Description

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

The WBG Prosperity Vice Presidency (VPU) is responsible for getting the right public and private sector solutions to our operational teams and to our clients, and to produce scalable impact.  Its mandate is to deliver knowledge for impact to enable and support the WBG to achieve its goals in support of our mission and specifically: providing guidance on creating more and better jobs; supporting foundational infrastructure and human capital, policy environment, and private sector mobilization; focusing on agribusiness, healthcare, infrastructure, manufacturing, and tourism; and support and accelerate specific targets such as M300, Health 1.5bn, and SP 500. The VPU’s objectives in driving outcomes include replicating and scaling effective solutions, enhancing thought leadership and innovation, and delivering timely knowledge to client teams.

Blended Finance is a key tool in the execution of IFC’s 3.0 strategy Creating Markets. The Blended Finance Department manages a pool of contributor funds of over $7 billion focused on accelerating IFC’s engagement in the most developmentally impactful areas: IDA and FCS countries, climate, SME, and agriculture. 

Small businesses face a substantial and growing financing gap, estimated at $5.7 trillion, equivalent to 19% of GDP, or 1.5 times the current supply of funding. This shortfall affects 40% of formal Micro-, Small- and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in these regions, leaving their financing needs unmet. When informal enterprises are considered, the gap widens further. MSMEs are vital to economic growth, making up more than 50% of employment in these regions. However, limited access to finance restricts their ability to expand operations, invest in new technologies, and enhance productivity. Closing the persistent finance gap will help boost productivity, drive long-term growth, and create more and better jobs in EMDEs. SME Finance (Solutions & Impact) Unit within the Financial Service Sector of the World Bank Group Knowledge Bank is at forefront of helping to improve access to finance to MSMEs and households through a range of investment and upstream works including through Small Loan Guarantee Program (SLGP) which aims to (1) improve access to finance for MSMEs; (2) demonstrate the commercial viability of MSMEs as credible financing segment; and (4) test new products, services and risk criteria to serve new MSME market segments.

SME Finance (Solutions & Impact Team) under the Financial Services Sector, Prosperity VPU seeks an (Associate) Investment Officer to focus primarily on MSME financing and Small Loan Guarantee Program. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work on some of the most high-impact projects. This role will also provide the successful candidate with an opportunity to work across Financial Services Sector industry groups and in results-oriented environment. 
S/he will report to SLGP Global Lead &/or Manager SME Finance (Solutions & Impact). 

Duties and Accountabilities

The responsibilities of the (Associate) Investment Officer will include, but are not limited to: 
•   Support the launch, deployment, renewal, and ongoing management of the SLGP platforms, working closely with senior global lead, SLGP global team and internal stakeholders to coordinate day-to-day platform activities, track implementation progress, and support platform level planning, approvals, and rollout. 
•   Support the effective deployment of SLGP investment solutions across subprojects, including coordination with internal teams on platform parameters, eligibility criteria, reporting requirements, and alignment with donor and institutional frameworks. 
•   Support pipeline development and transaction management under SLGP by working closely with regional investment teams to identify opportunities, structure transactions, and help process SLGP risk sharing facility investments. 
•   Participate in or, as appropriate, lead execution and negotiations for SLGP transactions, using sound financial judgment and influencing skills to help resolve issues and support transactions through approval and execution. 
•   As part of transaction teams, lead or support commercial due diligence, financial analysis, contribute to investment structuring related to the risk sharing including modeling of respective risks and first loss/ subsidies, and to assess the products/structure that meets the project needs and has an adequate risk/return for IFC.
•   Preparation of key investment documentation, including Investment Review and Committee meeting books and materials. Support portfolio management, supervision, and reporting of SLGP platforms and subprojects, including monitoring utilization, MSME eligibility, portfolio performance, and compliance with SLGP platform parameters and donor requirements. 
•   Coordinate closely with internal stakeholders across the SLGP ecosystem, including regional FIG teams, Blended Finance, Treasury, Advisory Services, Strategy, Legal, ESG, and AIMM teams, to ensure smooth platform operation, timely transaction processing, and effective issue resolution. 
•   Analyze industry trends, MSME finance developments, and lessons learned from prior SLGP transactions to inform platform evolution, support new business development, and improve portfolio performance. 
•   Coordinate with impact measurement team/ specialists to support enhanced monitoring, reporting, and analysis of the development impact of SLGP investments, including outcomes related to financial inclusion, job creation, and underserved segments; Replicates high-impact projects & innovations across all WBG products.

Selection Criteria

•   MBA or master's/postgraduate degree, preferably in finance or investment, strongly preferred.
•   4+ years relevant experience in working on cross-border emerging market investments with a track-record of structuring / executing and supervision and portfolio management of complex investment transactions, including in local currency, capital markets, and structured finance.
•   Experience with investment and portfolio management processes, equity, quasi-equity, loan, guarantee, and other investment documentation, accounting, and financial statement analysis.
•   Knowledge of WBG products, operations and, preferably also, its approach to blending concessional finance alongside IFC's investments for its own account a plus.
•   Understanding of IFC’s investment practices with knowledge of current issues, challenges, and opportunities in implementing blended finance investments a plus.
•   Ability to grasp details, solve problems, identify key issues for action and manage/incorporate stakeholder interests, and explain issues clearly and confidently.
•   Clarity in the presentation and delivery of information, including gathering lessons of experience and impact stories to share with contributors and other internal and external stakeholders, and resilience to work well under time and workload pressure with minimal supervision.
•   Ability to manage and complete multiple projects simultaneously and to meet deadlines under pressure.
•   Commercial interest in development issues and strengthening sustainable development.
•   Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and other languages, such as French or Portuguese a plus.
•   Deliver Results for Clients - Proactively addresses clients stated and unstated needs.
•   Collaborate Within Teams and Across Boundaries - Collaborates across boundaries, gives own perspective, and willingly receives diverse perspectives.
•   Create, Apply and Share Knowledge - Applies knowledge across WBG to strengthen solutions for internal and/or external clients.
•   Make Smart Decisions - Interprets a wide range of information and pushes to move forward.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

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