Director, Catalytic Transactions at FSD Africa

Created in 2012, FSD Africa is a £30 million financial sector development programme or 'FSD’ based in Nairobi. It is funded by the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID). FSD Africa aims to reduce poverty across sub-Saharan Africa by building financial markets that are efficient, robust and inclusive.

 

Director, Catalytic Transactions

  • Job TypeRemote
  • QualificationBA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
  • Experience15 - 18 years
  • LocationNairobi
  • Job FieldFinance / Accounting / Audit 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Thought Leadership & Strategy Development 

Act as a thought leader on catalytic transactions and financial product innovation, shaping strategy and policy to advance FSD Africa’s purpose of Making Finance Work for Africa’s Future:

  • Continuously conduct ecosystem analysis and research to deepen understanding of Africa’s financial markets, identifying systemic barriers to investment and opportunities for transaction innovation.
  • Lead the development and continuous refinement of theories of change that shape FSD Africa’s Catalytic Transactions strategies, incorporating insights from past interventions and performance monitoring.
  • Engage with policymakers, regulators, development partners, and market stakeholders to conceptualise and advocate for interventions that drive transaction structuring, risk mitigation, and capital mobilisation.
  • Act as a thought leader on structured finance, blended finance, and impact investment, providing expert insights on financial innovation and capital mobilisation at global and regional forums.
  • Develop and publish high-impact research, market insights, and policy papers to position FSD Africa as a leader in catalytic finance and transaction development, influencing strategy and stakeholder engagement.

Programme Development & Implementation 

Lead the development and implementation of FSD Africa's Catalytic Transactions strategy, ensuring the design and delivery of high-impact interventions that drive systemic market change:

  • Lead the Pillar team in developing a comprehensive Catalytic Transactions strategy, ensuring alignment with FSD Africa's five-year strategy and responsiveness to emerging market needs, including:
  • Designing and structuring innovative financial transactions, including thematic bonds, blended finance vehicles, and aggregation instruments.
  • Developing mechanisms to enhance liquidity, mitigate currency risks, and increase private sector participation in key investment sectors.
  • Guide Principal-level staff in developing portfolios of interventions that deliver optimal Value for Money in the achievement of strategic outcomes.
  • Oversee the design and execution of high-quality programmes, ensuring adherence to best practices in transaction structuring, investment facilitation, and risk mitigation.
  • Monitor programme performance and lead the team in adaptive management, ensuring that individual investments and the portfolio as a whole deliver measurable impact and systemic change.
  • Foster collaboration across pillars and Centres of Expertise to leverage expertise and amplify outcomes.

Financial Management & Fundraising 

Secure and manage financial resources to sustain and expand the Catalytic Transactions pillar, ensuring Value for Money, effective risk management, and compliance.

  • With support from the Director Communications, Partnerships & Funding, lead resource mobilisation efforts to secure the funds required to deliver strategy.
  • Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and expenditure tracking to ensure optimal resource utilisation.
  • Ensure rigorous risk management and due diligence for all transaction-based interventions.
  • Maintain strong investor relationships and ensure compliance with financial reporting and accountability requirements.
  • Lead the team to scrutinise Value for Money across the programme portfolio, continually innovating in pursuit of enhanced development impact.

Influencing, Advocacy & Communication 

Drive the transformation of Africa's investment and capital mobilisation ecosystem through effective influencing, advocacy, and communication:

  • Ensure that ecosystem analysis includes identification of key stakeholders, mapping out influential actors and market segments.
  • Identify how achieving strategic outcomes depends on influencing mindset and behavioural change among various stakeholder groups and market segments.
  • Collaborate with the Strategic Communications team to develop innovative communication, influencing, and advocacy strategies that support systemic change.
  • Lead the Pillar team in implementing these strategies, ensuring alignment with FSD Africa’s objectives and market transformation goals.
  • Take personal responsibility for delivering any aspects of the influencing and advocacy plan that are assigned, ensuring high-impact engagement with key market actors.

Implementing Partner Engagement & Capacity Building 

Develop and oversee strategic partnerships that enhance transaction structuring, investment facilitation, and risk mitigation, supporting the growth of sustainable financial markets:

  • Identify and engage high-impact implementing partners capable of making a substantive contribution to the achievement of pillar strategies.
  • Lead efforts to reach out to such partners, building relationships and convening strategy-development discussions.
  • When selecting partners through a market-wide call for proposals, oversee the development of Terms of Reference (ToRs) that clearly define competency requirements, ensuring alignment with FSD Africa's procurement procedures.
  • Oversee technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives as required, ensuring that implementing partners are equipped to achieve project outcomes.
  • Monitor partner performance, ensuring high standards of execution and long-term sustainability of interventions.

Team Leadership & Organisational Development 

Build and lead the Catalytic Transactions pillar team of staff and consultants in a manner that empowers them to add value to FSD Africa and deliver high standards of performance.

  • Ensure the Catalytic Transactions team has the necessary expertise through strategic recruitment and consultant procurement.
  • Provide team members with clear goals, expectations, and accountability structures.
  • Foster a high-performance culture through coaching, professional development, and mentorship.
  • Monitor and review performance, ensuring accountability for results and adherence to FSD Africa’s values.
  • Deliver an engaging leadership style that motivates team members, fosters collaboration, and promotes FSD Africa’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles

Qualifications and Education

  • Master’s degree and 15 years of experience or Bachelor’s degree and 18 years of experience.
  • Extensive experience and networks in structured finance, investment banking, blended finance, or transaction advisory.
  • At least 7 years in a senior leadership role, with experience managing teams and large-scale programmes.
  • Exceptional skills in written and spoken English

Check if your CV matches this job with MyJobMag AI

Method of Application

Interested and qualified? Go to FSD Africa on fsdafrica.seamlesshiring.com to apply

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