Position: Investment / Finance Analyst

Project

Technical Assistance for Strengthening Agribusiness, SME–Farmer Linkages and Agricultural Value Chain Development

Duty Station

Monrovia, Liberia (with travel to project implementation counties)

Reporting To

Project Manager / Team Leader

Duration

7 Months

Position Summary

The Investment / Finance Analyst will provide technical support on financial analysis, investment planning, agribusiness financing, and commercialization strategies for SMEs, Farmer-Based Organizations (FBOs), cooperatives, and aggregation units. The specialist will lead the preparation of business plans, investment cases, financial models, and support access to finance to improve the sustainability and competitiveness of agricultural enterprises.

Key Responsibilities

1. Investment Planning and Financial Analysis

Conduct financial and economic analyses for priority agricultural value chains.
Assess the financial viability of SMEs, cooperatives, and aggregation units.
Prepare investment cases and financial projections for agribusiness enterprises.
Develop cost-benefit analyses and investment appraisals for project interventions.

2. Business Planning

Prepare bankable business plans for SMEs and Farmer-Based Organizations.
Develop business growth strategies and commercialization plans.
Support enterprises in developing financial sustainability strategies.
Review existing business models and recommend improvements.

3. Access to Finance

Identify financing opportunities from commercial banks, development finance institutions, microfinance institutions, and donor-funded financing facilities.
Facilitate linkages between SMEs, cooperatives, and financial institutions.
Support investment readiness assessments.
Advise enterprises on credit requirements and financing mechanisms.

4. Financial Management Strengthening

Assess financial management systems of SMEs, cooperatives, and aggregation centers.
Develop financial management guidelines and standard operating procedures.
Support budgeting, financial planning, and cash flow management.
Strengthen accounting and financial reporting practices.

5. Agribusiness Commercialization

Analyze agricultural markets and investment opportunities.
Support commercialization of cassava, poultry, rubber, and other priority value chains.
Recommend pricing strategies and business expansion opportunities.
Promote value addition and market competitiveness.

6. Capacity Building

Develop training materials on financial literacy, business management, and investment planning.
Conduct training for SMEs, cooperatives, FBOs, and project beneficiaries.
Mentor entrepreneurs in business planning, budgeting, and financial management.
Build institutional capacity for sustainable agribusiness operations.

7. Stakeholder Engagement

Coordinate with financial institutions, private sector companies, government agencies, and development partners.
Participate in investor forums, business networking events, and stakeholder consultations.
Support the establishment of strategic partnerships for agribusiness financing.

8. Monitoring and Reporting

Prepare financial analysis reports and investment recommendations.
Contribute technical inputs to project progress reports and deliverables.
Monitor implementation of financial and business development activities.
Document lessons learned and best practices.

Required Qualifications

Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Business Administration, Accounting, Commerce, or a related discipline.
Minimum 8 years of professional experience in investment analysis, corporate finance, agribusiness finance, SME development, banking, or financial consulting.
Demonstrated experience in preparing business plans, financial models, feasibility studies, and investment analyses.
Experience supporting agribusiness enterprises, cooperatives, or MSMEs with access to finance and commercialization.
Experience with donor-funded projects (World Bank, IFAD, AfDB, FAO, GIZ, EU, USAID, etc.).
Strong analytical, financial modeling, and report-writing skills.
Excellent command of English (written and spoken).

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working in Liberia or West Africa.
Knowledge of agricultural value chains, particularly cassava, poultry, rubber, and livestock.
Experience in investment appraisal using Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and financial ratio analysis.
Familiarity with SME financing mechanisms, blended finance, and agricultural credit schemes.
Experience working with commercial banks, impact investors, development finance institutions, or investment funds.

Core Competencies

Investment Analysis
Financial Modeling
Business Planning
Agribusiness Finance
SME Development
Cost–Benefit Analysis
Investment Appraisal
Financial Management
Market Analysis
Value Chain Financing
Commercialization Strategies
Stakeholder Engagement
Capacity Building
Report Writing
Presentation and Facilitation Skills

Expected Deliverables

Financial assessment reports for SMEs, FBOs, and aggregation units.
Investment plans and financing strategies.
Bankable business plans and commercialization roadmaps.
Financial models and feasibility studies.
Investment appraisal reports (including CBA, NPV, IRR, and sensitivity analysis).
Training modules on financial literacy and business management.
Reports on access-to-finance initiatives and stakeholder engagement.
Technical inputs to project progress reports and final project documentation.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Number of SMEs/FBOs supported with business plans and financial models.
Number of investment proposals developed and financing opportunities identified.
Quality and timeliness of financial analyses and reports.
Number of stakeholders and financial institutions engaged.
Number of beneficiaries trained in financial management and investment planning.
Contribution to achieving project objectives related to agribusiness commercialization and SME sustainability.

Job Category: Agriculture and Rural Development

Job Type: contractual

Job Location: Liberia