Introduction

“Promotion of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Iraq” is a five year project funded by the KFW.

The project aims to provide sustainable access to financial services for already operating but also start-up SMEs in Iraq for an improved job creation with focus on youth and women. This will take place through credit guarantees offered to commercial banks which lend to SMEs. Capacity building within project national partners including ICBG and participating financial institutions is a first step followed by funds injection in ICBG. The overall objective is to contribute to Iraq’s private sector development through enhancing the productivity of SMEs and hence their job creation potential.

The proposed Project structure combines three components, which are considered necessary for a significant contribution to the financial inclusion of SMEs in Iraq:

(i) SME window established by selected private PFIs through their own capital funds for SMEs.

(ii) an effective credit guarantee scheme: which is critical to overcome the obstacles that SMEs face in securing acceptable collaterals.

(iii) Technical assistance to capacitate the Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs), Iraqi Company for Banking Guarantees (ICBG), as well as the SMEs.

Reporting Lines

The Technical Officer will report to the Chief Technical Advisor of the project and under the overall supervision of the ILO Country Coordinator in Iraq. The incumbent will receive technical guidance from the Regional Enterprise Specialist in the Decent Work Team in Beirut, as well as Social Finance and SMEs units of the HQ Enterprise Department. The incumbent will work closely with PROSPECTS team in Iraq.

Description of Duties

1. Contribute to the effective implementation of the project components related to access to finance for SMEs, Credit guarantees and entrepreneurship promotion through timely provision of inputs and outputs, and undertaking field missions to plan, control, and monitor project activities, in conformity with ILO policies and project strategies, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines and country/action programs, and administrative and financial procedures.

2. Provide technical support and deliver training programs and advice to national implementing partners, project partners, consultants on the implementation of the access to finance for SMEs and entrepreneurship components. Provide ongoing technical support and mentorship to build the team’s capacity in risk assessment, financial analysis, and reporting.

3. Provide implementation support, assist in the development and implementation of policies and procedures for guarantee facility. Ensure that the guarantee facility operations are aligned with project goals and industry best practices.

4. In collaboration with national project partners, and in coordination with the technical officer for the banking sector, develop a detailed action plan for the implementation of activities related to the guarantees and provision to finance for SMEs components.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation, develop monitoring and evaluations frameworks to assess the performance of the guarantee facility. Prepare regular reports on the facility activities, outcomes, and impact.

6. Coordinate with the other agencies on entrepreneurship development activities namely referrals pathways and maintain close liaison with constituents, key stakeholders, and financial institutions to ensure smooth implementation of the project.

7. Prepare and submit technical reports related to project implementation and progress reports for submission to donors and other partners.

Description of Duties (continued)

8. Draft and/or provide technical input into the development, peer review and editing of policy briefs, working papers, reports, publications and other knowledge products and contribute to their dissemination. Provide evidence-based technical content for social media, digital and other knowledge-sharing tools and platforms, with a view to reaching broad and diverse audiences.

9. Synthesize and share good practices and lessons learned, taking into account complementarities with other technical areas of the ILO Decent Work Agenda.

10. Participate in the identification of capacity development needs of constituents in relation to access to finance, and credit guarantees components and make proposals on how to address them. Prepare related training and learning materials and activities. Deliver training to diverse audiences using innovative methods and communication tools and leveraging the use of digital technologies. Participate in knowledge sharing activities.

11. Participate in national, regional, international and UN inter-agency and other stakeholder working groups, consultations and forums to engage with potential and existing partners to present and promote the ILO approach on the matter and discuss joint work/initiatives.

12. Perform any other duties as assigned.

Required qualifications

Education

Advanced level university degree (master’s or equivalent) in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, development studies or other relevant fields.

A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in one of the afore-mentioned field(s) or other relevant field with an additional two years of relevant experience, in addition to the experience stated below, will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience

At least five years of experience of relevant professional experience at the national and/or international level involving access to finance for SMEs in the context of local economic development, entrepreneurship and business start-up development. Experience working with financial institutions and credit guarantees is a must. Familiarity with ILO enterprise development work is an asset.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English. Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

Competencies

In addition to the ILO core competencies [Integrity and transparency, Sensitivity to diversity, Orientation to learning and knowledge sharing, Client orientation, Communication, Orientation to change, Takes responsibility for performance, Quality orientation, Collaboration], the following is required:

Knowledge and technical/behavioural competencies

• Good knowledge and understanding of theories, trends and approaches in the area of SMEs development, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.
• Knowledge of the substantive nature of Organization’s work programmes and activities.
• Knowledge of IT applications for information collection, management and dissemination.
• Excellent knowledge of financial institutions, credit guarantee tools and SME’s finance – issues in conflict-affected settings and good understanding of entrepreneurship and business start-up development.
• Good understanding of the local economic and political contexts in Iraq.
• Ability to use analytical tools and qualitative and quantitative techniques.
• Ability to identify sources and develop methods for data collection.

Competencies (continued)

• Good research and analytical skills.
• Good drafting skills.
• Ability to adapt quickly to new IT software and systems.
• Good communication skills, presentation skills. Persuasion and ability to present technical arguments to convince counterparts on a course of action.
• Ability to maintain effective and collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders and work well in a tripartite context.
• Ability to present/promote the technical area of work and the ILO’s position on it to partners using a wide range of techniques and technologies.
• Ability to assess, adapt and amend individual and group assignments (policies, approaches, models) to meet new or changed needs and situations.
• Ability to share knowledge and provide technical advice and guidance in the technical area.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and to demonstrate and model gender-responsive, non-discriminatory, and inclusive behavior and attitudes.

optional section (if needed)

Candidates assessed by the Panel and considered to be eligible for appointment but who are not selected for this vacant post may be offered an assignment to another position at the same or lower grade provided that they meet the minimum qualifications required.