About the Role

Reports to: Manager, Digital Lending (dotted line to Project Manager, Agriculture)
Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (with extensive regional travel)

The Agri-Finance Specialist will design, launch and manage digital agri-lending solutions for farmer groups across diverse agricultural value chains, driving field rollout, repayment performance and partner engagement in targeted value chains. The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in agricultural finance, rural lending models and digital financial services, along with a strong understanding of farmer group dynamics and risk mitigation strategies.

The role is accountable for successful pilots and scale-up, portfolio health (NPL/PAR), farmer onboarding, training and retention, on-ground team management and cross-functional project delivery. Key focus areas include product design and execution, loan performance monitoring, agri-lending portfolio growth, technology trends, solution performance, and market research with recommendations to management.

Key Accountabilities

1. Product Rollout & Go-to-Market (GTM): Lead end-to-end go-to-market for pilots and scale-up. Develop rollout plans, train and mobilise field staff and agents, design incentives, track milestones and remove on-ground blockers.
2. Portfolio & Repayment Ownership: Own loan performance. Define collection processes, early-warning triggers and restructuring rules, lead field recovery and deliver NPL/PAR targets.
3. Field Operations & Farmer Onboarding: Manage farmer-group onboarding, KYC/KYB compliance and verification, merchant/agent enablement and channel operations.
4. Stakeholder & Partnership Management: Build and manage relationships with input suppliers, agribusinesses, cooperatives, financial institutions, NGOs and local government. Negotiate MoUs and co-financing arrangements.
5. Project Governance and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E): Run pilot governance, including milestone and budget tracking. Produce operational dashboards and fortnightly/monthly reports for internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development

• Design and structure group-based lending models tailored to specific value chains.
• Develop financial products that are inclusive, scalable and aligned with farmers’ seasonal cash flows.
• Develop agri-finance solutions that address value-chain complexities, e.g. input financing, supply-chain financing, output financing and embedded financing.
• Collaborate with product, technology and commercial teams to ensure financial viability and user-centric design.

Execution Support

• Provide technical guidance during the pilot and rollout phases.
• Train field teams and partners on agri-finance principles and product usage.
• Support the onboarding of farmer groups and cooperatives.

Monitoring & Evaluation

• Track loan performance, repayment behaviour and portfolio health.
• Analyse data to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Prepare regular reports and insights for internal and external stakeholders.

Risk Management

• Develop and implement risk assessment frameworks for group lending.
• Recommend mitigation strategies, including insurance, guarantees and alternative credit-scoring models.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Liaise with financial institutions, agribusinesses, NGOs and government bodies.
• Support partnership development for co-financing, technical assistance and scale-up.

Core Competencies, Knowledge & Experience

• At least 3 years’ experience in strategic planning, agricultural finance and digital lending product development.
• Familiarity with digital financial services and mobile-based lending platforms.
• Strong organisational skills with close attention to detail.
• Excellent analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent spoken and written Swahili and English, and confident public speaking.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional environment.
• Willingness to travel extensively across regions to drive product implementation and portfolio performance on the ground, including coordinating with field partners, training agents and farmer groups, monitoring loan performance and ensuring product adoption in key agricultural zones.
• A hands-on individual who can operate effectively in both rural and urban settings and adapt to varying field conditions and business dynamics.
• A self-starter who can:
  • identify opportunities;
  • build relevant connections and engagements;
  • deliver a compelling sales pitch;
  • know whom to approach, and for what, to get support.
• A quick learner who can:
  • understand the mobile money ecosystem and its partnership opportunities;
  • conduct detailed research and generate industry insights;
  • understand how the organisation works and whom to approach for support;
  • understand how government works and how to engage the right people;
  • identify relevant decision-makers in partner companies and build contact with them.

Qualifications

• A degree in Economics, Finance or a business-related field.
• Experience in agriculture, digital lending or credit products.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Loan portfolio performance (NPL and Portfolio at Risk).
• Time to market/scale: time from pilot start to commercial rollout and scale milestones.
• Product development and adoption: number of farmers onboarded, adoption rate, and time to market for new lending products.
• Timely delivery of “first-time-right” solutions.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should submit their applications to:

Human Resource Manager
Tanzania Empowerment Forum Limited (TEF Consult)
 Email: info@tef.co.tz
 P.O. Box 33542, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Or

Online Application