AGRI-FINANCE EXPERT – MALAWI TRADE AND INVESTMENT PROGRAMME (VALUE CHAINS COMPONENT)

OVERVIEW

Adam Smith International (ASI) invites applications from highly experienced agricultural finance professionals for the position of Agri-Finance Expert (AFE) under the Malawi Trade and Investment Programme (MTIP), Value Chains Component.

The Malawi Value Chains (MVC) programme is part of a six-year, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-funded initiative aimed at improving Malawi’s economic growth through increased exports.

The MVC component focuses on improving the productivity, quality, production, and export performance of the macadamia and mango value chains, while also supporting increased mining investment and exports.

The Agri-Finance Expert will provide technical assistance to medium-scale farmers (MSFs), aggregators, processors, and other agricultural market actors. The role will focus on improving farm-level financial management, assessing sources of finance, strengthening relationships with financial institutions, and helping viable agricultural businesses access appropriate financing.

JOB TYPE: Consultancy – Part-Time

Date Posted: Thursday, 29th October 2026

Application Deadline: Friday, 13th November 2026

Assignment Duration: From commencement until 31st December 2027, subject to programme requirements, funding, and satisfactory performance.

Preferred Candidates: Malawi-based applicants are strongly preferred.

POSITION: AGRI-FINANCE EXPERT

JOB SUMMARY

The Agri-Finance Expert will work as part of the Agricultural Competitiveness team, providing technical analysis, developing financial tools, delivering training, engaging financial institutions, and offering tailored advisory support to agricultural businesses.

The successful candidate will help financial institutions better understand financing opportunities in the macadamia and mango value chains. The role will also assess the demand for formal finance, review commercial and concessional financing options, improve farm financial management tools, and support selected businesses to prepare for suitable sources of finance.

The assignment requires an experienced professional who can translate complex financial concepts into practical tools and guidance for farmers, processors, aggregators, bankers, and other stakeholders.

DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Agricultural Lending Market Assessment

• Map and assess banks and financial institutions in Malawi that currently provide agricultural or agribusiness lending, or have a credible intention to enter or expand this market.
• Gather information on lending policies, eligibility criteria, appraisal and approval procedures, collateral requirements, interest pricing, loan tenors, and the structure of agricultural finance teams.
• Assess current agricultural lending portfolios, performance, growth plans, and relevant donor- or project-supported initiatives.
• Conduct interviews with financial institutions, preferably in person where practical.
• Prepare a comparative summary report identifying realistic financing pathways for medium-scale farmers, aggregators, and processors, including major barriers and information gaps.
• Submit the lending market assessment report by mid-December 2026.

2. Concessional and International Finance Review

• Review concessional and international financing sources available to Malawi-based businesses, including grants, challenge funds, impact investment funds, climate finance facilities, and development finance institutions.
• Assess relevant financing facilities offered by organisations such as FMO, MAIIC, Old Mutual, and IFC, alongside other suitable providers identified during the assignment.
• Document each facility’s purpose, target beneficiaries, financing instruments, typical financing size, eligibility requirements, application process, and timing.
• Assess the potential relevance of each financing option to MSFs and other businesses supported by the MVC programme.
• Prepare a summary report by the end of December 2026.

3. Assessment of Demand for Formal Finance

• Assess the current knowledge of the MVC programme regarding the financing needs and experiences of medium-scale farmers, aggregators, and processors.
• Design and deliver awareness sessions for macadamia and mango farmers, aggregators, and processors on suitable formal financing opportunities, including concessional finance.
• Identify businesses that are ready, or potentially ready, to access formal finance.
• Document the potential pipeline of businesses requiring support to access finance.
• Summarise levels of interest and recommended next steps by mid-December 2026.

4. Awareness and Training for Financial Institutions

• Assess the interest of formal financial institutions in financing macadamia and mango value-chain businesses.
• Determine whether financial institutions prefer individual institutional training or open training sessions.
• Design awareness-raising and training programmes for financial sector staff on financing opportunities in the macadamia and mango value chains.
• Provide guidance on the requirements for successfully structuring and completing agricultural financing transactions.
• Deliver training and awareness sessions, potentially between March and April 2027.

5. Farm Finance Model and User Guidance

• Review the existing Excel-based farm finance module used by medium-scale farmers to enter operational and financial information and generate simplified profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.
• Ensure that the model is appropriate for users’ capabilities, uses clear assumptions and definitions, and includes suitable validation checks and explanatory notes.
• Complete the review and necessary improvements by the end of January 2027.
• Work with programme management and the Agricultural Competitiveness team to assess the model’s potential use by MVC and other stakeholders, including banks, by the end of February 2027.

6. Tailored Finance-Raising Support

• Provide agreed finance-raising support to selected medium-scale farmers, aggregators, and processors.
• Review the existing portfolio of large-scale businesses and progress in facilitating access to finance.
• Recommend further support opportunities for large-scale agricultural businesses.
• Submit recommendations on possible additional support by December 2026.

7. Ongoing Technical Support and Coordination

• Provide timely technical input to other programme team members on finance-related matters.
• Work closely with colleagues, including the agronomy team, to ensure that financial advice reflects programme needs and agricultural realities.
• Participate in programme planning, review, and learning discussions.
• Communicate emerging findings, risks, and dependencies that may affect delivery.
• Maintain a regular physical presence at ASI’s office for team meetings and collaboration, with additional in-person engagement as required by the work plan.
• Prepare and edit progress updates and contribute to quarterly and annual programme reports.
• Maintain well-organised records of working documents, interview tools, datasets, Excel models, guidance materials, training resources, reports, and presentations in the appropriate MVC Microsoft Teams folders.

8. Additional Responsibilities

• Undertake additional tasks agreed with programme management following successful completion of the initial assignments.
• Ensure additional responsibilities and deliverables are documented in an agreed work plan.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

Academic and Professional Experience

Applicants should possess the following:

• At least fifteen (15) years of professional experience in agricultural finance, commercial banking, investment, corporate finance, transaction advisory, or a closely related field.
• Experience in a senior advisory or technical role.
• A strong understanding of the financing needs, operating models, and constraints of agribusinesses, including farms, outgrower schemes, aggregators, farmer organisations, and processors.
• Practical knowledge of agricultural finance products, credit appraisal processes, collateral requirements, and financing risks.
• Familiarity with financing requirements and processes used by banks, development finance institutions, impact investors, grant funds, and other capital providers.
• Experience designing and delivering structured training programmes for specific target audiences.
• Ability to translate technical financial concepts into accessible tools, guidance, and training materials for financial institutions and agribusiness owners.
• Experience working collaboratively with programme teams, senior staff, external experts, businesses, financial institutions, government institutions, and development partners.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple deliverables, meet deadlines, maintain clear records, and respond constructively to feedback.
• Excellent spoken and written English.
• Knowledge of Malawi’s agricultural and financial sectors, together with relevant local language capability.

CONTRACT DURATION AND WORK ARRANGEMENTS

• Engagement Type: Part-time consultancy.
• Expected Duration: Until 31st December 2027.
• Start Date: As soon as possible.
• Work Plan: The level and scheduling of inputs will be agreed according to programme needs and the candidate’s performance.
• Location: Malawi, with a regular physical presence at ASI’s office in Lilongwe and other in-person engagements as required.

The assignment is subject to programme requirements, available funding, and satisfactory performance.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested and suitably qualified candidates should submit the following:

• An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• A brief cover letter explaining their suitability for the Agri-Finance Expert role.

The cover letter should specifically address the applicant’s experience in:

• Agricultural finance and financial modelling.
• Engagement with banks and other financial institutions.
• Supporting agribusinesses or comparable clients.
• Developing financial tools, delivering training, and facilitating access to finance.

Application Link: https://adamsmithinternational1.recruitee.com

Closing Date: Friday, 13th November 2026

Applications may be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged.