Associate, Blended Finance

Associate, Blended Finance

EBRD - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

London, United Kingdom

Purpose of Job

The I&P Blended Finance team is a joint unit of the Impact and Donor Partnerships departments within the Vice Presidency Policy & Partnerships with the mandate to provide seamless end-to-end services, from EBRD banking teams to donors, in the sourcing and using of concessional donor funds. The Associate Blended Finance is a member of the blended finance team with responsibilities to advise donor partnership teams in the structuring of donor fundraising for blended finance instruments and EBRD’s blended finance operations; collaborate with operational banking, policy, risk and impact teams to ensure compliance of EBRD’s blended finance operations with the DFI Principles for the Use of Blended Concessional Finance for Private Sector Projects as well as EBRD’s Staff Guidelines for the Use of Blended Concessional Finance; and contribute to knowledge products, thought leadership, training and stakeholder management.

The Associate performs a horizontal role related to concessional finance across EBRD operations. Under the guidance of the Associate Director I&P Blended Finance and as member of the I&P Blended Finance team, the incumbent is responsible for the application of the Bank's guidelines for using blended concessional finance in blended finance donor instruments and projects. Specifically the appointed person is responsible for, inter alia, advising on and assessing the use of concessional finance in EBRD projects on behalf of the Bank, maintaining and updating data relevant for concessional finance, contributing to training and knowledge products on blended finance, assisting in relevant internal processes related to concessional finance, coordinating with internal stakeholders the use of concessional finance in projects and occasionally participating in external activities related to concessional finance.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Appraises the use of concessional finance in EBRD projects in line with internal EBRD guidelines and the DFI Enhanced Principles for the Use of Blended Concessional Finance in Private Sector Operations (which EBRD helped develop and top which EBRD is a signatory);
• Builds and maintains relevant datasets to inform the use of concessional finance;
• Supports the maintenance and updates of the EBRD internal rules for using concessional finance;
• Coordinates with internal and external stakeholders concessional finance funds and applications for donor funds to ensure alignment with the guidelines and compatibility with the EBRD market building mandate;
• Provides expert input and prepares analytical and briefing notes and presentations related to blended concessional finance;
• Responsible for associated input related to concessional finance into management briefing for Board and other Committee meetings, including management responses to the Board and, on occasion, bespoke papers, presentations or other inputs for such Committees;
• Occasionally participates or represents the Bank in external events (conferences, dialogues with IFI counterparts, government officials, think tanks, etc.) in the area of blended concessional finance;
• Contributes to EBRD’s input towards the DFI Working Group on Blended Concessional Finance (Annual Report and Annual Meetings).

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

• Sound understanding of microeconomics and impact of concessional finance in building, sustaining or distorting market based allocation across competitive sectors, network industries and banking, as well as in private and public sector operations;
• A good understanding of project financing, financial analysis and structuring and the role and different incentives provided by commercial and concessional finance; an ability to understand credit analysis of investment projects is an advantage;
• Experience with effectively sizing (minimising) or allocating concessional finance gained through work in either IFIs, relevant government ministries or donor agencies would be an advantage;
• A graduate degree in economics, finance or related field; a PhD in economics, finance or closely related discipline is an advantage;
• Proven analytical and quantitative skills, including Excel and database software. Ability to set up, maintain databases, and produce dashboards. Facility with other database/analytic software (eg Stata; MatLab, R) would be an advantage;
• A proactive attitude and experience in stakeholder engagement; Good client-facing skills and experience in communicating with stakeholders; Ability to work independently;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.