Aceli Africa is a donor-funded, data-driven agribusiness market incentive facility with a mandate to mobilize $1.5 billion in private sector lending for agricultural SMEs in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia by 2029. To achieve this goal, Aceli offers financial incentives to increase the risk appetite of 40+ global and local financial institutions to make loans ranging from USD $15K-$1.75M to inclusive agricultural SMEs. Financial incentives (Portfolio First Loss Cover and Origination Incentives) have been designed based on an original dataset that Aceli gathered and analyzed in collaboration with Dalberg Advisors. Aceli also facilitates technical assistance to expand the ability of high-potential SMEs to qualify for and manage financing as well as capacity building for lenders to serve this market. Aceli’s vision is to catalyze a more competitive lending market for agri-SMEs and demonstrate a model that can be scaled across Africa. 

Since launching in September 2020, Aceli has supported its financial institution partners in making 2,800+ loans to SMEs creating market linkages for over 1Million smallholder farmers. Leading bilateral and philanthropic donors, including Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Global Affairs Canada, IKEA Foundation, Norwegian Agency for Development, Swiss Development Corporation, UK FCDO, and USAID, have committed over $93 million to Aceli for 2020-29.

The role will report to the Senior Manager, Impact & Learning and is a full-time position with Aceli Kenya, a Company Limited by Guarantee registered under Kenyan law, and affiliated with Aceli Africa, a US nonprofit entity.

The Senior Associate will work closely with Aceli functional teams focused on financial incentives and technical assistance across all five countries in East and Southern Africa where Aceli is active.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Evaluation (50%)

• Support the implementation of Aceli’s Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Strategy and Framework and update it annually.
• Collaborate with the International Growth Centre (IGC) and Busara Centre of Behavioral Economics to implement the evaluation of Aceli Financial Incentives and Technical Assistance program.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of enterprise and farmer-level surveys in partnership with 60 Decibels.

2. Learning (25%)

• Support the coordination of research commissioning by reviewing and providing input into proposals shortlisted by IGC under the Agri-SME Evidence Fund.  
• Consolidate evidence generated from evaluations and distill key learning from lender capacity building programs, climate and environment advisory initiatives, and other evaluation activities.
• Support the tracking of Key Performance Indicators and support the development of impact profiles of Aceli supported loans and SMEs receiving Technical Assistance.
• Support the drafting of learning outputs and case studies.

3. ESG and compliance (25%)

• Support the ESG assessment for lenders applying to join Aceli’s incentives programme and engage participating lenders to ensure compliance with Aceli’s ESG policy.
• Support Aceli’s Country Teams in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia with outreach and training of lenders on Aceli’s ESG and Impact criteria.
• Coordinate the Climate & Environment (C&E) verification exercise conducted for SMEs registered by lenders as meeting C&E standards across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.
• Coordinate negative screening to ensure that all Aceli supported activities meet our ESG policy through mapping SMEs receiving TA and financial incentives on a monthly basis.

• A bachelor’s degree/equivalent in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Social Studies, Business Administration, or another relevant field.
• Five (5) to Eight (8) years of full-time monitoring and evaluation experience in a development finance context.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong ability exercise judgement, when necessary, apply critical thought process in activities and proactive problem solving.
• Go-getter who takes initiative and can work independently and collaboratively with a multi- country team in a rapidly evolving environment.
• Passionate about social impact and applying financial and business acumen to improve farmer livelihoods, food security, opportunities for women and youth, and climate resilience in Kenya.
• Familiarity with agri-finance and impact measurement in the Agricultural sector is an added advantage.
• Ability to translate complex ideas and make them accessible to diverse stakeholders.
• Mature professional who is culturally sensitive and upholds the highest standard for integrity that aligns with Aceli’s values.
• Strong experience and expertise of the Microsoft Office (MS Excel, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, etc.)

Aceli is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply.

Interested candidates should submit a one-page cover letter, expressing their interest and qualifications for the role, along with an updated CV by Friday, May 23rd, 2025. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.