IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with 2,000 businesses worldwide, we use our six decades of experience to create opportunity where it’s needed most. In FY18, our long-term investments in developing countries rose to nearly $23 billion, leveraging our capital, expertise and influence to help the private sector end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org
The Economics and Private Sector Development Vice Presidency (CEDVP) is responsible for identifying and delivering on private sector diagnostic needs, drawing on resources across the WBG, to grow IFC’s capacity to deliver Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs), and present private sector perspectives in Systematic Country Diagnostics or Country Partnership Frameworks (SCD/CPF) and country strategies; developing rigorous sector economic analyses and an ex-ante project assessment framework to help guide project selection, complementing our expertise in supporting and monitoring project implementation; as well as identifying and strategically driving policy engagements that create and grow new markets for the private sector. The CEDVP also encompasses teams working on global macroeconomic analyses and prospects as well as the team in charge of gender mainstreaming in IFC. The Vice Presidency is also home to two additional operational teams and content providers focusing on Blended Finance and Climate Businesses.
The Sector Economics and Development Impact Department (CSE), part of the Economics & Private Sector Development Vice Presidency, analyzes economic sectors with a view to identifying opportunities and solutions for private sector development, and works closely with IFC Operations in formulating sector priorities and strategies. It is expected to provide technical support to operations related to structuring, appraising, and monitoring investment and advisory projects and is responsible for reporting on IFC’s impact. The department is in charge of fully developing and implementing the ex-ante project assessment framework (Anticipated Impact Measurement and Monitoring- AIMM) for investment and advisory projects throughout the project cycle, help ensure high-quality economic support for IFC operations teams on strategies and projects; and develop sector economic analyses with a focus on solutions for private sector development.
CSE is the largest department in the Economics and Private Sector Development Vice Presidency, with approximately 80 staff, comprised of mainly sector economists and results measurement specialists assigned currently to fully integrated units organized along IFC industry groupings. These include: CSE unit for Financial Institutions Group (CSEFI); CSE unit for Infrastructure and
Natural Resources (CSEIN); and CSE unit for Manufacturing, Agribusiness, and Services (CSEMA); and CSE unit for Disruptive Technology and Funds (CSEDF). For each unit, the sector economists are embedded in the respective industry groups to ensure they play a connective tissue role. Still, they are an integral part of CSE and report to CSE managers. The department also includes two additional teams in charge of economic modeling (CSEIM) composed of research economists and the CSE unit for Results Measurement and Corporate Reporting (CSECR) that support all industry groups. In short, the department offers an “end-to-end” support and impact assessments for IFC investments and advisory services, engaging upstream and downstream throughout the project cycle.
The Financial Institution Group team (CSEFI) is in charge of implementing CSE mandates and deliverables described above in relation to products including investment and advisory support for microfinance, insurance, loans to small and medium enterprises and women-owned businesses, and low- and medium-income mortgages. This includes fully developing and implementing the ex-ante project assessment framework for investment and advisory projects throughout the project cycle, monitoring and evaluating impact of both investments and advisory projects, help ensure high-quality economic support for IFC FIG teams on strategies and projects, and develop sector economic analyses with a focus on solutions for private sector development. These activities will support operations done by FIG teams to deliver investments that support growing enterprises across emerging markets. Financial sector operations comprise a significant portion (40%) of IFC’s investment operations and make important contributions to financial sector development in client countries. These operations span commercial banking, including specialized product areas such as SME banking; insurance, microfinance, housing finance, trade finance, distressed assets, and capital markets development.
The Department is looking for a Research & Credit Risk Analytics Specialist on a consultancy basis to work on a SME research and credit risk analytics project in Kenya. The consultant should be able to commit about 100 to 120 working days.
Role & Responsibilities
Collect SME application/financial/demographic, loan level and behavioral data from banks, MFIs, credit bureaus as well as market and sector level data from official statistics sources and sector associations in Kenya.
Support the development of an Analytical Framework to guide data management and analyses
Deploy data science techniques to collate, merge and harmonize various data sets to create an expansive dataset for modelling purposes.
Use appropriate statistical imputation approaches to deal with missing data depending on data structure and size, completeness and cleanliness.
Use unsupervised statistical machine learning methods eg PCA to reduce the dimensionality of the data.
Undertake advanced econometric/statistical and supervised machine learning analyses to unearth non-trivial insights on SME credit risk in various sectors in Kenya.
Work with responsible CSEFI team members and other consultants to generate insights and create narratives that support the project.
Develop comprehensive analytics reports and presentations and share insights with stakeholders.
Communicate generalizable research findings to industry specialists, sector economists, policy makers, DFIs, and other stakeholders in the financial sector working on improving access to finance for SMEs in SSA.
Selection Criteria & Competencies
At least 3 -5 years of work experience in the banking and financial services’ domain, with some experience in the development and maintenance of quantitative credit risk models / scorecards for consumer and/or wholesale portfolios
Advanced Degree (Masters/PhD) in Statistics, Economics, Mathematics, Computer Science or a Data science / modelling-related field
Strong quantitative/statistical analysis and risk modeling skills, and programming knowledge in SQL, Python/ R/ STATA etc.
Knowledge and competence in SME credit risk management, alternative credit scoring and internal risk rating.
Knowledge of international credit policies and standards eg the Basel Accords as well as procedures for computing probabilities of default (PD), exposure at default (EAD) and loss given default (LGD).
Understanding of policies and practices and applying data science processes to create measurable solutions including working with big data, business intelligence and overall expertise in technology and analytics.
Experience in successful delivery of multiple projects in data architecture, data science, machine learning, and financial modeling across the entire customer and process journeys.
Good understanding of the trends in the SME banking/ microfinance or digital financial services considering different players: incumbents (banks, MFIs) and innovators (Fintechs, telcos, tech firms, or any other company offering financial services);
Strong communication skills especially in explaining complex technical subjects in a simple/pragmatic way and stakeholder management.
Strong client relationship management skills, including the ability to develop and maintain mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships and ensure timely and appropriate follow-up;
Highly motivated, energetic, team player with excellent interpersonal skills and client service skills with the ability to multi-task, deal with conflicting priorities and deliver high quality work on schedule;
Ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, and credibly represent IFC with clients and stakeholders, including at the senior executive level;
Demonstrated excellence in scientific writing and data analysis, written and oral communication skills, and experience in advocating and communicating results particularly to a non-technical audience.
Strong understanding of data governance issues and a willingness to actively engage key stakeholders to provide lasting solutions.
Knowledge of IFC or similar operational and portfolio work and a good understanding of investment and advisory projects and areas of focus is desirable.
Please submit your application by email to rchamboko@ifc.org and ssingh13@ifc.org no later than 24 November 2021. Note that only applications that meet above criteria will be considered. Application must include both CV and Cover Letter.
Apply via :
rchamboko@ifc.org
www.ifc.org
