Access to Finance Consultant Job Vacancy at Abt Global

Job Description

Background: Launched in October 2022, the Healthcare Electrification and Telecommunications Alliance ( HETA ) is Power Africa’s flagship initiative for health facility electrification and digital connectivity in sub-Saharan Africa, implemented by Abt Associates in partnership with RESOLVE, Inc, Bechtel.org and Orange. As a global development alliance ( GDA ), our approach is to catalyze public-private partnerships to co-invest and collaboratively develop sustainable business models that increase access to reliable, renewable energy and internet connections for health facilities across the region. We are exploring a range of context-driven business models that approach energy as a service—paying for electricity delivered rather than equipment installed. Successful business models will generate revenue to ensure long-term operations and maintenance of the systems—addressing a key challenge for sustainability and creating job opportunities in the communities where we work.

Access to finance consultant:

The Access to Finance Consultant(s) will enable 100 private sector health facilities to secure financing for solar PV solutions from private financial institutions in East Africa, with a primary focus on Tanzania and/or Kenya (50 facilities in each country). On the supply side, the consultant will identify and engage with local financial institutions to assess the willingness to provide financing, terms of financing and appetite to develop/pilot innovative finance products tailored to the needs of the private health facilities. The consultant will also work closely with local financial institutions to showcase the financial/business proposition of health facility electrification and facilitate matchmaking of appropriate financiers to the health facilities. On the demand side, the consultant will be expected to support private partners to demonstrate their financial viability to local financial institutions and identify appropriate financiers and financial products in the Tanzanian and/or Kenyan markets that can meet their needs. The consultant will support private health facilities to access existing financial products that can be used for HFE efforts in the respective countries. The consultant will provide targeted technical assistance (TA) to local private sector health partners, with a focus on network aggregators (e.g., faith-based or for-profit networks, social franchises).

HETA expects to award 1-2 deliverable-based consultant agreements. These agreements will be for a duration of approximately one year and may be geographically focused (i.e. Tanzania-based or Kenya-based) or may cover both countries.

Scope of Work:

Task 1: Identification of Health Facilities Seeking Financing for HFE: The consultant, in coordination with HETA country teams, will conduct outreach to engage health facilities across Tanzania and/or Kenya, identifying those with interest in financing options for electrification. This work will take place as part of HETA’s broader initiatives to support private health care facilities and private provider networks to develop business cases for investing in off-grid solar PV systems.

Task 2: Assessment of Opportunities for Financing for HFE in Tanzania:

• Identify Key Financial Players: The consultant will conduct an assessment to identify local financial institutions (banks, microfinance institutions, etc.) willing to provide loans to health facilities for HFE in Tanzania and/or Kenya. This report will confirm available lending and investment products, and an assessment of terms and requirements to access financing for HFE.
• Financial Needs and Constraints Analysis: The consultant will evaluate the financial needs, constraints, and capacities of targeted health facilities to better understand barriers to financing and propose appropriate solutions.

Task 3: Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Building

• Facilitate Stakeholder Engagements: The consultant will participate in HETA-led workshops and awareness sessions with USAID IPs and private health facility networks to confirm stakeholders’ interest and support.
• Broker Partnerships with Financial Institutions: Building on the results of Task 2.a, the consultant will lead HETA’s efforts to build partnerships with financial institutions to solidify their interest and willingness to use existing lending products to support health facility electrification initiatives. The consultant will also match health facilities in need of financing with appropriate financial institutions and products.

Task 4: Technical Assistance to Private Health Sector Partners:

• Prepare Health Facilities for Financing: The consultant will assist health facilities and private health networks in developing and presenting due diligence documents and other relevant materials to demonstrate loan readiness to banks.

Task 5: Reporting and Knowledge Sharing

• Progress Reporting: The consultant will provide a market assessment report and regular progress reports to HETA which include successes, lessons learned, and challenges.

Deliverables:

• List of potential facilities interested in receiving financing
• Assessment report of local financing institutions
• Report on 10 facilities receiving financing (5 in Tanzania and 5 in Kenya)
• Report on 20 additional facilities receiving financing (10 in Tanzania and 10 in Kenya; 30 cumulative)
• Report on 20 additional facilities receiving financing (10 in Tanzania and 10 in Kenya; 50 cumulative)
• Report on 20 additional facilities receiving financing (10 in Tanzania and 10 in Kenya; 70 cumulative)
• Report on 30 additional facilities receiving financing (15 in Tanzania and 15 in Kenya; 100 cumulative)

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with 15+ years, Master’s with 12+ years, or PhD with 10+ years in Finance, Economics, Business, or related field.
• Experience in access to finance projects in Tanzania and/or Kenya, specifically for private health facilities or similar sectors. Ability to leverage a strong network within Tanzanian and/or Kenyan financial institutions to connect existing financial products with private health facilities for HFE.
• Experience serving as a transaction advisor for private health facilities to access financing from private financial institutions
• Strong skills in stakeholder engagement and partnerships.