ESG & Impact Manager (Fund-of-Funds)

Job Description

About Investisseurs & Partenaires

Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) is an impact investment group exclusively focused on Africa’s SMEs with EUR 400M in assets under management. Since 2002, I&P has financed and supported 250 entrepreneurs in 16 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and sponsored 8 African SME funds; I&P’s team is based in 10 countries including Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Madagascar, etc. (see our website: www.ietp.com/en).

Our mission is to foster the emergence of entrepreneurs and SMEs, which are at the core of an inclusive growth and sustainable development in Africa. I&P manages several investment funds supported by development finance institutions, corporates and HNWIs.

Background on FASA

“Financing for Agri-SMEs in Africa” or “FASA” is a multi-donor fund-of-funds that aims to mobilize capital for agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises in Africa. With an initial investment of $70M, Norway and USAID launched FASA with the objective to reach $200M to be capitalized by additional public and private donors. Those contributions will then be utilized as subordinated investment capital and technical assistance support to investment funds, active in the agricultural sector across the continent.

I&P is the Fund Manager for this fund-of-funds, in charge of sourcing, assessing, and supporting the portfolio of investment funds.

About the role

I&P is seeking an ESG & Impact Manager who will implement FASA’s ESG & Impact Policy. Under the supervision of FASA’s Managing Director and with the guidance of I&P’s ESG & Impact Director, the ESG & Impact Manager will work closely with the entire FASA investment team and might travel regularly across the continent to contribute to due diligence on investment funds, monitoring of performance and capacity building for investment fund managers in FASA’s portfolio.

Specific tasks and responsibilities

Screening and due diligence of investment opportunities

• Support the investment team from screening to due diligence and assessment of investment funds, particularly regarding their ESG methodology, impact thesis and gender frameworks. This includes comprehensive analysis of investment and impact strategy, track record, pipeline, processes and governance, as well as potential participation to due diligence trips across the continent.
• Identify ESG & impact and gender gaps, and define corresponding post-investment action plans.
• Identify any fund managers’ technical assistance needs related to ESG & impact and gender topics, and define corresponding post-investment capacity building plan.
• Contribute to the drafting of investment memos.
• Support investment fund managers
• Support FASA’s investment funds with the elaboration of their ESG & impact framework, aiming at ensuring they adhere to FASA’s minimum requirements about ESG & impact practises, while increasing their attractiveness to investors. This includes a considerable capacity building element, in the context where most investment fund managers need to enhance their tools and processes.
• Provide adequate trainings about ESG standards and other related topics.
• Conduct gender knowledge assessments for fund managers and provide necessary trainings.

Monitoring and reporting

• Maintain a system for monitoring ESG & impact progress, risks and opportunities across the portfolio.
• Monitor and report on the ESG and impact performance of the portfolio, against each defined action plan, and according to FASA’s key performance metrics.
• Potentially conduct in-depth impact evaluations for certain investment funds in FASA’s portfolio.
• Lead the production of the annual impact report and present the results to FASA’s relevant committees.

Team participation

• Support and build the capacity of FASA’s investment team on its ESG & impact frameworks and methodologies, and act as a resource person for the team.
• Liaise with FASA’s Agri-Climate Partner (CGIAR Hub for Sustainable Finance (ImpactSF)) to ensure smooth implementation of FASA’s ESG & Impact Policy pre- and post-investment.
• Support with FASA’s donors’ ad-hoc requests about ESG & impact.
• Participate at building FASA’s learning materials.
• Represent FASA and I&P in the ecosystem as a FASA team member.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years of experience in ESG & impact due diligence, monitoring, evaluation and reporting for impact funds or SMEs in Africa.
• Strong exposure to ESG & impact, including gender-lens, in the African fund ecosystem. Experience in climate is a plus.
• Passion for agricultural and SME finance in Africa.
• Working experience and strong networks in East Africa or West Africa.
• Working experience with international donors and development institutions.
• University degree, MBA or equivalent, with a specialization in entrepreneurship, finance, management, business strategy or project management.
• Open-mindedness, strong ability to adapt and learn in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent analytical, synthesis, and writing skills.
• Full spoken and written English required; fluency in French or at least an interest in learning French would be an advantage as I&P’s pan-African team is bilingual.
• Mastery of Office suite.
• Fit with I&P’s values: entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to development, integrity and high standards.