Lead, Inclusive MSME Finance

About this role

Financial Sector Deepening Tanzania (FSD Tanzania) is recruiting a Lead, Inclusive MSME Finance to serve as the organisation's foremost expert on extending financial inclusion to women and youth-led micro, small and medium enterprises across Tanzania. The role sits within the Programs department, reports directly to the Head of Policy, SME and Inclusive Finance, and manages the MSME Portfolio Team. The consultancy is structured as a full-time engagement based in Tanzania. The post holder will be responsible for six interconnected areas of work.

First, policy and regulatory advocacy, facilitating dialogue between government, regulators, financial service providers and consumer representatives while tracking FSD Tanzania's contribution to policy change and engaging with the private sector to understand business models and identify legal constraints. Second, thought leadership and strategy, leading comprehensive market analysis from an inclusive MSME finance perspective, commissioning research in collaboration with the Head of Research, and developing the organisation's strategy for market interventions including theories of change and results chains. Third, intervention design, leading Intervention Teams to conceptualise and present concept notes and Project Appraisal Reports, managing onboarding of implementing partners and developing implementation plans and budgets. Fourth, advocacy, communications and stakeholder relationship building, developing and executing influencing strategies to drive adoption of pro-poor financial practices among policymakers, development partners and end-users.

Fifth, programme delivery oversight, coordinating reviews and visits to adaptively manage performance, providing technical support to implementing partners and collaborating with the MRM team on data collection and learning. Sixth, risk and resource management, safeguarding programme resources and ensuring value for money across the portfolio. The ideal candidate will hold a postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline and bring demonstrated expertise in MSME finance, policy analysis and regulatory engagement with financial regulators and government ministries. Prior experience working with major development funders, familiarity with market systems development approaches, and strong analytical and communication capabilities are essential.