Kataza– Project coordinator

1. Background Information

Job Title: Kataza– Project coordinator

Current Grade: JG E

Divisions: SPI

Reports to: Director of SPI

Direct Report: KATAZA project team

Indirect Reports: N/A

2. Contract Terms – 3 years – renewable

3. Purpose of the Job

The purpose of this role is to coordinate the implementation of the Rwanda MSMEs Financing Program – Kataza, in line with its mandate to enable access to affordable, gender-responsive, and inclusive financing solutions for young men and women-led MSMEs in rural and peri-urban areas. The position drives the program’s objectives to:

• Unlock MSME financing using de-risking tools, blended finance instruments, and guarantee/first-loss structures.
• Deepen outreach and inclusive finance, engaging 30,000 VSLAs and reaching 540,000 members to stimulate rural enterprise development.
• Strengthen institutional capabilities of participating financial institutions (PFIs), cooperatives, digital financial service providers, and ecosystem actors.
• Promote youth-led entrepreneurship, job creation, and dignified work opportunities, with 80% of opportunities earmarked for young women.

The role requires a leader who brings development financing expertise, strong values, and the ability to navigate complex relationships, convene diverse stakeholders, build trust, and influence decision making within banking structures and other implementing partners.

Working as part of the BRD Strategic Projects Implementation Department (SPI), this position holder is responsible for the quality of the implementation of all processes under the Kataza Program (project management, preparation and management of the annual work plan, procurement, reporting, identification of project pipeline to benefit from the subsidized loans, marketing, project MIS, etc.) in accordance with the approved and relevant policies, procedures and quality standards.

Success in this role requires experienced personnel with a track record of managing donor-funded projects, in project management, local economic development, entrepreneurship, and/or access to finance, coupled with the ability to multi-task and meet deadlines while ensuring all the project development objectives are met.

The incumbent needs to have passion for strong work ethic, demonstrate integrity, and have excellent working relationships with all the project stakeholders, mainly the program implementing partners that include I&M Bank, AMIR, RWAMREC, MVEND, and AMI, and ensure effective coordination of initiatives and build partnerships with relevant stakeholders, including Mastercard Foundation as a funder of the program and other partners.

4. Main Responsibilities of the Job

• Supervise and coordinate the planning and implementation of the program activities, providing proposals and liaising with the team in developing work plans, procurement, consultancies, recruitment, logistics, budgeting, and disbursements.
• Use an adaptive management approach, track performance, and apply necessary corrections and adaptations.
• Establish close collaboration and working arrangements with an interdisciplinary team composed of project staff to ensure the timely implementation of project activities, including contractual arrangements.
• Work closely with the Kataza Implementing Partners team and the participating financial institutions to ensure good coordination and collaboration, including getting technical advisories.
• Monitor and supervise the execution of program activities.
• Prepare the terms of reference and identify consultants/institutions to undertake project assignments in accordance with the approved annual Work Plan and submit required documentation to the necessary and required authorities for approval.
• Monitor and supervise the work of consultants and implementing partners, facilitate meetings and, as far as possible, ensure the timely and responsive delivery of outputs and reports.
• Maintain close contacts with the Organs in BRD by ensuring adequate communication of project activities and getting required approvals.
• Prepare and consolidate the annual Work Plans and budgets from all implementing partners for submission to Mastercard Foundation (through BRD SPI Director).
• Organize the Steering committee and convene, as required, technical meetings to provide guidance and revise reports on specific technical, policy, and legal issues in consultation with the BRD SPI Director.
• Ensure timely submission of reports to Mastercard Foundation and Other Partners in the required format as per Project Guiding Documents.
• Coordinate and initiate dissemination of good practices and lessons learned from project implementation.
• Carry out any other assignment from the Line manager or the Management of the Bank.

Strategic Program Delivery & Financing Innovation

• Drive implementation of blended finance and de-risking instruments to expand lending to youth and women-led MSMEs.
• Identify financing constraints and develop solutions with PFIs to improve product design, loan processing, portfolio risk management, and post-financing support.
• Support program outreach and marketing efforts to target underserved districts and informal enterprises transitioning into formal markets.

Multi-Stakeholder Coordination & Institutional Strengthening

• Lead coordination between implementing partners (I&M Bank, AMIR, RWAMREC, MVEND, and AMI), BRD, and Mastercard Foundation to ensure alignment, accountability, shared learning, and problem resolution.
• Facilitate capacity building for PFIs and VSLAs to enhance their ability to deliver gender-responsive and youth-centered financial products.
• Build partnerships with government ministries, private sector, development agencies, and regulators to advance program objectives and system-level change.

Policy, Learning, and Influence

• Document case studies, success stories, and lessons that inform sector policy, gender inclusion strategies, risk-sharing mechanisms, and rural financial market development.
• Support advocacy dialogues that promote enabling policies for MSME financing, especially from young women and rural entrepreneurs.

5. Performance indicators

• Quality and timely submission of Kataza reports to Mastercard Foundation.
• Number of MSMEs diagnosed and trained in business development services
• Number of MSMEs financed through the Kataza program
• Number of villages and savings loan associations digitized
• Number of villages and savings loan association members reached
• Number of dignified and fulfilling jobs created

6. Working relationships

a) All BRD departments

b) All Kataza stakeholders and partners

c) PFIs and program participants

7. Professional, academic qualifications and experience

a) Master’s degree in project management, finance, business administration, economics, rural development, access to finance, entrepreneurship, or related fields.

b) A professional qualification (CFA, CPA, ACCA, CIMA, PMP or other related advanced
degree/certification) is an added advantage.

c) A minimum of 5 years of professional experience working in Financial Services, Financial Inclusion, Impact Investment, and Market systems development.

d) Knowledge of policies, practices, industry trends, technology, and information affecting the banking industry.

8. Core competencies

a) Demonstrated team leadership, organizational and managerial skills and able to supervise a team.

b) Sound Stakeholder Management and effective interpersonal skills capable of maintaining strong relationships.

c) Skills at problem solving, developing practical solutions, and influencing key stakeholders to drive successful implementation.

d) Excellent reporting writing, communication and analytical skills.

e) Strong strategic mindset and critical thinking skills.

f) Ability to coordinate group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear and properly communicated.

g) Proven personal integrity and work ethics.

h) Working experience in donor-funded projects.

i) Negotiation skills and good communication skills (written and oral) in English and Kinyarwanda.

j) Demonstrated experience working with blended finance instruments, guarantee schemes, or financing structures targeted at MSMEs, smallholder farmers and tourism and hospitality related businesses.

k) Proven ability to navigate banking structures, credit processes, product teams, and investment committees.

l) Experience working with multi-partner consortia or ecosystem platforms, preferably in youth employment, rural development, or gender programs.

m) Strong appreciation of values-driven leadership, with integrity, humility, and service-oriented mindset.

Other competences

• Ability to bring together diverse partners and manage complex, sometimes competing priorities with diplomacy and influence.
• Strong strategic mindset to translate inclusive finance challenges into practical program actions and instruments.
• Familiarity with financial products, risk management, and different financing instruments applicable to the MSME ecosystem.
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality, social inclusion, youth empowerment, and ethical finance.