Innovation Grant Facility Advisor Horti-LIFE Green Growth (contingent upon funding approval)

Key Responsibilities

Design & Operationalisation of the IGF

• Lead the full setup operational design and implementation of the Innovation Grant Facility ensuring alignment with the projects PURE objectives and Ethiopias horticulture context.
• Develop eligibility criteria scoring frameworks selection processes disbursement protocols milestones and reporting templates for grantees.
• Ensure the IGF fosters innovation on earlystage PURE solutions across solar irrigation biodigesters/bioslurry products solar cold storage and dryers

Technical & Business Capacity Support to Grantees

• Provide (or coordinate) technical assistance to grantees on product refinement pilot design lastmile distribution service models and customer acquisition.
• Strengthen business skills in financial management cost structure optimization pricing strategies and aftersales systems ensuring grantees meet the resultsbased requirements.

Coordination with Market Activation & Support Facility (MASF)

• Work closely with the team running the MASF to ensure synergy between performancebased incentives and earlystage innovation grants.
• Align IGF support with broader supply and demandside market activation strategies (rebates demos farmer discounts catalytic grants).

Technical Leadership in developing implementing and monitoring PURE financial instruments

• Provide high-level technical advisory services on the deployment of financial instruments and their applications in supporting PURE solution providers such as in solar-powered irrigation cold storage biodigesters/bioslurry and energy-efficient agro-processing.
• Lead business plan competitions to identify PURE solutions which can be piloted under the Innovation Grant Facility.
• Work closely with technology providers finance institutions end users and government agencies to ensure PURE solutions are technically feasible financially viable and scalable.
• Support the development of business models and financing mechanisms to scale PURE adoption among smallholder farmers and agribusinesses.

Market System Development for PURE:

• Facilitate partnerships/ linkages between technology providers agribusinesses financial institutions and farmers to develop sustainable business models
• Work with financial institutions to co-design innovative financing mechanisms such as pay-as-you-go (PAYG) lease-to-own models and blended finance solutions to de-risk PURE investments.
• Develop strategies to integrate PURE into existing agricultural markets ensuring inclusivity and benefits for women youth and marginalized groups.

Gender Youth & Social Inclusion in Innovation

• Ensure IGF-supported innovations intentionally target women youth and marginalized groups in access affordability and business participation.
• Embed inclusive design principles in product features financing mechanisms and distribution strategies.

Monitoring Evaluation & Learning (MEL) for PURE Integration

• Develop and track KPIs related to innovation performance adoption productivity impact income change and job creation.
• Produce learning briefs case studies dashboards and success stories from innovation pilots to inform adaptive management.
• Collaborate with the LEARNING team/MEL team to track progress measure impact and ensure alignment with project goals.
• Contribute to regular reporting and communication of project outcomes to donors and stakeholders.

Qualifications :

• MSc degree in a relevant field Business Management Economics or another relevant discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant working experience for masters degree or 8 years of relevant working experience for a bachelors degree. A 5 years experience managing implementing and/or supervising financial instruments including result-based financing.
• Demonstrated experience in managing innovation grant facilities preferably in the PURE market.
• Substantial hands-on experience on RBF for measuring projects and organisational results goals good knowledge of business principles and marketing techniques good public relation skills.
• Experience working with public sector organisations NGOs private sector associations and alliances. 
• Strong leadership skills and experience in partnership development and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders
• Good communication skills in English both written and spoken with excellent reporting facilitation and presentation skills.
• Has client and team-oriented attitude and perseveres in complex and challenging task environment.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Pro-active and solution driven.

Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking
• Coaching
• Focus on quality
• Result orientation
• Persuasiveness

Additional Information :

Additional Information

Contract Type: National

This position is contingent upon funding approval.

Expected start date: February 2026

Duty Station: Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Contract Duration: One Year with the possibility of extension based on performance. 

How to Apply
If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and a letter of motivation before/on the 10th of January 2026. Please submit your application only via Smart Recruiters. All information will be kept in the strictest confidentiality. 
If we see that your experience and skills match the requirements of the position we will contact you to advise on the next steps in the recruitment process.

Working at SNV  
SNV offers a challenging work environment opportunities to lead and innovate and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit form and contribute to an internal and global network of experts.

At SNV inclusivity is at the heart of our ethos. We celebrate the diversity of our workforce and uphold a policy of non-discrimination based on factors such as disability status religion ethnic origin gender sexual orientation and more.

Vetting
SNV carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for both national and International determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation sexual abuse or sexual harassment) the Statement of Conduct. This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme. 

SNV is an equal opportunities employer and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time