Hand in Hand Eastern Africa (HiH EA) invites qualified and experienced professionals to apply for available vacancies within its dynamic team. The organization is dedicated to supporting sustainable economic growth, entrepreneurship, and livelihoods through training, access to finance, and enterprise development. As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen operations and enhance service delivery, HiH EA is seeking competent individuals to fill the following positions:
- Access to Finance Manager
- Enterprise Support Manager
Each of these roles plays a critical part in the achievement of HiH EA’s mission to empower small-scale entrepreneurs, improve livelihoods, and contribute to community development across the region. The following sections outline the detailed job descriptions for each position.
Access to Finance Manager
Location: Kenya
Type: Full-time
Job Summary:
The Access to Finance Manager will lead the strategic and operational management of financial inclusion initiatives within Hand in Hand Eastern Africa. The position holder will be responsible for designing, implementing, and overseeing programs that enhance access to financial services for HiH EA members and small-scale entrepreneurs. This role demands strong leadership, analytical capability, and practical experience in microfinance, financial systems development, and partnership management with financial institutions and stakeholders.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Strategic Planning and Leadership
- Develop and implement the Access to Finance strategy in alignment with the organizational vision and strategic objectives.
- Lead financial inclusion interventions designed to improve access to credit, savings, and other financial products for micro and small enterprises (MSEs).
- Identify, establish, and maintain strategic partnerships with financial institutions, fintechs, and relevant stakeholders to expand financial access.
- Provide overall leadership and guidance to the Access to Finance team, ensuring optimal performance and compliance with established policies.
- Product Development and Financial Services Management
- Oversee the development, testing, and rollout of innovative financial products and services suited for HiH EA’s clientele.
- Ensure continuous assessment of market dynamics to inform the design of relevant financial products.
- Develop mechanisms to track and evaluate the performance of loan products, savings groups, and related financial instruments.
- Coordinate technical assistance to partner financial institutions to improve outreach and service delivery to MSEs.
- Capacity Building and Training
- Design and implement financial literacy and capacity-building programs for members and entrepreneurs.
- Train HiH EA staff and field officers on credit management, financial planning, and risk mitigation.
- Build the capacity of savings and credit groups to operate sustainably and manage their resources efficiently.
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting
- Establish frameworks for monitoring and evaluating Access to Finance initiatives and ensure data-driven decision-making.
- Prepare periodic reports on program performance, financial access progress, and impact assessment.
- Track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to financial inclusion, portfolio performance, and partnership effectiveness.
- Risk and Compliance Management
- Develop and implement policies that promote responsible lending and borrowing practices.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks governing financial activities and partnerships.
- Identify and mitigate potential risks associated with financial services delivery.
- Partnership and Resource Mobilization
- Collaborate with donors, government agencies, and private-sector partners to mobilize resources for financial inclusion programs.
- Prepare proposals and concept notes to attract funding for Access to Finance initiatives.
- Represent HiH EA in relevant financial inclusion forums, networks, and policy discussions.
The Access to Finance Manager will report directly to the Head of Programs and work closely with the Enterprise Development, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Strategy departments to ensure seamless integration of financial access into the broader enterprise development ecosystem.
Enterprise Support Manager
Location: Kenya
Type: Full-time
Job Summary:
The Enterprise Support Manager will be responsible for leading the enterprise development portfolio, supporting small-scale entrepreneurs to start, manage, and grow sustainable businesses. The role involves overseeing enterprise training, business development services, and value chain interventions that enhance productivity and market access. The position demands strong program management skills, technical expertise in enterprise growth, and experience in managing diverse teams and partnerships.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Strategic Leadership and Program Oversight
- Develop and implement the enterprise development strategy aligned with HiH EA’s overall strategic plan.
- Provide leadership in planning, coordinating, and monitoring enterprise support activities to ensure delivery of impactful outcomes.
- Lead the identification of high-potential value chains and business opportunities suitable for target beneficiaries.
- Coordinate the integration of enterprise growth initiatives with access to finance, market linkages, and sustainability objectives.
- Enterprise Development and Business Support
- Oversee the design and delivery of business training programs focusing on entrepreneurship, business planning, marketing, and financial management.
- Support the creation of new enterprises and strengthen existing businesses through mentorship, coaching, and advisory services.
- Promote innovation and adoption of best practices among entrepreneurs to enhance productivity and competitiveness.
- Facilitate access to markets by linking entrepreneurs with buyers, suppliers, and service providers.
- Partnership Development and Networking
- Establish and maintain strategic collaborations with public and private sector entities, NGOs, and business development service providers.
- Engage industry stakeholders to identify opportunities for joint ventures, supply chain integration, and enterprise growth.
- Represent HiH EA in forums that promote enterprise development, MSME growth, and entrepreneurship advancement.
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Oversee the collection and analysis of enterprise development data to track progress, outcomes, and impact.
- Support the M&E team in developing tools and methodologies for assessing enterprise performance.
- Document lessons learned, best practices, and case studies to inform future programming and policy engagement.
- Prepare comprehensive progress and impact reports for internal and external stakeholders.
- Team Leadership and Capacity Building
- Supervise and mentor a team of enterprise development officers and trainers.
- Build staff capacity in business development, entrepreneurship facilitation, and innovation management.
- Ensure staff performance aligns with organizational standards, program objectives, and quality benchmarks.
- Foster a collaborative and results-oriented culture within the enterprise support function.
- Resource Mobilization and Sustainability
- Support proposal writing and donor engagement efforts to attract funding for enterprise development programs.
- Ensure effective utilization of resources and adherence to budgetary provisions.
- Drive sustainability initiatives by promoting green enterprises, circular economy practices, and inclusive business models.
- Risk and Compliance Management
- Ensure that enterprise support activities are conducted in compliance with internal and external standards.
- Identify potential risks in enterprise operations and develop mitigation strategies.
- Promote ethical business practices among entrepreneurs and staff under the program.
The Enterprise Support Manager will report to the Head of Programs and will collaborate closely with other department heads, field teams, and partners to ensure that enterprise support services effectively contribute to HiH EA’s mission of economic empowerment.
General Information
Both positions require individuals with proven leadership experience, strategic thinking abilities, and a strong understanding of inclusive development approaches. Successful candidates will be expected to demonstrate high levels of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to the values and mission of Hand in Hand Eastern Africa.
The roles will involve regular travel within Kenya and, on occasion, within the broader East African region to support program implementation, partner engagement, and field monitoring.
Each role presents an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to empowering communities and promoting self-reliance through entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.
Application Process
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting their detailed application documents as per the guidelines provided in the vacancy announcements. Applications should clearly indicate the position being applied for and include all relevant supporting materials as requested.
