A) Definition of Tasks

Organisational Integration:

Job Title: Impact Finance Expert – South Asia (Bangladesh with activities in Nepal)

Employment Rate (FTE): 100%

Department/ Unit: International Programmes Department (IPD) with functional linkage to Advisory Services

Location/Office: Bangladesh (with regional responsibilities for Nepal)

Report Lines and Engagements:

Position direct reports to

Country Director at Helvetas Bangladesh and Advisory Services at HO

Position indirectly reports to

Country Director at Helvetas Nepal, while working with Helvetas Nepal.

Directly Supervises

N/A

Indirectly Supervises

N/A

Internal Collaborators

Country Programme Teams (Bangladesh & Nepal), Advisory Services Unit, Business Development, MEAL, Finance, and Operations teams, Global thematic advisors as relevant

External Engagement

Donors and development partners, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Impact investors, funds, private sector actors, Public sector stakeholders and ecosystem platforms, Consulting partners and local expert organizations.

Budget Authorities

Operational authority over assigned project and advisory budgets, Budget planning, monitoring, and cost control within approved limits.

Signature Authorities

As per Delegation of Authority (DOA): project‑level documents, reports, and routine correspondence.

Key Responsibilities:

(The key responsibilities for this role may include the following but are not limited to:)

Goal 1: Business Development & Portfolio Growth

25%

Main Tasks:

• Lead the development of impact finance concepts, proposals, and mandates
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities with donors, DFIs, and private investors
• Contribute to strategic positioning and pipeline development in South Asia

Goal 2: Partnerships & Ecosystem Engagement

20%

Main Tasks:

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with public and private stakeholders
• Facilitate collaboration across government, investors, donors, and implementers
• Represent Helvetas in national, regional, and selected international forums

Goal 3: Project & Advisory Delivery

20%

Main Tasks:

• Design and implement impact finance projects and advisory assignments
• Independently deliver smaller mandates and contribute to larger multi‑country projects
• Ensure quality, relevance, and compliance with Helvetas and donor standards

Goal 4: Financial Structuring & Technical Advisory

15%

Main Tasks:

• Support blended finance structuring, financial modelling, and investment analysis
• Conduct feasibility studies, market assessments, and investment readiness support
• Contribute to financial and impact due diligence and performance analysis

Goal 5: Project Management & Reporting

10%

Main Tasks:

• Plan, budget, monitor, and report on project and advisory activities
• Coordinate with internal support functions and external partners
• Ensure timely and high‑quality donor and internal reporting

Goal 6: Knowledge, Learning & Visibility

10%

Main Tasks:

• Strengthen Helvetas’ visibility and thought leadership in impact finance
• Produce presentations, briefs, and visual materials for diverse audiences
• Contribute to institutional learning and global knowledge exchange
• Contribute to internal capacity strengthening by advising country teams on impact finance concepts, tools, and by supporting the application of these approaches in selected initiatives

B) Competence Profile

Academic qualifications

Mandatory:

• Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business, Development Studies, Public Policy, or related field.

Optional:

• Specialisation in impact investing, sustainable finance, or development finance.

Further training or skills

Mandatory:

• Financial analysis and modelling skills
• Proposal writing and project management skills

Optional:

• Training in blended finance, ESG, or impact measurement and management

Professional experiences

Mandatory:

• Minimum 8–10 years of relevant professional experience
• Experience in consulting, finance, impact investment, SME development, or development programmes
• Proven experience in business development, advisory delivery, and partner engagement

Optional:

• Prior regional experience in South Asia, especially Nepal
• Experience working with DFIs or impact investment funds

Leadership competencies

Mandatory:

• Project and workstream leadership
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and partners
• Independent decision‑making within delegated authority

Optional:

• Mentoring junior staff or consultants

Social competencies

Mandatory:

• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Cultural sensitivity and strong alignment with Helvetas’ values

Optional:

• Facilitation skills for multi‑stakeholder processes

Functional Competencies

Mandatory: 

• Impact finance and blended finance understanding
• Advisory delivery and analytical problem‑solving
• Donor and investor engagement

Optional:

• Sectoral expertise (e.g., SMEs, climate finance, inclusive finance)

Language skills

Mandatory:

• English – fluent (written and spoken)

Optional:

• Bangla (native advantage)
• Nepali or other regional languages

IT skills

Mandatory:

• MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
• Financial modelling and presentation tools

Optional:

• Data visualisation or impact reporting tools

Social skills

Mandatory:

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills

Optional:

Networking and representation skills at regional level