Call for Applications: Reintegration Assistant - Finance Analyst (UG)

Job Description

BACKGROUND

The European Union–funded RRR Project (“Cameroon Migration Governance Enhancement”) supports Cameroon in strengthening reintegration governance, including mechanisms that promote sustainable economic reintegration for returning migrants. Financial inclusion and access to appropriate financial services are essential for the success and sustainability of reintegration pathways, as highlighted in the project’s focus on building public–private partnerships and strengthening socioeconomic reintegration frameworks (Output 2.2). 

To operationalize these commitments, the project seeks to establish strategic collaborations with financial institutionscapable of:

• Supporting migrant-led micro and small enterprises,
• Providing adapted loan and savings products,
• Acting as payment and monitoring agents for reintegration projects at local level, and
• Enhancing the financial literacy and financial resilience of returnees.

The Reintegration Assistant – Finance Analyst will lead the groundwork for identifying, negotiating, and preparing these partnerships.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

To identify, evaluate, and engage financial institutions (3–5 banks or MFIs) and develop a financial partnership model that enables migrants’ reintegration projects to be financed under the best possible conditions, including mechanisms where banks act as payment and monitoring agents at local level.

The position will produce the analytical, technical, and coordination groundwork required for IOM and the Government to formalize and operationalize such partnerships within the RRR Project.

Responsibilities

A. Financial Sector Mapping & Due Diligence

1. Conduct a comprehensive mapping of banks, microfinance institutions (MFIs), fintechs, and guarantee funds operating in Cameroon.
2. Analyse each institution’s:
   • SME and micro-entrepreneurship products,
   • youth financing schemes,
   • diaspora or migration-related products,
   • risk assessment practices,
   • interest rates and collateral requirements,
   • local presence in target regions (Littoral, Centre, East, North, West).
3. Produce financial profiles and comparative assessments to shortlist 3–5 promising institutions.

B. Development of a Reintegration Financing Model

1. Design draft financial mechanisms adapted to migrant businesses (individual, group, and community projects), aligned with RRR reintegration packages (Output 2.2) 
2. Define options such as:
   • low-collateral microloans,
   • reduced interest rates,
   • savings–loan combined schemes,
   • step-by-step disbursement linked to monitoring results,
   • risk-sharing models (guarantee fund, partial credit risk coverage).
3. Propose models for banks acting as payment agents for reintegration packages (disbursement according to approved milestones).
4. Propose monitoring mechanisms where banks verify progress of financed micro-projects at community level.

C. Engagement & Negotiation with Financial Institutions

1. Facilitate bilateral consultations with targeted banks and MFIs.
2. Present project objectives, reintegration profiles, and potential financial partnership models.
3. Identify the institutions willing to develop adapted products or partnership agreements with IOM and Government.
4. Draft initial negotiation notes, technical annexes, and concept proposals for each bank.

D. Development of Partnership Instruments

1. Contribute to the drafting of:
   • MoUs,
   • Letters of Intent,
   • Partnership Proposals,
   • Bank Engagement Agreements,
   • Operational guidelines for implementation.
2. Define roles and responsibilities between IOM, Government counterparts (MINREX, MINAS, MINJEC, MINEFOP), and the selected financial institutions.
3. Develop a risk mitigation framework and due diligence checks.

E. Capacity Building & Stakeholder Coordination

1. Support the RMO and Head of Programme in technical discussions with ministries involved in reintegration.
2. Provide technical briefs for Government counterparts to ensure alignment with national reintegration mechanisms (including the planned National Reintegration Fund).
3. Conduct small workshops with reintegration officers and partners to explain proposed financial mechanisms.

F. Reporting & Knowledge Products

1. Produce:
   • A Financial Institutions Mapping Report,
   • A Reintegration Financing Model paper,
   • Partnership guidelines for banks,
   • Draft mous/agreements ready for negotiation,
   • A roadmap for operationalizing the financial partnership mechanism within the RRR project.
2. Prepare meeting minutes, concept notes, and technical summaries.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

• High school diploma with six years of relevant experience; or,
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Banking, Economics, Business Administration, Development Studies, or related field from an accredited institution with four years of relevant professional experience

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum three years of experience in:
  • Financial analysis, microfinance, SME banking, or economic development;
  • Public–private partnerships or financial sector regulation (an asset);
  • Livelihood, entrepreneurship, or reintegration programmes (desirable).
• Experience engaging with banks, MFIs, or fintechs is highly desirable.
• Experience drafting concept notes, financial models, or partnership documents.

SKILLS

• Strong understanding of credit products, SME finance, and risk analysis.
• Ability to design financing mechanisms for vulnerable groups.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in Excel and financial modelling tools.

LANGUAGE

For this position, fluency in English, French is required (oral and written).

Required Skills

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