Expert – Financial Sector Development and Innovative Finance – Rwanda

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Expert – Financial Sector Development and Innovative Finance for a finance, audit, youth consultancy assignment financed by AFD in Rwanda.

Aninver Development Partners SL is currently seeking an expert in financial sector development and innovative finance for an upcoming consulting assignment in Rwanda, supported by Agence Française de Development (AFD). The initiative focuses on strengthening the country's startup financing ecosystem by improving access to finance for digital small and growing businesses, enhancing data availability, and catalysing public and private capital mobilisation.

The selected expert will play a critical role in driving evidence-based dialogue, analysing financing gaps, and designing innovative financial instruments and investment models tailored to the needs of innovative ventures. Working closely with senior decision-makers from government, financial institutions, and the private sector, this role offers an exciting opportunity to shape sustainable financing solutions within Rwanda's dynamic digital economy.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Strengthen Rwanda's startup financing ecosystem by improving the quality and availability of ecosystem data and funding readiness.
• Facilitate structured, evidence-based dialogue among senior decision-makers, financial institutions, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders.
• Generate comparative insights and evidence on startup financing models, financial instruments, and international good practices.
• Build consensus on priority reforms and practical interventions to address persistent financing constraints for digital startups.
• Produce actionable knowledge products and a pipeline of catalytic interventions to mobilise public and private investment.

Scope of work

• Conduct stakeholder consultations with key public and private sector institutions to map actors and identify financing gaps.
• Develop evidence notes, background papers, and comparative analyses of startup financing models from relevant African and international ecosystems.
• Analyze financial instruments, ecosystem challenges, and data gaps relevant to startups and small and growing businesses in Rwanda.
• Design detailed agendas and facilitation plans for high-level dialogue sessions in collaboration with key stakeholders.
• Coordinate external resource persons, speakers, and subject-matter experts for dialogue events.
• Document key discussions, decisions, action points, and track commitments between dialogue sessions.
• Synthesise findings into actionable outputs, policy briefs, and recommendations for government and ecosystem partners.

Your role as Expert – Financial Sector Development and Innovative Finance

• Lead technical analyses on financial sector development, startup finance, investment, and venture capital within the country.
• Design and assess innovative financing instruments, investment models, and blended finance solutions tailored to digital startups.
• Prepare high-quality background papers, policy briefs, and evidence notes for the high-level dialogue series.
• Engage with senior stakeholders from financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and development finance institutions.
• Contribute to the development of the Inception Report, Dialogue Framework, and Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning framework.
• Support the facilitation and moderation of dialogue sessions and stakeholder roundtable discussions.
• Formulate practical recommendations and a pipeline of catalytic interventions to improve access to finance.

Requirements

• Education: At least a Master's degree in Finance, Economics, Development Finance, Business Administration or another relevant field (Bachelor's acceptable with 2 additional years of relevant professional experience)
• Demonstrated experience analyzing or designing financing instruments, investment models or financing solutions relevant to startups and/or small and growing businesses
• Languages: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

Desirable

• At least 5 years of professional experience in financial sector development, startup finance, investment, development finance, venture capital, blended finance or related fields, preferably in Africa
• Working knowledge of French is an advantage.
• Prior experience collaborating with development finance institutions or international donors in the region.

An experienced financial sector and innovative finance specialist with a strong background in designing investment solutions and venture capital mechanisms for startups in Africa.

Assignment details

• Location: Rwanda
• Financed by: AFD
• Sector: Finance, audit, youth
• Estimated duration: 18 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a AFD-financed project in Rwanda.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.