Grant Analyst

Institutional Background

ACGF – Afghan Credit Guarantee Foundation (ACGF) is a charitable foundation incorporated in Cologne, Germany (established in 2014). ACGF’s mission is to improve access to finance for Afghanistan’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by strengthening formal MSME finance and contributing to private-sector development, financial inclusion, and employment creation. 

ACGF’s core operations combine credit guarantees with technical assistance to partner financial institutions (PIs). Through its guarantee instrument, ACGF shares a portion of the default risk to de-risk MSME lending and expand the availability of responsible financing, including Sharia-compliant guarantee structures. In parallel, ACGF provides tailored technical assistance to strengthen PI capacity in MSME lending, including credit processes, risk management, product development, and staff capabilities, with support for transitions to Sharia-compliant financing models in Afghanistan. 

In addition, ACGF provides direct support services to MSMEs through matching grants and market education initiatives that stimulate investment and strengthen enterprise resilience, with a focus on strategic target groups, including returnees, youths, women-owned businesses and rural MSMEs. ACGF maintains an in-country presence through its ACGF INGO in Kabul, registered with the Ministry of Economy in November 2024, to support implementation and stakeholder engagement in Afghanistan.

Position Purpose

The Grant Analyst supports ACGF in implementing a Matching Grant Program by conducting independent appraisal of MSMEs that apply for a grant. This includes verifying compliance with eligibility and selection criteria, assessing business viability and reasonability of the proposed investment plans, as well as supporting transparent, evidence-based decision-making throughout the grant process. The role ensures that grant cases are appraised, documented, monitored, and reported in line with program rules, internal controls, and the cooperation framework with BDS providers and partner institutions. In addition, the role is responsible for maintaining a professional, transparent and cooperative relationship with the staff of PIs and BDS providers while staying current with micro and SME market developments in Afghanistan and actively supporting ACGF INGO in business development initiatives.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

1.    Identify eligible grant applicants and perform micro grant appraisals

·         Identify, flag, and escalate any inconsistencies between application forms, site visit findings, and supporting documents, including suspected cases of fraud, duplication, or misrepresentation, and coordinate corrective adjustments with BDS providers and Partner Institutions where applicable.

·         Identify recurring weaknesses in case submissions and propose improvements to application forms, checklists, and appraisal tools to enhance the overall quality and efficiency of the grant appraisal process.

·         Conduct independent appraisals of MSME grant applications - including field visits across multiple regions - by verifying eligibility and target group fit, assessing financial information and capacity, and evaluating the reasonability of proposed investment plans; where needed, support the development of viable investment plans in close coordination with BDS providers.

·         Serve as a coordination point throughout the grant process, working closely with colleagues, BDS providers and PIs to ensure smooth application processing, and present appraisal findings and recommendations to the ACGF Grant Decision Committee.

·         Maintain complete, accurate, and auditable grant case files, including site visit data, in the MIS and SharePoint always.

2.    Strengthen the grant appraisal approach

·    Develop and maintain sector-specific benchmark standards, covering indicators such as sales prices, production capacity, operational expenses, and net profit, to serve as evidence-based proxies for assessing the reasonability of applicants' financials, investment plans, and grant needs.

·    Identify gaps in sector benchmark data, coordinate internally on necessary updates, and ensure new sector information is accurately registered and maintained.

·    Identify and escalate systematic deficiencies in the grant appraisal process to the Team Lead and actively support the development of corrective measures to address them.

·    Proactively inform the Team Lead of significant changes in market conditions, PI policies, or BDS provider practices that may impact grant program implementation.

3.    Perform grant utilization monitoring

• Perform site visits of grant beneficiaries, assessing the existence of goods in the business, impacts of the grant project and the MSME’s understanding of and satisfaction with the grant program.
• Document all monitoring findings in a comprehensive and structured manner, formulate and recommend grant validity decisions to ACGF, and coordinate findings with PIs as required.

4.    Ad-hoc support

·         Provide ad-hoc support to ACGF’s operations unit with a particular focus on grant-related tasks.

Key Selection Criteria

Education:

·         Bachelor’s degree in Banking, Finance, Accounting, Business Management, Economics, or a related field; an advanced degree in a relevant field is preferred.

Experience:

·         Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in the financial sector.

·         Practical understanding of MSME operations in Afghanistan

·         Good knowledge of the Afghan financial sector.

·         Experience in MSME grant appraisal, finance appraisal, or development finance.

·         Experience with field-based business assessment and monitoring

·         Experience in financial statement reconstruction for informal MSMEs.

·         Familiarity with investment-plan review and use-of-funds analysis.

·         Previous experience with grant programs is a plus.

Skills and Personal Attributes:

·         Strong teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills

·         Previous experience with grant programs is a plus

·         Excellent analytical skills and good reporting skills

·         Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and excellent computer skills.

·         Ability to work independently and to work confidentially

·         Flexibility and mobility

·         Ability and willingness to do field work outside of the office and to travel throughout Afghanistan.

·         Capacity to process and analyse complex financial information efficiently and accurately

·         Excellent written and spoken English and fluency in the local language are required 

What we offer

·         Competitive compensation

·         Training opportunities

·         Contribution to a visible, positive development impact in Afghanistan

·         An environment supporting autonomous and results-oriented work with short communication and decision-making processes

·         ACGF provident fund scheme

·         Daily lunch in the office

·         Transportation allowance

·         Health cost support

Communications Allowance

Submission Guidelines