Position: Catalytic Investment Fund Lead, Amman, Jordan

Program: Youth Grow Activity (YGA)

1. BACKGROUND

About Q2 Impact:

Q2 Impact is a global consulting firm with 25 years of experience providing data-driven and insightful solutions to accelerate development in over 97 countries. We are passionate about transforming lives and systems through knowledge-based solutions. In Jordan, Q2 Impact implements Youth Grow Activity, a five-year USAID funded project that aims to identify, design and implement successful approaches that build the self-efficacy and wellbeing of the youth in Jordan. Q2Impact takes a systems approach and works with stakeholders in Jordan specifically:

1. Enhance youth Readiness for Economic Opportunities through career counselling, entrepreneurship support and access to funds.
2. Strengthening youth leadership and civic participation on national and community levels
3. Strengthening the systems of Government of Jordan to create youth inclusive and enabling environment.

About Youth Grow Activity (YGA):

The Youth Grow Activity (YGA) is an innovative project designed to provide targeted support to youth in Jordan over the next five years (2023-2028) to empower them to become active and productive participants in Jordanian society, government, and economy. At its core, YGA emphasizes the need for Positive Youth Development (PYD) tenants to include youth and broader ecosystems in design and implementation, creating an enabling environment for youth. The Youth Grow Activity key interventions will focus on three core objectives: (1) preparing youth for economic opportunities through access to high-quality online career counselling and entrepreneurship information; (2) strengthening youth leadership through targeted support of local Youth-Led Organizations (YSOs) and Youth Serving Organizations (YLOs); and (3) strengthening youth support systems in Jordan to ensure effective youth participation, create youth inclusive and enabling environment.

2. POSITION SUMMARY AND PURPOSE

The Catalytic Investment Fund (CIF) is an early-stage entrepreneurial fund targeting startups or small businesses. The CIF aims to accelerate significant opportunities for Jordan’s young generation of business and social entrepreneurs by leveraging capital, experience, and networks at the earliest stages of the startup cycle. The CIF is designed as a catalyst for existing Jordanian investment funds that will leverage both public and private capital to make angel seed equity investments, with the aim of sustaining itself through returns on investments as Jordanian entrepreneurs, expand both regionally and globally. The fund is led by the Youth Grow Activity (YGA) and aims to be a flagship initiative for youth engagement in the coming decade. It will operate on a rules-based and transparently managed funding mechanism, emphasizing support for small startups, underutilized governorates, and marginalized communities. The CIF will provide capital as well as mentorship, expertise, and networking opportunities to all its portfolio companies and organizations.

The CIF will be investing in startups founded by Jordanian entrepreneurs between the age of 18 and 29 within any industry. The Fund will create the space:

1. For equity ownership or convertible debt in start-ups led by youth.
2. To leverage resources from the private sector, GOJ, other donors, financial intermediaries, and youth focused organizations.
3. To collaborate with networks and service providers already investing in capacity building of youth groups, youth-led and youth-serving organizations, and other organizations/institutions, for catalyzing activities in support of Youth Grow’s objectives; and
4. To meaningfully involve youth in transparent decision making, leadership, and management processes.

The Catalytic Investment Fund Lead will oversee the operation of the Catalytic Investment Fund (CIF). The CIF Lead will manage the implementing subcontractor organization which will support YGA in the design and implementation of the CIF. The CIF lead will develop work plans, coordinate with the different layers of the governance structure, plan and organize the board meetings, coordinate, and collaborate with stakeholders and prepare reports to USAID, including the Monitoring and Evaluation plan. The lead will also be responsible for CIF promotional plans and activities and to some extent communication with GoJ. The Catalytic Investment Fund Lead will work closely with, and under the oversight, of the Chief of Party to coordinate with the client, local government, and private sector stakeholders to establish and oversee the CIF.

3. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Outreach and attracting investors:

• Support deal sourcing, including marginalized groups in the different governorates and connect and leverage existing funds, USAID implementing partners, and others for deal flow.
• Work closely with the implementation partner to reach out to potential investors locally, regionally and internationally who might be interested in co- investing in the CIF or directly with startups under CIF.
• Oversee completion of all necessary agreements with investors and all related requirements.
• Ensure that the implementation partner establishes market access for young startups and links them with companies.
• Oversee the design of a program that links startups with larger companies that might be interested in collaboration with startups e.g. suppliers, product development.

CIF Governance structure and secretariat:

• Develop and seek approval of an annual Workplan.
• Lead the formulation of partnerships with the Mission, stakeholders, and other financial institutions to launch the CIF as an independent, sustainable, and impactful early-stage fund.
• Oversee the development and documentation of the CIF corporate governance structures, accountability, transparency, compliance and third-party audits along with all related Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) This includes terms of reference for the CIF Board/investment committee.
• Oversee the functionality of the board secretariat that will be hosted by the implementation partner. The secretariat will work closely with the CIF Board to identify deal flow from its network, leverage additional investment capital, provide advice to portfolio companies, and market portfolio companies, as well as the fund itself.
• Work closely with the implementing partner to develop the CIF investment and financing strategies, operational manual and SOPs including Angel investments, Equity Ownership or Convertible Debt, hybrid debt/equity financing to facilitate access at the most nascent stage of a startup.

Partnerships and stakeholder engagement

• Support entrepreneurs and youth led organizations with successful revolving lending facilities and high impact to expand their services to a larger population of youth and increase their startup lending function.
• Support the development of partnerships with local, regional and global investors to facilitate deal sourcing, due diligence, and co-investing opportunities and subsequent follow-on capital in the CIF portfolio companies.
• Identify partners, other investment funds and stakeholders that will benefit from understanding the value of a comprehensive program and approaches that particularly support underserved youth to start their businesses.
• Promote the CIF, establish new partnerships and oversee and lead the production of all communication material including sharing updates on progress and learning to VC community.

Effective CIF Monitoring and Reporting

• Oversee the implementation partners’ deal flow and the management of the portfolio.
• Review progress reports, financial analysis, investment committee due diligence, including presenting investment opportunities and evaluation criteria. Ensure the implemented activities are in alignment with YGA objectives.
• Monitor closing all investment transactions, including developing and negotiating terms, and leading on legal due diligence.
• Monitor the Fund’s financial operations, including cash management.
• Ensure loans, investment, contracts, (milestones, procurement, and technical assistance) comply with the manual and USG and CNFA policies.
• Oversee the post-investment support provided by the implementing partner to the portfolio companies, including actively monitoring and securing exits from investments as appropriate, and supporting accelerator capacity building activities.
• Collaborate with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Lead to monitor compliance and assess achievements of private sector partners, identify challenges and provide viable solutions as needed.
• Work with MEL team to set key performance indicators to monitor CIF performance and ensure effective quarterly CIF performance assessment.
• Triangulate with the client, private sector partners, local government, and other partner organizations to conduct site visits to ensure effective implementation of loans, investment, contracts, and provide compliance training, as required.
• Undertake other assignments or tasks at the request of the Chief of Party or designated representative(s).

4. MINIMUM EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in accounting, business, finance, economics, or a related field
• At least 7 years of experience in entrepreneurial ecosystems, of which 3 years include direct investment experience, either in early-stage venture capital or angel investing, and/or contract portfolios for complex donor-funded project(s) related to youth entrepreneurship, private sector investment management, and/or access to finance.
• Demonstrable ability to present and articulate a company's vision and / or investment thesis.
• Experience in actively managing and supporting a portfolio of early-stage companies.
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate business models, financial models, market opportunities, and competitive landscapes.
• Experience in fundraising and building relationships with limited partners (LPs) and potential investors.
• Strong network in the Jordan VC and start-up ecosystem
• Strong background in Venture Capital, with a proven track record of success in building and scaling startups, advising, and investing in early-stage companies, and working with accelerator programs to provide strategic guidance and mentorship.
• Leadership skills, innovation mindset, and ability to identify emerging trends.
• Experience in USAID-funded program(s) and demonstrated knowledge of USAID rules & regulations (FAR, AIDAR, ADS 303) is a plus.
• Excellent management and administrative skills; ability to negotiate budgets, reviewing financial vouchers, and expense reports.
• Demonstrated ability to interact and communicate with a wide range of stakeholders both verbally and in writing.
• Advanced oral and written communication skills in English and Arabic required.

5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

This position reports to the Chief of Party.