Senior Specialist – Housing Finance Systems

Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia

AN INTERNATIONAL LEADING NGO BASED IN ETHIOPIA

Internal/External Vacancy Announcement

Organizational Overview

Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. Habitat for Humanity has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home.

Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia (HFHE) is a branch of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI). HEHE is currently operating under Africa Habitat for Humanity International. Since it started operation in 1993, Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia has supported thousands of families and individuals. Initially focused on mortgage houses for families affected by poverty and other vulnerabilities, the organization has expanded its efforts to incorporate vulnerable group housing, urban slum upgrading, urban resilience building, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and Disaster Risk Reduction Response (DR3)-WASH Resilience Building.

Position: Senior Specialist – Housing Finance Systems

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Specialist – Housing Finance Systems plays a critical technical and strategic role within Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia’s (HFHE) Program Department, focused on expanding inclusive and sustainable housing finance solutions for low-income, marginalized, and underserved populations. This role bridges the gap between financial inclusion and affordable housing by leading the design and implementation of innovative housing finance products, fostering institutional linkages with Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and digital finance providers, and strengthening community-based financial systems such as Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and other grassroots financial mechanisms. This specialist position requires a deep understanding of the Ethiopian financial landscape, cooperative law, and the unique challenges low-income households face in accessing safe and adequate housing. The incumbent will engage in market diagnostics, product innovation, and strategy development to drive systemic change in the housing finance ecosystem. This role also ensures that financial products and delivery mechanisms are tailored to the socio-economic realities of target communities, particularly those in rural and peri-urban areas.

Working closely with internal teams and external partners, the Senior Specialist will support the integration of housing finance across HFHE’s multisectoral programming, including WASH, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and livelihoods, while contributing to cross-learning and scaling of best practices within Habitat’s global network. The role emphasizes community empowerment, institutional sustainability, and the use of market-based approaches to unlock housing finance opportunities for vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and informal sector workers.

The Senior Specialist is expected to combine technical expertise, field-based experience, policy awareness, and partnership-building acumen to deliver results at both grassroots and systems levels. This position is ideal for a dynamic professional passionate about inclusive finance and social housing transformation in Ethiopia.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Housing Finance Product Development and Strategy (35%)

• Lead the design, testing, and scaling of pro-poor housing finance products tailored to low-income households.
• Develop housing finance strategy for expanding access to housing finance, including affordability analysis, product segmentation, and risk mitigation.
• Support financial modeling, pricing, and policy alignment for products delivered through MFIs, SACCOs, VSLAs, and other institutions.
• Facilitate market diagnostics and feasibility assessments for new products and delivery channels.
• Work closely with the Program Director and partners to embed housing finance into HFHE’s integrated shelter and WASH programming.

2. Strengthening Community-Based Housing Finance Institutions (30%)

• Guide the formation, registration, and capacity building of SACCOs, VSLAs, and other informal or semi-formal financial entities involved in housing finance.
• Provide technical support on governance structures, financial education, loan management, and institutional sustainability.
• Support community mobilization, group housing approaches, and legal recognition of member-based institutions.
• Promote the inclusion of women, youth, and informal workers in group housing finance mechanisms and cooperative models.

3. Linkages and Partnerships with Financial Institutions (20%)

• Facilitate partnerships with MFIs, banks, housing cooperatives, fintechs, and digital finance providers to increase capital access for housing improvements.
• Negotiate financial and technical linkages that enhance liquidity, product uptake, and institutional viability of SACCOs/VSLAs.
• Collaborate with the Shelter Venture Lab (SVL) and other innovation hubs to pilot digital housing finance solutions, impact insurance, and bundled products.
• Represent HFHE in relevant working groups, policy discussions, and sector-wide dialogues on housing finance and inclusion.

4. Capacity Building and Technical Assistance (10%)

• Design and deliver training for MFI staff, cooperative leaders, and local housing groups on housing finance principles, product design, and financial literacy.
• Develop user-friendly tools, guides, and operational manuals for community and institutional use.
• Train local facilitators and housing champions to support the replication and scaling of housing finance models.

5. Monitoring, Learning, and Reporting (5%)

• Work with the MEAL team to develop indicators, track performance, and document learnings related to housing finance interventions.
• Generate case studies, success stories, and operational research that inform evidence-based programming and policy advocacy.
• Contribute to donor reports, project evaluations, and external knowledge sharing.

 

Duration of the contract: – 2 years with possibility of extension

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Salary: Negotiable

Required number: – 1

Vacancy Closing date: – July 5, 2025

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Housing, Development Studies, or Cooperative Management.

Experience:

• At least a minimum of 5 years of experience in housing finance, microfinance, cooperative development, or financial inclusion programming.
• Demonstrated expertise in product development and institutional strengthening of SACCOs, VSLAs, or MFIs.
• Hands-on experience in community mobilization and cooperative legal processes in Ethiopia.
• Prior involvement in affordable housing, informal settlements upgrading, or inclusive housing markets are preferred.

Technical Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of housing microfinance, cooperative finance, and inclusive financial systems.
• Strong ability to design financial products, conduct feasibility analysis, and facilitate partnerships.
• Familiarity with Ethiopia’s financial regulatory environment and cooperative sector.
• Competence in digital financial solutions and financial management systems is a plus.

Soft Skills:

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and negotiation skills.
• High level of cultural sensitivity and community engagement skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and leadership capabilities.
• Capacity to work independently, mentor teams, and manage complex multi-stakeholder projects.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Amharic is required.
• Knowledge of other local languages is an advantage.