Senior Credit Officer — Lebanon Green Agrifood Transformation for Economic Recovery (GATE)

The Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), acting on behalf of the Republic of Lebanon (the Borrower), will implement the Green Agri-food Transformation for Economic Recovery (GATE) Project, financed by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). The total Project cost is US$200 million, and the Project is scheduled to close in December 2028. Under a Subsidiary Agreement signed with CDR, Kafalat S.A.L. is mandated by the Gov. of Lebanon to implement Subcomponent 1.2 and has established a Project Management Unit (PMU) responsible for the overall management and implementation of the subcomponent. Kafalat will provide direct loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in Lebanon's agri-food and agro-tourism sectors. It will also be responsible for procurement, financial management, environmental and social (E&S) risk management and safeguards compliance, monitoring and evaluation, and overall oversight of the SME lending program. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT The objective of this assignment is to engage a full-time Credit Officer to support the GATE PMU Credit activities to the end of the GATE Project. The Credit Officer shall be responsible for the end-to-end credit appraisal, structuring, and recommendation of SME loan applications under Subcomponent 1.2, ensuring full compliance with the Lending Manual, Project Operations Manual (POM), and internal policies. SCOPE OF WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES In order to strengthen the Project Management Unit (PMU), Kafalat is recruiting a officer to support the team in fulfilling the objectives of Sub-component 1.2 under the Gate Project. The Senior Credit Officer responsibilities will be as follows: Overall responsibilities The Credit Officer will serve as the primary relationship interface between Kafalat and SME clients across the full loan lifecycle, from initial outreach through to loan closure. Specific responsibilities include: The Credit Officer holds an integrated mandate spanning the full loan lifecycle. The officer serves as Kafalat's primary client-facing contact, conducting outreach, guiding applicants through the application process, communicating Credit Committee decisions, and maintaining ongoing borrower relationships through to loan closure; Proactively identify and target eligible SME borrowers within the GATE Project's defined sectors and eligibility requirements Conduct field visits to prospective clients' business premises to assess operational reality and eligibility. Request and verify completeness of all required documentation in accordance with the approved checklist, Lending Manual, and project eligibility criteria; Review and validate all legal documentation of the borrower, including legal existence, ownership structure, authorized signatories, borrowing powers, and any litigation or legal encumbrances; Conduct credit background checks through available sources (credit bureau, banking system, public registries) to assess the borrower’s credit history and reputation; perform Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks, including completion of all required forms, verification of customer identity and beneficial ownership, screening against applicable sanction lists, and ensure accurate submission and record of all KYC/AML information within the Loan Management System (LMS); Analyze the business profile of the borrower, including operational history, ownership evolution, and key structural changes; Review, input, and analyze financial statements for at least three consecutive years, generate and interpret key financial ratios, and assess overall financial performance and sustainability; Evaluate repayment capacity through detailed cash flow analysis and debt service capacity assessment, including stress considerations where relevant; Review and analyze bank account statements to validate turnover, cash flow patterns, and consistency with declared financials; Structure the proposed loan facility, including amount, tenor, repayment schedule, and purpose, ensuring alignment with project parameters and borrower capacity; Prepare a comprehensive and well-documented credit appraisal incorporating financial, operational, and E&S considerations, with a clear recommendation (approval, rejection, or conditional approval) for submission to the Credit Manager; Coordinate closely with the Environmental and Social (E&S) Officer to support E&S screening, categorization of subprojects, and identification of required risk mitigation measures in line with the ESMS and project requirements; Assess proposed collateral to ensure compliance with internal policies, adequacy of coverage, and proper valuation by qualified third parties; Monitor loan performance post-disbursement, including tracking repayments, identifying early warning signals, and supporting collection and recovery actions in coordination with the relevant internal units, in line with established procedures; Ensure that all credit analysis, documentation, and decisions are accurately recorded and maintained within the Loan Management System (LMS); Support the credit approval process by addressing queries and providing clarifications to the Credit Manager, Credit Risk Manager, and/or Credit Committee; Follow up on approved loans to ensure fulfillment of all conditions precedent to disbursement, in coordination with the Credit Operations Function; Ensure proper filing, archiving, and maintenance of complete and audit-ready credit files; Ensure that loan proceeds are utilized strictly for the approved purposes by reviewing supporting documentation, including invoices and expenditure records, and verifying consistency between disbursements and underlying eligible expenditures in compliance with the Lending Manual, the POM and the Subsidiary agreement; Conduct periodic portfolio reviews to assess SME performance and recommend corrective measures as needed. Respond to enquiries from potential applicants, explain facility terms, eligibility criteria, and application procedures; Guide SME applicants through the application and onboarding process, assisting with completion of the loan application package and required documentation checklist; Maintain professional, ongoing client relationships with active borrowers, serving as their named point of contact at Kafalat for all operational matters; Communicate Credit Committee decisions (approvals, conditions, rejections) to applicants in a clear, professional, and timely manner; Manage borrower notifications for disbursement conditions, repayment schedules, annual review requirements, and any amendments to loan terms; Maintain accurate client contact records and correspondence logs in the Loan Management System (LMS); Support capacity building for SMEs to strengthen financial management and repayment discipline. QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS Higher degree in Economics, finance, Business or a related field. A master’s degree or relevant professional certification is an asset Minimum of 7 years of relevant working experience in Commercial lending operations loan portfolio management, and SME financing, preferably within a commercial bank. Good understanding and familiarity with the World Bank safeguard policies. Demonstrated experience in credit risk assessment, loan structuring, and monitoring of SME loans. Excellent command of Arabic and English (written and spoken); knowledge of French is an asset. Knowledge of the Lebanese banking sector, Lebanese Commercial Laws, SME financing challenges, and relevant regulatory environment. Strong analytical, negotiation, and decision-making skills Working experience with the Excellent communication and liaison skills. Proven ability to negotiate, reschedule and troubleshoot relationships with SMEs. Strong computer skills, including proficiency in loan tracking and management systems, and database management. V. Reporting and Deliverables The credit officer is expected to report to the PMU Manager. Prepare quarterly portfolio review reports assessing SME performance, collateral coverage, covenant compliance, and recommending corrective measures where applicable. Provide ad hoc reports, data extracts, and file documentation as requested by the PMU Manager, internal auditors, external auditors, or World Bank supervision missions. VI. COMMENCEMENT OF ASSIGNMENT AND dURATION The Credit Officer is expected to start his/her duties as soon as possible following contract signature. The initial Time-based contract duration is one year on a full-time basis, renewable annually based on satisfactory performance and availability of project funds.