Associate, Product Development and Planning

Job Title:       Associate, Product Development and Planning Location:      Addis Abeba Department:       Shariah Financial Solutions Office Reports To:     Manager, Product Development and Planning About Kifiya:     Kifiya is an AI-powered financial and market infrastructure company advancing inclusive economic growth across Africa. We design and deploy risk decisioning systems, intelligent financial infrastructure, and market linkage platforms that unlock credit, insurance, payments, and capital access for MSMEs and smallholder farmers. We build the AI, data, and financial infrastructure that helps financial institutions serve hard-to-finance segments at scale.   Business Unit Description     The Chief Shariah Financial Solutions Office (CSFSO) is responsible for deg, governing, and scaling Kifiya’s Shari’ah-compliant financial infrastructure and ecosystem platforms. The Office develops digitally enabled Islamic financial solutions that allow partner financial institutions, marketplaces, and ecosystem actors to deploy Shariah compliant, asset-backed, and ethically structured financing at scale. Leveraging Kifiya’s AI technology platforms, the Office structures and commercializes Shari’ah-compliant financial products and market solutions across areas such as SME and supply-chain finance, asset and device financing, embedded finance, marketplace ecosystems, and emerging Takaful and Islamic capital market instruments. The Office also institutionalizes the governance frameworks, financial structuring capabilities, and market infrastructure required to support the sustainable growth of Islamic finance within Kifiya’s ecosystem. By integrating Shari’ah governance, aligning with international standards such as AAOIFI and IFSB, and enabling ecosystem-wide deployment, the Office advances inclusive financial access and scalable Shari’ah-compliant financing solutions for SMEs, agricultural value chains, women and youth enterprises, and digital marketplace participants. Position Summary      The Associate, Product Development & Planning supports the design, analysis, documentation, and implementation of Shari’ah-compliant financial products across the Chief Shariah Financial Solutions Office ecosystem. The role assists in translating Islamic financial structures into operational product frameworks that can be deployed across partner institutions and digital platforms. This includes supporting financial structuring, preparing product documentation, conducting research on Islamic finance models, and assisting in product performance monitoring. Working closely with the Manager, Product Development & Planning, the Associate contributes to ensuring that financial products maintain Shari’ah compliance, operational feasibility, digital integration, and commercial sustainability.   Key Responsibilities     Product Structuring Support •    Assist in the development and refinement of Shari’ah-compliant financial products including Murabaha, Ijarah, Salam, Musharakah, and Wakalah structures. •    Support preparation of product concept notes, financial models, and structuring proposals. •    Contribute to the development of standardized contract templates and operational documentation. •    Ensure that product structures align with Shari’ah principles and approved jurisprudential rulings. Financial Analysis and Modeling •    Conduct financial analysis supporting product pricing, profitability projections, and portfolio performance scenarios. •    Assist in modeling profit rate structures and cost components for Islamic financing products. •    Support evaluation of capital utilization efficiency and product sustainabilit y. Product Documentation and Operational Frameworks •    Prepare product manuals, operational procedures, and product rollout documentation. •    Assist in drafting transaction workflows covering origination, asset purchase validation, profit realization, and collections. •    Maintain structured product documentation and compliance records. Research and Market Intelligence •    Conduct research on global Islamic finance practices, emerging product structures, and regulatory developments. •    Analyze market trends and competitor products within Islamic banking and fintech ecosystems. •    Support benchmarking of product structures against international standards such as AAOIFI and IFSB. Digital Product Integration Support •    Assist in translating financial product logic into functional requirements for digital platform implementation. •    Work with technology teams to ensure Shari’ah-compliant transaction workflows are properly embedded within system architecture. •    Support testing of product workflows during system development and deployment. Shari’ah Governance and Compliance Support •    Assist in preparing documentation required for Shari’ah committee product reviews. •    Maintain records of Shari’ah rulings, product certifications, and compliance documentation. •    Support internal Shari’ah audit preparation and follow-up on compliance recommendations. Product Performance Monitoring •    Assist in tracking performance indicators across deployed products including: o    financing volume o    portfolio at risk o    profit realization o    product adoption •    Support preparation of product performance dashboards and analytical reports. Key Outputs      •    Product research and financial structuring analysis •    Standardized product documentation and templates •    Product rollout documentation and operational procedures •    Financial models supporting product pricing and profitability •    Shari’ah compliance documentation and audit support •    Product performance analysis and reporting