UNDP Jobs - 48049- Financial Inlcusion Specialist

Financial Inlcusion Specialist

Location :

Suva, FIJI

Type of Contract :

FTA Local

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2014

Application Deadline :

29-Aug-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

NO-C

Duration of Initial Contract :

1 year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Renewable subject to performance and availability of funding.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) is a joint programme of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). PFIP receives funding support from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the European Union/Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Inclusive finance Framework Programme (EU/ACP), and the European Union in Papua New Guinea. The purpose of the PFIP is to increase access to sustainable, appropriate and affordable financial services by low income and rural people in the Pacific Island Countries (PICs). PFIP does this by providing technical advice and assistance to public and private stakeholders and by making performance-based grants to financial service providers. The primary countries of focus of the PFIP are Fiji, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Solomon Islands (SOI), Tonga and Vanuatu. PFIP also provides technical support to a similar, multi-donor, joint UNDP/UNCDF programme in Timor-Leste. PFIP is managed by the Pacific Financial Inclusion Adviser (PFIA) and is based in the UNDP Pacific Centre in Suva, Fiji. PFIP reports to an Investment Committee consisting of its donors and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

The first phase of PFIP ends June 2014. As a result of strong partnerships across the region with central banks, governments, donors and the private sector (e.g. banks, mobile network operators, etc.) PFIP was able to achieve its goal of reaching 500,000 people with affordable, appropriate and sustainable financial services. PFIP will embark on its second phase from July 2014 to 2019 where it will aim to deepen financial access to an additional 500,000 previously unbanked, low-income people in the region.

Under the direction of the PFIA, the Fiji Country Financial Inclusion Specialist (FIS) will assist PFIP in achieving its outcomes. The FIS will be based with the PFIP Team in Fiji and will have primary responsibility for managing and overseeing PFIP’s portfolio of activities in country, which are guided in part by the National Financial Inclusion Task Force (NFIT) and Fiji’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy and Financial Literacy Strategy. The FIS will play a supporting role in helping the NFIT to formulate a new National Financial Inclusion and Financial Capacity Strategy and facilitate strengthening initiatives through a variety of efforts, including but not limited to; quality and range of new and existing financial products and services, usage of and access to such products and services, consumer protection and financial literacy.

As part of PFIP, the FIS will contribute to knowledge management and sharing to promote the best practices in financial inclusion and assist in regional activities of the PFIP which might include travel to other PICs.

The FIS will play a significant role in engaging a wide range of stakeholders ranging from policy makers, financial service providers, associations, NGOs and donor agencies.

Duties and Responsibilities

Build capacity of the National Financial Inclusion Taskforce, in particular of the RBF in its role as NFIT secretariat. Ensure that the NFIT members have sufficient capacity and support to implement the national financial inclusion strategy:

Maintain close partnership and relationship ties with the members of the NFIT, in particular with the RBF in order to support interest in and execution of the national financial inclusion strategy and its Key Results Areas to expand financial inclusion in Fiji;
Assist RBF to establish a financial inclusion database and reporting mechanism consistent with the Alliance for Financial Inclusion core indicators;
Identify key knowledge constraints and organize learning, knowledge exchange, training, workshops, etc. to build the capacity and interest in relevant themes. (i.e. consumer rights and protection; financial inclusion policy, best practices, monitoring and evaluation, etc.);
Act as alternate representative of PFIP on the National Financial Inclusion Task Force. Participate in Task Force meetings and relevant working group meetings, manage PFIP’s input to those meetings and PFIP’s reporting to the Taskforce.

Donor Coordination and Partnership management support and events planning / Regular contact with partners through electronic and personal contact and well executed workshops, conferences and other learning events:

Build effective and efficient partnerships at the operational level with main funders and stakeholders at country and regional levels, including but not limited to the members of the NFIT, European Union, and the members of the Pacific Financial Inclusion Donors Working Group, which includes UNCDF, DFAT, ADB, IFC and New Zealand Aid Programme, to coordinate financial inclusion activities in country, including financial literacy, advocacy and other activities;
Provide assistance where required to the above-mentioned agencies and their consultants operating within the country. Document and share experience on partnership interactions as input into corporate business intelligence;
Develop and maintain partnerships with relevant regional and national stakeholders, for sharing of experience and to promote coordination of activities in the area of financial inclusion. Key stakeholders include PIFS, Finance Ministries, Central Banks, telecommunication companies, microfinance service providers, FSPs, and donors;
Maintain regular contact with partners, including updating and monitoring listserv , managing contact/consultant data base, and liaising with UNDP PC knowledge management and communications team;
Manage learning, advocacy events and publications on financial inclusion issues;
Builds and support partnerships through regular interaction with stakeholders and assists in the planning and execution of PFIP events in country.

With the PFIP Team, participate in the identification, development and oversight of a diverse mix of strong projects that support PFIP outcomes. Ensure that projects are running on time and smoothly, problems are identified early and remedial steps proposed:

Working with donors and stakeholders, develop a pipeline of potential projects that help PFIP achieve its outcomes. Projects will be related to branchless banking, mobile phone banking, microinsurance, remittances and potentially other areas;
With the PFIP team, work with shortlisted partners to develop strong financial inclusion projects that reach low income and rural households, including a high percentage of women;
Champion new projects, as assigned by the PFIA or FCA and conduct verification visits and due diligence of grant applicants;
Prepare project appraisal documents for presentation to the PFIP Investment Committee. These projects will involve private sector partners, such as banks, mobile network operators, insurance companies and non-bank financial institutions amongst others;
Undertake regular contact with partners to monitor the implementation of projects supported by grants from PFIP. Assist partners in fulfilling reporting requirements related to financial inclusion, including to the MIX Market as required. Monitoring shall be made against quantifiable benchmarks and efficiency indicators agreed in the grant agreement, including the validation of grantees progress reports;
Based on the findings of the monitoring visits, prepare regular progress reports to PFIP management for the purpose of reporting to the PFIP Investment Committee;
Assist in preparing grant and performance based agreement documentation for approved partners.

Manage financial inclusion research. Knowledge generation and knowledge sharing. PFIP and stakeholders are informed on current trends, market conditions, and special topics as needed:

Carry out or oversee research and studies, independently or as a counterpart to consultant(s) hired by PFIP, on various issues relating to financial inclusion in the Fiji. These may include financial services sector assessments, financial competency surveys, studies of branchless banking and mobile phone banking, agent networks, government to people payments, client preferences and uptake of financial services; micro-insurance supply and demand studies;
Provide support in organizing in-country events to disseminate knowledge and results of research, including venue and support services identification, lists invitees and invitation process;
Develop “information exchange events” for financial inclusion stakeholders and outside experts;
Contribute to PFIP technical notes, highlighting challenges, opportunities and successes in country;
Identify stakeholders from Fiji to participate in knowledge sharing opportunities, assist in managing the logistics of their participation;
Contribute, as appropriate, to global knowledge sharing to spread the information on Fiji experience in financial inclusion.

UNCDF corporate support. Provide support to PFIP management on corporate initiatives and activities:

Generate and manage donor reporting on PFIP programme activities in Fiji;
Build an effective partnership with UNDP Country Office in Fiji;
Provide advice and input from country perspective on project management/performance issues, planning and monitoring portfolio performance results for Unit and UNCDF annual/cumulative ROAR and Unit and regional work plan and UNCDF Business Plan;
As needed support PFIP team in fulfilling planning and reporting requirements to the Investment Committee, UNDP, UNCDF and its other funders.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Demonstrated broad knowledge of development issues, especially in the areas of poverty alleviation and local development;
Ability to develop project documents, corresponding budgets, and monitoring and evaluation plans;
Excellent analytical skills with proven ability to manage projects;
Comprehensive understanding of the project management cycle and managing for results;
Knowledge of UNDP/UNCDF field level organization;
Knowledge of Atlas (Enterprise Resource Planning system used by UNCDF and UNDP) at level required for the position;
Excellent speaking and writing skills in English with proven cross-cultural communication. The candidate(s) should be able to function effectively in an international, multicultural environment.

Managerial/Behavioral:

Focus on impact and results for clients and stakeholders;
Builds trust in interactions with others;
Ability to work with a multitude of stakeholders at the policy-maker, industry and community levels;
Shows initiative and manages risks;
Approaches challenges creatively and effectively;
Demonstrates integrity, exhibits high ethical standards;
Approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude and responds positively to feedback;
Committed to team work, working with other stakeholders;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure; and
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities, and resolve problems.

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modeling UN values and ethical standards;
Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all persons fairly without favoritism;
Shows strong corporate commitment; and
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNCDF and UNDP.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A Masters degree in economics, public/business administration, social sciences, or related discipline.

Experience:

A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in progressively more responsible positions in the banking, finance or development field, including in financial inclusion. Experience working in or with microfinance institutions, or financial inclusion support projects;
Experience in monitoring development projects with financial component, conducting basic financial analysis, establishing and monitoring performance-based indicators, and investigating impact;
Working knowledge of current developments in inclusive finance, including one or more of the following: branchless banking, micro-insurance, social performance, financial literacy;
Working experience and knowledge of socio-economic issues, which results in the exclusion of various groups, in particular women, from the financial sector and ability to generate strategies to address those issues; and
Working knowledge of international donor organizations and development partners and preferably experience in preparing proposals for funding;
Experience working with community-based and rural initiatives, including those related to inclusive finance;
Experience managing or conducting research, particularly related to financial inclusion;
Experience in the Pacific is preferred and ability to travel regularly within Fiji.

Language:

Fluent in English.