UNCDF Jobs - 58395- Advisor, Pacific Financial Inclusion

Advisor, Pacific Financial Inclusion

Advertised on behalf of

UNCDF

Location :

Pacific Centre, Suva, FIJI

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

01-Nov-2015

Application Deadline :

10-Aug-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-5

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Three years

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

PFIP is a Pacific-wide UNCDF/UNDP joint programme helping low-income households gain access to quality and affordable financial services and financial education. PFIP aims to add one million Pacific Islanders to the formal financial sector by 2019 by spearheading policy and regulatory initiatives, facilitating access to appropriate financial services and delivery channels and by strengthening financial competencies and consumer empowerment. See http://www.pfip.org/ for details.

PFIP operates from the UNDP Pacific Centre in Suva, Fiji and has dedicated staff in Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.

PFIP currently works in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. These six countries account for 90% of the region’s population.

Donor Partners include:

Government of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
European Union through the EU PNG Delegation;
Government of New Zealand through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
UNCDF;
UNDP.

PFIP currently has a 5 year (2014-2018) budget of USD $33.7 million, with $27 million in commitments received.

The Pacific Financial Inclusion Adviser (PFIA) will have technical accountability to UNCDF (through the Portfolio Advisor, Financial Inclusion Practice Area) and corporate and operational accountability to the Manager, Pacific Centre. UNCDF will be the primary supervisor for the PFIA in the annual performance evaluation (PMD)based on input and guidance from all Programme Investment Committee members.

Duties and Responsibilities

Programme Management:

In close consultation with UNCDF and the UNDP Pacific Center, and under the overall guidance of the Programme Investment Committee (IC), the PFIA is entrusted with the overall direction, implementation and management of the programme. S/he shall organize, coordinate, supervise and administer the personnel and the resources of the programme in line with UNCDF and UNDP’s rules and regulations;
Prepare annual workplans with performance targets and budgets for Investment Committee approval. The workplans submitted to the IC will cover both the technical components of the Programme as well as its management and administration, and clearly define indicators and targets for activities,as well as input of staff, short-term technical assistance and other resources;
Prepare mid-year and annual progress reports (APRs), narrative as well as financial reports and progress and results achieved for the IC.

Policy Advice & Technical Assistance:

Help identify knowledge gaps and design responses. Contribute to drafting terms of reference in relation to the different tenders for studies, TA provision etc. Assess opportunities within the programme budget to meet capacity development needs;
Based on relevant opportunities, respond to individual governments by reviewing constraints to financial inclusion and recommending solutions or expert advice;
Undertake and/or commission market and pro-poor financial sector studies to provide evidence-based knowledge and information to policy makers, regulators and FSPs;
Serve as Secretariat to the Investment Committee, ensuring that all required documentation is available to facilitate decision-making, and that performance-based agreements with FSPs are available for signature upon approval by the IC;
Promote the adoption by all IC members of Good Practice Principles for Donor Support in line with CGAP best practices.

Project Generation and Technical Support to FSPs:

Effective management of all financial, performance and operational aspects of the grant facility, including facilitating project implementation according to annual work plan of the project, ensuring achievement of outputs;
Provide information on the programme’s grant funding to targeted FSPs and Telecoms, and identify potential FSPs and Telecoms for investment, based on capacities for growth and potential to providing financial services in an efficient and financially viable manner;
Assist applicants as needed to develop solid business plans and robust, performance-based proposals that could serve as the basis for investment, and identify an appropriate blend of grants, and technical assistance for FSPs and Telecoms to meet agreed performance targets;
Organize trainings for funded FSPs around issues where common capacity-building is required. Provide on-site TA to FSPs focused on issues specific to individual FSPs. Assist recipients to identify appropriate technical assistance providers for specialized areas not within the competence of the programme team. Advise on the options for partnerships, mergers etc. where these could lead to efficiency gains for FSPs;
Assist funded FSPs to ensure they have an MIS that can produce relevant and accurate on-time portfolio and financial data and meet reporting requirements;
The PFIA is required to monitor progress of recipient institutions by reviewing and verifying quarterly reported results through field visits, prior to facilitating the posting of participating FSPs’ results on the MIX Market website as appropriate (www.themix.org).

Knowledge Sharing and Networking:

The PFIA will network with and share knowledge with the UNCDF Financial Inclusion Advisor for Asia based at RCC as well as the UNCDF Financial Inclusion Practice Team and relevant thematic teams at RCC, RCB and Caribbean SURF;
Support the Partnerships and Business Development Adviser in carrying out the knowledge creation and dissemination roles of the programme, including the documentation of project experience and lessons learnt to be posted on the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) website www.PFIP.org;
Engage with other initiatives, such as CGAP, to see how the lessons learned and best practices from the global branchless banking pilots could be integrated into the PFIP.

Impact of key results / key performance indicators:

Programme outputs are produced on time and financial and human resources managed well to achieve the intended results of the programme;
FSPs supported to design and implement financial products, use of new delivery channels and new institutional models to serve low income and rural clients;
Use of ICT-enabled solutions for financial intermediation piloted to demonstrate potential model to deliver financial services to remote and isolated rural communities in the Pacific;
Constraints removed at macro, meso and retail levels through the provision of well-targeted policy advice and technical assistance;
Strengthened commitment by donor, regional and national partners to adopt best practices for creating inclusive financial sectors.

Nature of interactions:

Active and continuous engagement with FSPs to generate viable pro-poor financial services projects which can be supported by the programme;
Frequent travel to countries to meet with policy makers, regulators and industry actors to promote the programme, identify partnerships and programme support opportunities and to conduct monitoring of projects supported by the programme;
Build strong working relationships, supported by an effective communications strategy, with members of the Investment Committee;
High level substantive engagement with policymakers and regulators, FSPs and Telecommunication companies to identify policy advice and technical assistance needs to address specific constraints and to capitalize on opportunities;
Build strong networks with international regional and national institutions and programmes involved in financial services research, advocacy and development.

Competencies

Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of the Programme;
Plans, prioritizes, and delivers tasks on time;
Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
Responds flexibly & positively to change through active involvement;
Establishes clear performance goals, standards, & responsibilities; manages them accordingly;
Promotes a learning environment; facilitates the development of individual and team competencies;
Innovation and judgement; ability to make new and useful ideas work;

Technical/Functional Competencies:

Results-Orientation:

Plans and produces quality results to meet established goals;
Generates innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations.

Partnering and Networking:

Seeks and applies knowledge, information, and best practices from within and outside the Programme;
Strong networking capabilities and ability to associate him/herself with a range of actors with a view to building relations and facilitating links;
Conceptualizes and analyses problems to identify key issues, underlying problems and how they relate;
Contributes creative, practical ideas and demonstrates sense of entrepreneurial initiative to deal with challenging situation;
Strives for quality client-centered services (internal/external) when making decisions and taking action.

Communication:

Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills.

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements with excellence;
Uses ICT and web-based management systems effectively as a tool and resource;
Is motivated & demonstrates a capacity to pursue personal development & learn.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree from a reputable institution in finance or economics.

Experience:

Have a minimum of 10 years relevant, practical working experience within the financial sector and/or microfinance, preferably in least developed countries (LDCs) with at least 3 years demonstrated experience in managing a development programme on financial inclusion or private sector financial service for rural and lower segment markets;
Documented deep technical knowledge and experience in financial inclusion good practices for industry building, and development of inclusive financial systems and products in emerging markets;
Knowledge of latest developments in the field regarding application of technology packages to innovate in products and services – including digital financial services/mobile phone-enabled financial services;
Bank/MFI/MNO management experience is an advantage, with demonstrated experience with product development for rural, women and low income clients and micro-entrepreneurs;
Strong financial analysis and business project appraisal skills;
Familiarity with UN/UNCDF rules and procedures is an advantage;
Prepared to travel frequently throughout the Pacific region.

Language:

Full working knowledge of English, including excellent writing skills.