Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) developed a Programme entitled Building an Inclusive Financial Sector in Malawi (FIMA) with the aim to contribute to poverty reduction by increasing access to financial services (loans, savings, payment services, money transfers, and/or insurance) for poor and vulnerable populations, in particular women, with priority given to increasing access to rural areas where demand for services is greatest.

The project takes a sectoral approach, situating the development of microfinance in the overall financial sector including banking and capital markets.

The project strategy will support three key components:

• Nurturing a Policy Dialogue among stakeholders to support the development of an inclusive financial sector;
• Supporting Innovations in Financial Markets that deepen and broaden access to services focusing on agricultural finance and mainly to women, savings services, and electronic banking applications;
• Building the Capacity of key institutions supporting micro, rural and agricultural finance including Reserve Bank of Malawi, the Malawi Microfinance Network, the Government, and Micro and other financial institutions, particularly
  in the areas of financial transparency, outreach and sustainability.

Within the Project Management Unit in the Ministry of Finance, the Resident Advisor will implement the strategy for inclusive financial sector development described in the Programme document, the more detailed working documents, and the approved Programme workplan in order to achieve the set up key results.

At the country level, the Resident Advisor supervises up to two (2) professional national staff and up to two (2) administrative staff of the national programme; and s/he guides one (1) Programme Officer on Financial inclusion matters as well as a Financial Inclusion team assigned to each programme.

The Resident Advisor works under the direction of the UNCDF Regional Technical Manager, Financial Inclusion Unit for Southern and Eastern Africa, and in close relationships with the UNDP Country Office, the Directorate of Economics Affairs within the Ministry of Finance and eventually the Coordinating Unit of the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion. S/He  provides technical leadership and management to the microfinance programme in the country, including responsibility for managing the project cycle.

The Resident Advisor is responsible for the effective development and execution of the Financial Inclusion in Malawi programme in the country (FIMA) in order to achieve the set up targets.

At the country level, the Resident Advisor supervises up to two (2) professional national staff and up to two (2) administrative staff of the national programme; and s/he guides one (1) Programme Officer on Financial inclusion matters as well as a Financial Inclusion team assigned to each programme;

At the corporate level, the Country Resident Financial inclusion Advisor receives overall technical leadership and policy direction from the UNCDF Financial inclusion Regional Technical Manager, keeping him/her apprised of programme opportunities and relationship developments with key stakeholders. The incumbent receives guidance and support from the Financial inclusion Portfolio Advisor on portfolio management, including disbursement of resources, financial and performance management and programme coherence at the national level; from the Regional Unit on corporate operational issues; and regarding business development/resource mobilization strategies, intelligence and tools.

The Country Resident Advisor serves as technical advisor to the UNDP country office in the area of Financial Inclusion. The incumbent partners with UNDP practice areas on policy and knowledge-related initiatives in the country, and works closely with the UNDP CO to ensure integration of Financial inclusion activities into the annual work plan of the UNDP CO annual work plan according to the objectives set up in that Programme The incumbent represents UNCDF and UNDP on Financial inclusion policy and programme matters, first and foremost with the governmental bodies, the Financial inclusion industry, central banks, donors and other investors. S/he builds strategic partnerships with key donors and investors, promoting the comparative advantages and strategic niches of UNCDF and UNDP and the Financial inclusion line of business, enhancing UNCDF and UNDP as preferred partners in the area of Financial inclusion and accelerating (non-core) resource mobilization.

Duties and Responsibilities

FUNCTIONS / KEY RESULTS

A. Summary of key functions:

• Provides technical management for the Financial inclusion programme and the implementation of its operations; and management of the Financial inclusion programme staff in the country;
• Provides technical leadership and policy advice in the area of Financial inclusion to key stakeholders in the country;
• Provides national leadership in applying business development strategies, tools and intelligence, to build and maintain strategic partnerships, capitalize on business opportunities and enhance resource mobilization for Financial inclusion in the country;
• Provides national leadership in the active acquisition and sharing of business-sensitive knowledge in Financial inclusion;
• Provides support to Financial Inclusion Regional Unit and UNCDF senior management on corporate initiatives and activities.

Under the direction of the Regional Technical Manager, Financial inclusion Regional Unit and with secondary guidance from the UNDP CO, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Financial inclusion Country Resident Advisor:

1. PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT: Provides technical management for the Financial inclusion programme and the implementation of its activities; and management of the Financial inclusion project staff in the country, focusing on achieving the following results:

• Implementation of the programme to support the National Strategy to Build an Inclusive Financial Sector in the country, ensuring soundness of technical design and strategy;
• Technical support to the Financial Service Providers (FSPs), their Network, the Central Bank, the Government and other stakeholders involved in the FIMA and to the Investment Committee of the FIMA - Fund in order to successfully implement the Action Plan of the National Strategy.

In that respect, the RA will carry out the following tasks:

• Integration of the national financial inclusion activities into the annual work plan of the UNDP CO;

Training and supervision of the national expert;

• Review of work plans of the programme team, ensuring clear performance targets are established;
• Effective management of all financial, performance and operational aspects of UNCDF national portfolio and technical operational aspects of UNDP financial inclusion investment including facilitating project implementation according to annual work plan of the programme, ensuring achievement of outputs;
• Reporting on programme achievements, delivery and other areas of accountability to Financial inclusion Regional Unit
  for input to regular performance monitoring and ROAR; financial reporting and reporting arrangements for non-core
  resources to donors;
• Effective and efficient use of ATLAS in line with project cycle; Atlas approval authority at Level 3;
• Effective and efficient management of human resources of the Financial inclusion national project staff, including staffing, work planning and performance management, in consultation with UNDP country office management and UNCDF Regional Unit, as appropriate;
• Effective and efficient management of financial resources for the Financial inclusion national project, including budget preparation, funding and reporting;
• Management of decentralized evaluation;
• A coherent programme framework with the local development service line at the national level;
• Report on the implementation and advancement of the programme. This will consist of:
• Reporting on programme achievements, delivery and other areas of accountability to Financial Inclusion Regional Unit for quarterly performance monitoring in relation to the UNDP / UNCDF data base being developed;
• Reporting on programme progress against targets to the investment committee in relation to Fund activities, Programme management and operations;
• Briefing UNDP / UNCDF on financial status on a quarterly basis;
• Reporting on the implementation and advancement of the national strategy to the investment committee and the steering committee.

2. TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP/POLICY ADVICE:  Provides technical leadership and policy advice in the area of financial
    inclusion to key stakeholders in the country focusing on achieving the following results:

• Technical leadership and support to the financial inclusion programme within the country;
• Effective and innovative programme strategies, formulation and design, involving sector assessment, dialogue and negotiations with key national stakeholders, including donors and other investors, government officials, UNDP country office, central bank and the financial inclusion industry, advancing UNCDF's comparative advantages and furthering UNCDF goals and objectives;
• Technical support to design or improve of national policy, strategy and programme, for development of enabling regulatory and legal framework and capacity-building of central bank;
• Technical guidance to Programme Officers and the country team on programme preparation and implementation,
  and technical monitoring and follow-up of their work plans;
• Technical leadership, advice and support to UNDP country office management to improve quality of UNDP's
  financial inclusion programme; effective national coordination with relevant practice areas of technical support to the country;
• Advice on policy issues emerging from design and implementation of financialinclusion promects at the country office level;

Specifically, the Resident Advisor will fulfill the following responsibilities:

1. Take a dynamic part to the Financial Sector Deepening Group (FSDG)

• Provide technical assistance to design the right mechanisms for the functioning of the FSDG;
• Provide technical support by bringing its expertise in the relevant debate;
• Prepare and organize exposure visits and relevant training programmes;
• Prepare and organize appropriate workshops on policy issues impacting the development of the financial sectors;
• Facilitate the discussions among the key stakeholders;
• Bring in the FSDG subject of discussions based on the lessons learned during the implementation of the Programme;

2.  Legal and Regulatory Framework

• Prepare a capacity building plan with the RBM outlining its capacity building needs and priorities to be addressed
  under the project;
• Prepare a workplan with the unit to implement project activities. This workplan should include capacity building
  activities as well as benchmarks and performance targets to be monitored;
• Prepare a MOU to be discussed and signed by RBM and UNDP;
• Organize exposure visits to countries/Central Banks that provide relevant lessons for the Malawi context.
• Work with RBM to ensure that an evolving legal and regulatory environment supports the development of financial sectors that serves diverse markets and includes a diverse range of institutions that provide a wide array of products and services demanded by micro and small enterprises and household/firms.

3.  Strengthening the Local Service Providers

• Identify local service provider interested in the development of the sector and with the adequate potential to efficiently serve efficiently the market;
• Prepare and propose to the I.C. a MOU to cost-share their training costs;
• Include the participant firm to the relevant training courses and workshops;

4. Capacity Building MAMN

• Discuss with MAMN their Business Plan and their training programme and needs and prepare a proposal and a performance based agreement to the I.C;
• Provide the right technical assistance (directly, through proposed sub-contract to local service providers and international expertise) and financial means according to the approved proposal and the PBA;
• Identify the right courses and organize the training for the trainers members of MAMN;
• Support the development of the website (identify the right expertise, provide guidance);
• Support the setting-up of the Resource Centre;
• Contribute to the recruit of the Executive Director and provide technical assistance;

5. Capacity Building Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) (see legal and regulatory framework)

6. Financial Institutions

• Analyze the proposal from the FSPs and present it before the I.C.;
• Prepare a PBA after approval;
• Develop tailored training, exposure, and technical assistance plans for each participating financial inclusion institution based on a Business Plan;
• Provide regular technical assistance to FSPs to help them meet their annual capacity building objectives particularly in the areas of:
• Product development
• Promotion, marketing and branch network development
• Financial management/administration
• MIS
• Human resource development/management;
• Ensure FSPs have appropriate, reliable, and transparent reporting;
• Reviewing quarterly reports and the progress of partner organizations against performance benchmarks;
• Translate and disseminate all relevant progress/technical reports;
• Subcontract other local and/or international technical service providers where relevant technical support is required;
• Support institutions and the Programme in raising new sources of financing to fund MFI expansion and growth.

3. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/EXTERNAL RELATIONS: Provides national leadership in applying business development strategies, tools and intelligence, to build and maintain strategic partnerships, capitalize on business opportunities and enhance resource mobilization for financial inclusion in the country, focusing on achieving the following results:

• Expanded support to the country to develop an appropriate financial infrastructure that will improve sustainable access to financial services to clients;
• Identification of promising investment opportunities in the country that meet established investment criteria;
• Strong national partnerships with major multilateral and bilateral organizations for business development and cost-sharing, and increases in partner co-financing of financial inclusion projects in the country;
• Strong partnership with the UNDP country office and national policy practitioners to support the government, central bank, donors and other key stakeholders in the country to successfully implement national strategies, policies and interventions to develop an inclusive financial sector;
• Advice to the UNCDF Regional Technical Manager on development of resource mobilization and communications strategies that meet needs of national programmes;
• Effective working relationships with the government, central bank, the other donors and investors civil society and the
  financial inclusion industry;
• Dialogue and outreach to key internal and external constituencies and partners, including the UNDP country office management, to increase visibility and awareness of UNCDF comparative advantages and strategic niches in financial inclusion within the country.

4. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: Provides national leadership in the active acquisition and sharing of business-sensitive knowledge in financial inclusion, focusing on achieving the following results:

• Identification, documentation and incorporation of lessons learned from financial inclusion experience in the country and at regional level, as input into portfolio management and planning at national and regional level for enhancing policy and programme support to financial inclusion and for knowledge management collaborations with key partners, particularly CGAP;
• Identification and development of new products, tools and processes in UNCDF and UNDP niche areas to better employ comparative advantages of UNCDFand UNDP in the sub-region to serve targeted clients; review of existing products, concepts and tools in financial inclusion to ensure continued effectiveness and to increase awareness of these products, tools, etc. among key stakeholders, adapting them to changes in circumstances and requirements in the country and the region;
• Collaboration with key partners and financial inclusion and financial inclusion practitioners in the country for research and development of innovative, cutting-edge strategies and approaches to sharpen delivery of financial inclusion products and services in order to better achieve UNCDF Business Plan objectives and MDG goals; sharing of experiences with key partners and stakeholders in the country;
• Development and contribution to knowledge-sharing networks on financial inclusion initiatives regionally;
• Participation and contributions to UNDP sub-practice in financial inclusion and small/medium enterprises.

Specifically, the Resident Advisor will undertake the following tasks:

• Prepare and submit to the joint I.C. the relevant documentation to set-up a Competitive Fund to support financial market innovations and capacity building based on the information provided in the Programme document;
• Provide information and training on savings mobilization and management to financial institutions in partnership with DMS;
• Facilitate the training of local professionals to support professional to support MicroSave training and toolkits to enhance new product development, particularly relating to savings services;
• Identify technical partners and support the development of innovation initiatives;
• Analyze and present before the joint I.C. the funding proposal for innovation initiatives;
• Followup the implementation of the approved proposal;
• Facilitate the dissemination of the results by publishing them and organizing results to discuss them;

5. CORPORATE SUPPORT: Provides support to Financial Inclusion Regional Unit and UNCDF management on corporate initiatives and activities, focusing on achieving the following results:

• Advice from national perspective to support annual and cumulative Regional Unit and UNCDF ROAR analyses; substantive inputs into Regional Unit work plan and UNCDF Business Plan;
• Support to development of UNCDF Financial Inclusion Regional Unit, UNCDF and UNDP programme and business strategies and to annual reviews;
• Advice to UNCDF and UNDP senior management on technical issues and business development opportunities, including inputs into corporate presentations and reports;
• Advice on technical issues, knowledge management and business development opportunities having inter-regional and corporate relevance on financial inclusion and/or UNCDF and UNDP programmes.

B. IMPACT OF RESULTS

The key anticipated results under the programme include:

• Appropriate mechanism (s) established to promote an effective policy dialogue for the development of an inclusive financial sector;
• Innovations in financial markets that extend financial services (savings, loans, payment services, money transfers, or insurance) to low-income groups, primarily in rural markets;
• Capacity of institutions operating in financial sector strengthened to increase outreach and sustainability of the sector;
• - Financial institutions
• -Microfinance network
•  -Reserve Bank of Malawi
• -Local Service Provider

The results of the work of the Financial Inclusion Country Resident Advisor have major impact on the overall effectiveness, efficiency and growth of UNCDF's and UNDP's financial inclusion programmes in the country and the region, as reflected in
the ROAR, financial delivery, business development and resource mobilization, especially of non-core resources. It has a
direct impact on the success of the Financial Inclusion Regional Unit in achieving Unit and UNCDF Business Plan objectives,
results expected in the UNCDF SRF and, finally, on achieving the MDGs. Results have a major impact on UNCDF's reputation as a preferred partner in financial inclusion and center of excellence within the country and the region, and its success engaging key actors in strategic partnerships and joint programmeming for financial inclusion projects for the country and the LDCs in the region. Finally, results have a significant impact on resource mobilization (non-core), and on the capacity of UNCDF and UNDP to successfully contribute to the building of inclusive financial sectors in the country and in the region.

Competencies

CORPORATE

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

FUNCTIONAL

• Demonstrated strong technical knowledge in field of microfinance and financial inclusion;
• Proven practical knowledge of microfinance as applied in LDC context at both local and national levels;
• Familiarity with UNDP and UN system and role of key institutions in the field of microfinance. Knowledge of UNDP field level organization;
• Comprehensive understanding of the project management cycle and managing for results;
• Knowledge of programme framework;
• Knowledge of Atlas at level required for the position.

MANAGERIAL/BEHAVIORAL

Leadership

• Focuses on impact and results for client;
• Takes initiative and calculated risks;
• Builds trust in interactions with others;
• Leads team creatively and effectively, and resolves conflicts;
• Displays positive attitude;
• Takes decisions

Managing Relationships

• Builds strong client relationships;
• Builds strong relationships with partners;
• Communicates clearly and convincingly

Task Management

• Provides quality outputs in a timely manner;
• Analyzes problems carefully and logically, leading to fact-based and practical recommendations;

Managing Complexity

• Manages projects effectively;
• Supports development of clear Unit strategy;
• Develops innovative solutions

Building and Sharing Knowledge

• Shares knowledge and experience with colleagues;
• Actively builds deep knowledge in microfinance area;
• Makes valuable practice contributions in microfinance;
• Promotes knowledge management in the Unit/Office

Learning and People Development

• Provides constructive coaching and feedback;
• Promotes learning environment in Unit/Office 

Required Skills and Experience

 Education:

• Masters degree in economics; finance, business administration, or related field

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years experience in progressively more responsible positions in microfinance, preferably in LDCs and with UN, UNCDF or UNDP experience.
• Demonstrated success in building strategic partnerships and resource mobilization.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.  Working knowledge of French is desirable.