Background

Instructions to Applicants: Click on the "Apply now" button. Input your information in the appropriate Sections: personal information, language proficiency, education, resume and motivation. Upon completion of the first page, please hit "submit application" tab at the end of the page. Please ensure that CV or P11 and the Cover letter are combined in one file.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.

A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

Office/Unit/Project Description

UNCDF hosts the Secretariat of the Better Than Cash Alliance.

The Better Than Cash Alliance is a partnership of 80 governments, companies, and international organizations that accelerates the transition from cash to digital payments to reduce poverty, drive inclusive growth and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Billions of dollars in cash payments and transfers are made daily in emerging and developing economies, including payment of salaries, social welfare, and relief, payments to suppliers, remittances, etc. The problems with these cash payments include a lack of transparency, accountability, and security, as well as inefficiency. Furthermore, the individuals who receive the cash payments are often part of the 1.7 billion excluded from the formal financial sector. This means they are excluded from access to a range of appropriate and affordable financial services to help them save safely, take advantage of economic opportunities, and reduce their vulnerability to risk.

Shifting these payments from cash to digital has the potential to improve the lives of low-income people, particularly women - who are twice as likely to be excluded from the financial system, while giving governments, the development community, and the private sector a more transparent, time and cost-efficient, and often safer means of disbursing payments. Digitizing payments can also contribute to women’s economic participation by providing them with more control over family finances, increasing personal security, and improving economic opportunities.

The Alliance is one of the Implementing Partners for G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion and works in collaboration with its member countries to promote responsible digital payments, particularly for women, through its various interventions in GPFI.

The Alliance Secretariat works with its 80 members to navigate their digitization journeys, by:

• Providing advisory services based on member priorities
• Sharing action-oriented research and fostering peer learning
• Conducting advocacy at the national, regional, and global level

The Better Than Cash Alliance Secretariat Core Values:

• Achieving together
• Striving for excellence
• Service oriented
• Results oriented

The Scope of this IPSA Contract-Holder is to lead India initiatives along with regular support to the Better Than Cash Alliance’s Global initiatives on learnings and advisory services. In direct daily communication with the Deputy Managing Director and Head of the Asia Pacific region and fellow Alliance colleagues, this IPSA Contract-Holder will add value to the Alliance’s India work and global initiatives on Advisory Services, Research, and Learning as required. The IPSA Contract-Holder will lead the Alliance’s engagement with the Government of India supporting its G20 Presidency and other initiatives to provide Advisory Services on Digital Payments, support and management of Alliance Member engagement, relations, and initiative development and fulfillment, as well as leadership in the implementation of the approved Alliance’s learning strategy, and quality assurance for research products and Communications, as required.

Institutional Arrangement

Under the supervision of the Deputy Managing Director and Head of the Asia Pacific Region, the IPSA Contract-Holder will be driving the execution of quality advisory services, learning, and research under the Alliance thematic and in-country work.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The key responsibilities of the Programme Specialist - Lead Programme and Global Learnings on Digital Payments Advisory Services are as the following:

• Lead and advocate for the implementation of digital payment strategy in India and the Asia Pacific region through:

• Under the guidance of the Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director(s) and in consultation with the South East Asia Lead, lead the engagement with the Government of India, primarily the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of MSME, etc. to design and implement Alliance’s contributions to India’s G20 Presidency, with special focus on G20 Global Partnership for Financial  Inclusion (GPFI), where Alliance is an Implementing Partner.
• In partnership with the Communications team, lead national and global advocacy on responsible digital payments in India and more broadly in the South Asia region.
• Along with other members of Alliance India team, deliver on initiatives related to responsible digitization of small and micro women merchants, promotion of collection and analysis of gender-disaggregated data, national-level advocacy in partnership with industry bodies and civil society organizations.
• Effectively engage with various stakeholders within the UN agencies, particularly UNDP and UN Women, the Government of India, industry organizations, civil society leaders, donors, etc. to promote Alliance’s initiatives in India.
• In partnership with Global Lead of Private Sector at the Alliance, engage with corporate members in India and implement initiatives as per approved country strategy.
• Under the guidance of the Head of the Asia Pacific Region and consistent with the Global Gender strategy, provide catalytic support on strengthening gender intentionality in select advisory and advocacy services in India and the Asia Pacific Region.
• Working in close collaboration with the Alliance’s GPFI team and the Southeast Asia Regional Lead, supporting India and Indonesia G-20 initiatives with the Alliance on-demand with a focus on the UN Principles for responsible payments digitization.

Expected deliverables

• Monthly progress report on the adoption of and implementation of UN Principles for Responsible Digital Payments by the India and Indonesia G-20 members.
• Monthly project reports on 1) India, and 2) regional initiatives, tracking progress against the Alliance’s commitment to gender transformation as per our results measurement framework

• Assist in driving the execution of high-quality research and the implementation of the approved learning strategy.

In collaboration with the Digital Payments Innovation Hub team, assist in driving the execution of high-quality research and the implementation of the approved learning strategy through:

• Undertake leadership to ensure high-quality standards in Alliance research products, particularly in the Asia Pacific region.
  • In partnership with the Global colleagues, communications, and advisory teams, keep abreast of global trends monthly on digital payments innovations.
  • Undertake background research to identify frontier issues to research and share with a wider team as part of a learning strategy.
• Implementation of the approved Learning Strategy for the Alliance:
  • Continue working with concerned Alliance colleagues and LMS vendor to ensure smooth running and updates of  the contracted learning modules including a) onboarding, and b) UN Principles for Responsible Digital Payments
  • Lead discussions with key members to develop country-specific launch strategies for the launch of the UN Principles online course
  • In partnership with Regional Leads and Communications team, facilitate translation of UN Principles online learning course in other languages preferred by Alliance members
  •  In partnership with Regional Leads, deliver Peer Exchanges for Alliance's members and co-organize a minimum of 5 Peer Learning Exchanges during the duration of this contract. These could be virtual, in person, regional or global, but at least 1 should be in person.
• Active leadership on Learning for Alliance payment streams, working closely with Regional Leads and Comms specialists:
  • Actively facilitate the leads to showcase member’s experiences via learning series on the website.
  • Take active leadership in the facilitation of learning dissemination and institutionalization of insights across regions and payment streams, working alongside the comms specialists and leads. 
  • Incorporation of Responsible Agenda to all learning products.

Key Deliverables:

• Fortnightly update on work progress for:
  • Alliance’s support to India’s G20 Presidency and other initiatives in India
  • Ongoing thematic research assignments  
  • Implementation of Learning Strategy and LMS modules for the Alliance
• Smooth operation of existing online learning courses and developing new courses as per available resources.  Plan for Peer Exchanges for Alliance’s members 2022-2023
• Successful delivery of a minimum of 5 Peer exchanges (Webinars or bilateral exchanges)
• Organize at least 12 external learning sessions for the Alliance team focused on responsible and gender agenda.

Expected Results:

• Alliance’s contributions in GPFI and other workstreams under India’s G20 Presidency, as agreed with the Government of India
• Responsible for payments digitization initiatives with various Central Government Ministries and State Governments in India, particularly focusing on women in underserved regions.
• Delivery of monthly learning digest summarizing key lessons and resources related to   Alliance prioritized payment streams as agreed with hub manager.
• Delivery of weekly digest of frontier innovations

Competencies

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Required Skills and Experience