Background

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 49 least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their businesses by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital. UNCDF programmes help to empower women, and are designed to catalyze larger capital flows from the private sector, national governments and development partners, for maximum impact toward the Millennium Development Goals.

The Better Than Cash Alliance is an alliance of governments, companies and international organizations committed to accelerating the shift from cash to electronic payments.

Billions of dollars in cash payments are made daily in emerging and developing economies, including payment of salaries, social welfare and relief, payments to suppliers, 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 are excluded from the formal financial sector. There were approximately 2.5 billion people excluded from the formal financial sector in 2012.

Shifting these payments from cash to electronic has the potential to improve the livelihoods of low-income people by advancing financial inclusion and enabling people to save, while giving governments, the development community and the private sector a more efficient, transparent and often safer means of disbursing payments

 The Better Than Cash Alliance seeks to leverage the leadership of governments, the networks of development organizations and the expertise of the private sector in payment technologies to replace the use of cash in their programming and payment streams with electronic payments, where appropriate. It also seeks to build the financial capability of low-income clients who will benefit from electronic payments and a wider range of financial services.

The Better Than Cash Alliance:

  • advocates for the use of all forms of electronic payments where they provide a preferable payment option to cash;
  • collaborates with program partners to mobilize available technical expertise and resources to identify and implement the most effective approach to make the transition from cash to electronic payments;  and
  • conducts research, documents good practices and produces knowledge products to address the barriers to adoption and drive the effective shift from cash to electronic payments globally.

The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) serves as secretariat for the Alliance.  For more information please visit the website: http://betterthancash.org/

The Better Than Cash Alliance is looking for a part-time consultant to maintain the Better Than Cash Alliance website content and manage the overall functionality of the site.

Duties and Responsibilities

In collaboration with the Communications Specialist and the Social Media Officer, the Web Content Manager will have the overall responsibility to ensure optimal functioning and high quality of the Better Than Cash Alliance website.

Web management:

  • Ensure that the Better Than Cash website is operational 24/7 and accessible from all  locations, different browsers and mobile devices;
  • Support the Communications Team to help create, develop and manage the highest level of content quality and accuracy for the Better Than Cash website, requires working with Ruby on Rails framework and content management systems;
  • Work closely with the Communication Team and other Better Than Cash Alliance team members to update and maintain the website content to meet deadlines;
  • Ensure that the Better Than Cash website remains on-brand, user-friendly and dynamic with fresh content and copyedit and proofread all web content;
  • Utilize the multi-media tools provided within the website’s CMS to take full advantage of the website’s content development capabilities;
  • Contribute to a consistent visual image, including uniform fonts, formatting, icons, images, layout techniques, and modularization;
  • Apply consistent graphic design, page layout, templates, banners and logos in accordance with the website design and the Better Than Cash Alliance style guide;
  • Troubleshoot any problems with the website CMS during the website’s initial launch stages;
  • Keep Communications Team and other colleagues abreast of new trends and make suggestions for their integration with the Better Than Cash website;
  • Train and support CMS users within the Better Than Cash Alliance enabling them to publish content.
  • Regularly review user metrics and analytics to report back to the team and to guide decisions about content or structure.

 Communities of Practice (CoPs) management

  • Identify and map relevant Communities of Practice;
  • Work with the Knowledge Manager to develop an action plan for  the  development  and  maintenance  of  formal  and informal communities of practice for BTCA;
  • Identify tools and activities that promote CoPs participation. Manage and moderate COP;
  • Seek and promote appropriate collaboration tools to aid and assist in knowledge sharing within the COP;
  • Connect and convene various stakeholders in Communities of Practice activities;
  • Create, nurture, and develop communities of experts inside and outside UNCDF and BTCA and develop outreach plan for the relevant Communities of Practice and a strategy for increased web interactivity.

 Maintain the Photo archive

  • Update and maintain photos of the Better Than Cash Alliance on Lightroom;
  • Update photos with caption and credit on the BTCA’s Flickr page.

The consultant will work part –time and telecommute virtually as agreed with supervisor.  The consultant will be responsible for using his/her own computer.

Competencies

  • High level writing and speaking abilities in English required;
  • Proven ability to manage diverse and complex tasks required;
  • Knowledge of development issues and/or financial inclusion and/or digital payments desirable;
  • Excellent organizational, inter-personal, diplomatic, communication and administrative skills;
  • Ability to take initiative and work independently.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  •  Bachelor in related field desirable.

 Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of experience in:

  • Web development and content management, with strong design background and understanding of modern web standards, communication principles and social media platforms;
  • Working with markdown and html editors;
  • Working with Adobe Creative Suite;
  • Working with Ruby on Rails framework and content management systems (CMS).
  • Familiarity with Google Analytics;
  • Experience managing and moderating online groups, discussion boards or equivalent required;
  • Experience in photo archiving desirable;
  • Experience working with development and international organizations preferred.

Languages:

  • Proficiency in English required;
  • Proficiency in French or Spanish desirable.

Only qualified applicants will be contacted to provide a financial offer and continue with the hiring process. Applications will be rated on both technical and financial submissions, providing a weight of 70% to the technical offer and 30% to the financial offer.