Financial Services for the Poor Specialist

Job Description

Description

Heifer International is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with some form of disability.

Function

The Financial Services for the Poor Specialist will provide HRA staff and partners with technical leadership and expertise in financial inclusion for poor, rural households and micro, small, and medium enterprises, supporting improvements and innovation in commercial and non-traditional financial instruments, such as credit, savings, insurance, payment systems, and remittance services. The Specialist will play a critical role in the design, implementation, and management of the program’s technical strategy and specific activities in close collaboration with local, national, and international partners and stakeholders. The Specialist will also manage technical teams and supervise staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DELIVERABLES

Program Quality – Access to Finance

• Provide technical leadership and direction to program staff, participants, and diverse partners, including government, civil society organizations, private sector partners, communities, and households.
• Ensure high-quality program design for relevant technical areas, develop client-centered and market-driven approaches to deliver measurable impact, and ensure technical and operational excellence in the execution of program activities and services.
• Take leadership in identifying, addressing, and adapting to program quality needs and gaps as they arise. Collaborate with the Chief of Party and other senior technical staff to problem solve.
• Supervise and/or review the work of technical consultants.

Program and Technical Leadership

• Oversee activities that are responsive to communities and partners and consistent with HPI’s relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards, and strategic plan. Provide training and support for HRA staff and partners.
• With local partners, develop innovative products and approaches to increase accessible financial service provision to underserved communities in rural areas of Ethiopia.
• Particularly focus on increasing financial services access for women, boys, and girls.
• Proactively pursue partnerships with the private sector and civil society actors.
• Explore opportunities to use new technologies and/or products to increase financial inclusions.
• Integrate locally driven approaches, gender sensitivity, and capacity building into all activities, as appropriate. Certify all interventions adhere to HPI’s Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and program participant accountability standards.
• Train partners and HPI Team Members as needed.

Learning & Impact

• Work with the HRA Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to ensure that monitoring and evaluation align with program objectives, captures technical learning, and incorporate learning into program adjustments.
• Lead assessments and development of learning products, such as case studies and short articles. Contribute to the dissemination of learning products among program stakeholders.

Influence & Representation

• As needed, represent HPI at program, government, donor, NGO, or other relevant events, in close coordination with HRA leadership.
• Coordinate activities with consortium partners, subgrantees, local government, and other implementers, as well as with other HPI programs.
• Work in close collaboration with the global financial inclusion team to spread learning across programs and countries.

Job Requirement

Minimum Requirements

• Business, Finance, Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Economics, Rural Development, or related field preferred (Master’s Degree Preferred).
• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience with the US Government or other similar development programs focused on financial services for the poor, including credits, savings, insurance, payment systems, and remittance services, with an understanding of the financial services context in Ethiopia.
• Proven experience in program design, execution, operations, team leadership, and performance measurement and management.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders including national and subnational government, donors, donor-funded programs, private sector actors, and civil society organizations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Familiarity with USAID rules, regulations, and requirements is preferred.