Financial Inclusion Officer

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Financial Inclusion Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Improving livelihoods through economic and financial inclusion is a key component of achieving resilience, solutions and protection for refugees and other persons of concern. Economic inclusion contributes to the self-reliance of forcibly displaced persons, empowering them to meet their needs in a safe, sustainable and dignified manner, avoid aid-dependency, contribute to their host economies, and prepare for their future whether they return home, integrate in their country of asylum, or resettle in a third country.

Self-reliance is often contingent on the ability of people to have access to financial services such as loans and credit lines, savings accounts and payment services. Most forcibly displaced, in particular refugees, are today excluded from the formal financial sector, which means they lack a safe place to save and receive money, affordable ways to make payments, and access to loans to invest in a business activity or to smooth their consumption needs. Being financially excluded means that many refugees are more vulnerable to financial shocks and unexpected expenses and that they are unable to set-up or expand a business activity and make a regular income. There is a clear link between lacking access to financial services and poverty, to exclusion from the economic development of the host community, to dependency on donors¿ aid and to a sense of living an `undignified life¿. Moreover, when excluded from the mainstream financial sector, forcibly displaced are likely to turn to private intermediaries or informal moneylenders that offer credit or payment services at a much higher price, which further exacerbates their vulnerability, and can even trap them into a spiral of over-indebtedness.

To successfully advocate and support the financial inclusion of forcibly displaced, UNHCR needs a long-term vision and strategy based on a sustainable market-based approach. UNHCR needs to expand its work with the investors¿ community, with specialized development agencies in the field of financial inclusion, and with responsible and sustainable financial service providers to facilitate access for forcibly displaced to a wide range of financial services. UNHCR ¿ thanks to its presence on the ground, its relationship with local authorities and its expertise about forcibly displaced legal status, protection issues, and livelihoods needs- can play a facilitation and advocacy role, enabling and convening relevant stakeholders to include persons of concern in existing services or programs. This agenda supports the SDGs, where financial inclusion is positioned prominently as an enabler in 8 of the 17 goals, and of the Global Compact on Refugees and the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework.

The Financial Inclusion Officer will work under the supervision of the Senior Financial Inclusion Coordinator, based in the Division of Resilience and Solutions, Economic Inclusion Unit. S/he will have a broad range of tasks and responsibilities related to programs¿ design, monitoring and evaluation, partnerships¿ creation, and support of field operations. S/he will be responsible for supporting field operations with the screening and implementation of financial inclusion projects and partnerships; identifying new areas of work for UNHCR to promote access to finance for forcibly displaced in Africa; establish key partnerships with financial inclusion actors ¿ in particular investors, financial service providers and specialized development agencies.

S/he will promote awareness about the needs for access to finance for forcibly displaced and disseminate findings of UNHCR work in this area by planning and delivering on a research agenda and writing/editing relevant communication pieces and papers as needs arise.
Under the guidance of the Senior Financial Inclusion Coordinator, s/he will support the establishment and maintenance of close and effective partnerships with the financial inclusion sector, in particular investors, donors and financial service providers. S/he will also ensure UNHCR representation in appropriate regional coordination mechanisms and networks.

Responsibility
- Support UNHCR field operations to raise awareness about access to finance for forcibly displaced within the financial community and to establish partnerships with qualified financial service providers.
- Provide technical guidance to UNHCR field operations engaged in partnerships with financial service providers.
- Train financial service providers and other key stakeholders in the industry about the financial needs of forcibly displaced by organizing workshops and focus groups with refugees in field operations in Africa and neighboring regions.
- Identify and build solid partnerships with the financial sector, research institutes, competent technical agencies and others that can bring knowledge, know-how and networks in support of creating financial inclusion opportunities for forcibly displaced and hosting communities.
- Raise awareness about the needs of forcibly displaced in access to finance and on the work done by UNHCR in this area by writing/editing publications and presenting at key international events in the Africa region.
- Proactively seek new opportunities for effective shared value partnership building and resource mobilization amongst highly qualified financial institutions, as well as development actors and donors.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Authority
- In support of the Africa Bureau and regional operations and under the overall guidance of the Senior Financial Inclusion Coordinator, identify and select possible areas of intervention for implementing projects and fostering partnerships with the financial community;
- Monitor and report on results/impact of financial inclusion projects implemented by UNHCR and partners;
- Identify and assess technical assistance needs of refugees and selected financial institutions;
- Support in creating and delivering on training material for financial service providers; 
- Review project proposals coming from field offices and implementing partners to promote access to finance for forcibly displaced;
- Research and write/edit knowledge products pertaining to financial inclusion/resilience of forcibly displaced for publication.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Development Economics, International Development, or other related fields plus minimum 6 years of professional experience in the financial inclusion sector as researcher or provider. Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) plus 5 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 4 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Practical experience in conducting needs assessments of microfinance clients and analysis of results.
- Proven experience of developing training materials, organization and delivery of trainings for microfinance and banking institutions.
- Professional experience with financial and social performance data collection and due-diligence of microfinance institutions.
- Proven knowledge of the financial and social performance standards of the microfinance industry.
- Proven ability to produce high-quality presentation materials.
- Excellent written and verbal skills, including the ability to draft and edit written articles,
- Confident and articulate speaking abilities in public settings;
- Excellent computer skills including Excel, Word and Power Point.
- Fluency in English and another relevant UN language.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Experience with living and working on financial inclusion in Africa.
- Previous experience working with FDPs or migrants in the area of economic inclusion.
- Professional experience working for a microfinance investment fund or a financial service provider.
- Experience to support FSPs with improving their social performance management systems. C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X006L3 - Policy Development & Research Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3 <p>The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
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For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific security and welfare profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). These profiles have been specifically designed to answer some of the key questions (on security conditions, medical provisions, staff welfare, living and working conditions) potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care. This project is still in the pilot phase, and as such some of the information leaflets are being produced as we speak and might not be available yet. They will be soon, so keep checking. 

- Advanced University degree (M.A.) in development economics, international development, or other related fields;
- Solid knowledge of the financial inclusion sector as evidenced by minimum 8 years of professional experience in the sector as researcher or provider;
- Practical experience in conducting needs assessments of microfinance clients and analysis of results;
- Proven experience of developing training materials, organization and delivery of trainings for microfinance and banking institutions;
- Professional experience with financial and social performance data collection and due-diligence of microfinance institutions;
- Proven knowledge of the financial and social performance standards of the microfinance industry;
- Proven ability to produce high-quality presentation materials;
- Excellent written and verbal skills, including the ability to draft and edit written articles,
- Confident and articulate speaking abilities in public settings;
- Excellent computer skills including Excel, Word and Power Point;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English;
- Fluency in a second UN language, with preference for French or Arabic. Improving livelihoods through economic and financial inclusion is a key component of achieving protection and long-term solutions for the refugee situation. Economic inclusion contributes to the self-reliance and resilience of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, empowering them to meet their needs in a safe, sustainable and dignified manner, avoid aid-dependency, contribute to their host economies, and prepare for their future whether they return home, integrate in their country of asylum, or resettle in a third country. Most forcibly displaced, in particular refugees, are today excluded from the formal financial sector, which means they lack a safe place to save and receive money, affordable ways to make payments, and access to loans to invest in a business activity or to smooth their consumption needs.
Most forcibly displaced, in particular refugees, are today excluded from the formal financial sector, which means they lack a safe place to save and receive money, easy and reliable ways to make payments, and access to loans to invest in a business activity or to smooth their consumption needs. Being financially excluded means for most refugees that they are more vulnerable to financial shocks and unexpected expenses and that they are unable to set-up or expand a business activity and make a regular income. Lacking access to financial services is strictly interlinked to poverty, to exclusion from the economic development of the host community, to dependency on donors¿ aid and to a sense of living an `undignified life¿ far from home. Moreover, when excluded from the mainstream financial sector, forcibly displaced are likely to turn to private intermediaries or informal moneylenders that offer credit or payment services at a much higher price, which further exacerbates their vulnerability, and can even trap them into a spiral of over-indebtedness. Nairobi is a family duty station and has good medical facilities. Recreational facilities, schools and hotels are of international standards. Very good residential houses and compounds, as well as good banking facilities, unlimited access to communication means, such as internet, telephone Sim cards etc. There is no malaria in Nairobi, but cholera, malaria and yellow fever occur in other parts of Kenya. When entering the country, yellow fever card/vaccine is required. The crime rate in Nairobi is high and physical violence is a common feature of break into residences, carjacking and robbery. A high sense of vigilance and alertness is required

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add.4 to March 2018 Compendium is Wednesday 5 Septembe 2018 (midnight Geneva time).