Senior Financial Inclusion Coordinator

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.

Senior Financial Inclusion Coordinator

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 to UNHCR. 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, 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 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 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.
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 Senior Financial Inclusion Coordinator will work as the reference person for the organization on financial inclusion.  The Senior Financial Inclusion Coordinator will work within the Economic Inclusion Unit, under the supervision of the Chief of Section.  S/he will have a broad range of tasks and responsibilities related to strategic planning, programs¿ design, monitoring and evaluation, partnerships¿ creation, and support of field operations. S/he will be responsible for designing and coordinating the financial inclusion strategy for UNHCR at the global level; support field operations with the screening and implementation of financial inclusion projects and partnerships; identify new areas of work for UNHCR to promote access to finance for forcibly displaced; establish key partnerships with financial inclusion actors ¿ in particular investors, financial service providers and specialized development agencies; and manage multi-country programs which  require HQ direct supervision and coordination, such as the Sida-UNHCR-Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation microcredit program for refugees an host communities, the UNHCR-UNCDF facility for financial inclusion for forcibly displaced and host communities, and several others.
S/he will provide guidelines to field-operations on the criteria to follow for the selection of financially viable and socially oriented financial service providers willing to serving forcibly displaced. S/he will also select and train field operations on key indicators to track based on well- established international standards for financial inclusion.

In terms of coordination with other UNHCR operations at the HQ, s/he will be the liaison person between the Economic Inclusion and the Cash Based Intervention units for projects related to payments and digital finance, whenever overlaps exist and areas of partnership are identified. 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, represent UNHCR at key events on financial inclusion and writing relevant communication pieces and papers as needs arise.

S/he will establish and maintain close and effective partnerships with the financial inclusion sector, in particular investors, donors and financial service providers.  Where this involves the private sector, s/he will coordinate closely with Private Sector Partnerships (PSP). S/he will also ensure UNHCR representation in appropriate regional coordination mechanisms and networks.

Finally, s/he will supervise consultants that might be hired on a need-basis to support financial inclusion operations at HQ.


FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- A UNHCR global strategy for financial inclusion is conceived, disseminated and endorsed at both the Headquarter and field level.
- New projects in the area of financial inclusion are identified, planned for and successfully implemented through sustainable partnerships with relevant financial institutions, international lenders and development financial institutions.
- The impact of any project in financial inclusion supervised by the Senior Financial Inclusion Coordinator is documented and findings are widely disseminated.
- The capacity of field staff involved in financial inclusion operations is strengthened, particularly in relation to the identification of suitable financial institutions to partner with, data-collection and performance/outcomes monitoring.

Responsibility
- Create a long-term financial inclusion vision and strategy for UNHCR through the engagement of key partners, research and data;
- Manage the existing financial inclusion program in partnership with Sida and Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation, by setting a long-term vision for the program, liaising with involved parties, creating  strategy for expansion, performing monitoring and evaluation of the advancement of the program vis-à-vis its goals, disseminating and presenting findings and identifying new potential parties for the scale-up phase;
- Manage the UNHCR-UNCDF financial inclusion facility;
- 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, including the renewal of existing revolving loan schemes;
- Contribute to the development of a solid monitoring and evaluation system with clear indicators to monitor the performance of financial institutions partnering with UNHCR and in particular with respect to access to finance for forcibly displaced;
- Review and provide technical guidance to project proposals submitted by field operations in the area of access to finance for forcibly displaced;
- 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;
- Liaise with the Cash Based Interventions Section (CBI), to identify common areas of project planning and coordination to facilitate access to financial services to forcibly displaced, particularly for digital payments and remittances services;
- 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;
- Participate in joint needs assessments;
- Develop a research agenda to assess forcibly displaced demand in the area of access to finance, including remittances and satisfaction with financial products and services received; coordinate the research agenda to be implemented with other agencies or with the support of consultants;
- Raise awareness about the needs of forcibly displaced in access to finance and on the work done by UNHCR in this area by writing publications and presenting at key events;
- 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;
- Manage and supervise consultants to be hired on a project-need basis;
- Identify fundraising opportunities and draft project proposals for donors interested in collaborating with UNHCR (at its Headquarter) to promote access to finance for forcibly displaced through new project and research opportunities;
- Perform other related duties as required.

Authority
- Draft  UNHCR strategy for financial inclusion;
- In support of regional Bureaus and operations, jointly decide areas of priority and of intervention for implementing projects and fostering partnerships with the financial community;
- In coordination with partners, select FSPs with whom UNHCR will engage in single or multi-country programs;
- Select indicators for financial inclusion that field operations can use for monitoring, based on the international financial standards;
- Select consultants, as needed, to work on specific projects of financial inclusion;
- Provide inputs and support Bureaus and operations to judge the quality of project proposals coming from implementing partners to promote access to finance for forcibly displaced;
- Represent UNHCR at public events related to financial inclusion;
- Research and write knowledge products pertaining to financial inclusion/resilience of forcibly displaced for publication.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) in development economics, international development, or other related fields plus minimum 8 years previous work professional work experience at the international level working in the microfinance/financial inclusion sector in areas of project management, research, monitoring and evaluation, and partnerships creation. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 9 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 7 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- At least two years of experience with designing and managing financial inclusion programs for forcibly displaced;
- Experience with conducting workshops for FSPs and preparing training materials;
- Experience with conducting interviews and focus groups with refugees for financial needs assessments;
- Experience with setting-up lenders¿ credit guarantees in the microfinance sector;
- Experience with evaluating FSPs¿ grant proposals for technical assistance for forcibly displaced;
- Solid knowledge of the microfinance industry standards, with proven expertise in the area of social performance management and consumer protection;
- Experience in developing and influencing organizational policy/projects¿ development in financial inclusion;
- Confident and articulate speaking abilities in public settings;
- Solid English writing skills and demonstrated ability to write thought-leadership articles for the financial inclusion industry (the candidate will be asked to share links of relevant publications);
- Excellent computer skills including Excel, Word and Power Point;
- Fluency in English and another relevant UN language.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- UNHCR HQ or UNHCR Field experience;
- Field experience working for a microfinance institution or program in the developing world;
- Track records of participation as speaker at key financial inclusion conferences to advocate about financial inclusion for forcibly displaced;
- Experience with budgeting and fundraising; C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness 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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- Advanced University degree (M.A.) in development economics, international development, or other related fields;
- Solid professional experience (minimum 10 years) at the international level working in the microfinance/financial inclusion sector in areas of project management, research, monitoring and evaluation, and partnerships creation;
- At least two years of experience with designing and managing financial inclusion programs for forcibly displaced;
- Experience with conducting workshops for FSPs and preparing training materials;
- Experience with conducting interviews and focus groups with refugees for financial needs assessments;
- Experience with setting-up lenders¿ credit guarantees in the microfinance sector;
- Experience with evaluating FSPs¿ grant proposals for technical assistance for forcibly displaced;
- Solid knowledge of the microfinance industry standards, with proven expertise in the area of social performance management and consumer protection;
- Experience in developing and influencing organizational policy/projects¿ development in financial inclusion;
- Confident and articulate speaking abilities in public settings;
- Solid English writing skills and demonstrated ability to write thought-leadership articles for the financial inclusion industry (the candidate will be asked to share links of relevant publications);
- 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 Spanish. 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.

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).