Regional Coordinator for Financial Inclusion Strategy Implementation

Background 

Financial Services Deepening (FSD) Ethiopia: Established in 2021, FSD Ethiopia is a development agency that aims to support the development of accessible, inclusive, and sustainable financial markets for economic growth. FSD Ethiopia’s role is to identify the constraints of the financial system, facilitate market actors to address these constraints, and help build a functional and effective financial sector that generates economic gains for Ethiopians from all walks of life. FSD Ethiopia’s vision is to contribute to a thriving financial system that delivers real value to the broader economy and to the people of Ethiopia. FSD Ethiopia provides technical assistance, grants, and research insights to policymakers, regulators, and market actors to drive large-scale change in financial markets and support sustainable economic development. It works with public, private, and development partners in the financial sector to address critical system constraints to facilitate change that allows the provision of effective, transparent, stable, and inclusive financial systems. It provides tailored services to help diverse stakeholders achieve their goals and design interventions to make Ethiopia’s financial sector function effectively and inclusively.

Project Description

The National Financial Inclusion Strategy-II (NFIS-II) (2021-2025) has been formulated capitalizing on the success and lessons learned from the implementation of the first strategy that ended in the 2020/21 fiscal year, engaging key stakeholders and taking into consideration some selected countries best practices. The Strategy has been charted with 11 programs, 53 actions, and around 200 activities.
To achieve its ultimate objectives, the NFIS-II will also be complemented by two 
other strategies: 

• National Financial Education Strategy (NFES) (2021-2025): This strategy was approved by the Board of the National Bank of Ethiopia and the full implementation will be started soon.
• National Digital Payment Strategy (NDPS) (2021-2023): The NDPS has been approved by the Council of Ministers and the full implementation has been 
  launched recently. 

The refreshed National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS 2021-2025) identifies that the path to financial inclusion requires two dimensions; achieving basic financial inclusion at scale as well as leveraging scale to deepen financial inclusion complemented by financial education and consumer protection. Achieving basic financial inclusion at scale is expected to increase the number of people that own and use at least a payment-enabled account (incl. mobile wallet), either conventional or sharia-compliant, with a financial institution or payments instrument issuer. On the other hand, leveraging scale to deepen financial inclusion is aimed at increasing the number of people that benefit from multiple, and ultimately all four (payments, savings, credit, and insurance) major types of financial products and services.

Scope of Work

FSD Ethiopia is looking to hire an experienced Regional Financial Inclusion regional coordinator with a contextual knowledge of the respective region to support the implementation of NFIS at regional level. Working closely with the PMO office and the NBE, the regional coordinator will support the implementation of the strategy by closely engaging the NBE, and key stakeholders in the region. This regional coordinator will be the key resource that will develop an overall implementation and follow-up mechanism for the respective region, guide the RFITF Lead and members through the implementation process, build the capacity of the team, and develop the internal team capacity for various topics of interest around financial inclusion, bring forth the contextual need of the region and engage Regional Financial inclusion, Key stakeholders. The coordinator will also be expected to develop mechanisms and recommendations for resolving challenges faced at the different regional levels of the strategy implementation on a day-to-day basis.

For more information on the project, refer this link.

Annex:  Regional Coordinator for Financial Inclusion Strategy Implementation

Qualifications Required

Academic Qualifications:

• A master’s degree in economics, public/business administration, social sciences, or a related discipline or equivalent experience. 
• Additional training related to digital financial services & project management is highly desirable.

Years of Experience:

• A minimum of ten (10) years of dedicated experience in financial inclusion, 
  digital finance, financial education, digital payments, or related fields
• Wide and practical experience in formulating and implementing national financial inclusion strategies charted with DFS, gender inclusion, micro 
  insurance, micro-credit, micro saving, sharia-compliant financial inclusion, financial education, etc. 
• Practical experience in coordinating and bringing together public and private sector stakeholders and development partners towards implementation and 
  achievement of national financial inclusion initiatives.
• In-depth knowledge of current developments including innovative financial services issues (e.g. mobile financial services, agent networks, QR Codes, 
  digital currency, sandboxes, insurtech, regtech, suptech etc.) is critical.
• Knowledge of Ethiopia’s financial services landscape, including ongoing sector reforms and the wider regulatory environment.
• Experience working with central banks, government ministries, and private sector players preferably in emerging markets. Experience working in projects 
  involving regional bureaus and agencies.
• Experience implementing programs/projects related to financial inclusion, with a focus on expanding access and usage of financial services for underserved populations, including women.
• Understanding of specific challenges and needs of women in the financial sector in the region. 
• Proper understanding of the respective region's working culture and bureaucracy.

Desirable

• Experience working in a multicultural environment
• Knowledge of donor policies and procedures
• Previous experience working on FCDO- and BMGF-funded projects
• Languages: English and Amharic
• Ability to multitask
• A good understanding of the financial sector in Ethiopia 

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrates ethics and integrity
• Writes and edits clear, concise, and error-free documents that meet the highest standards of international communication.
• Encourages open, honest, and respectful communication with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
• Stays composed and focused on stressful situations and maintains a positive attitude even when things are tough.
• Makes decisions that are fair, just, and transparent, and that are based on sound reasoning and evidence.
• Displays cultural and gender sensitivity and adaptability:
• Is passionate about the company's mission and values, and is willing to go the 
  extra mile to help the company succeed. 

Functional Competencies:

Professional

• Project management lifecycle
• Ensures the full implementation of a project to obtain results
• Conceptualizes more effective approaches to programme development and implementation and to mobilizing and using resources
• Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives
• Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations
• Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking

Technical:

• Solid skills in strategy development, digital transformation, stakeholder engagement and management.
• Understanding of key issues and international good practice relating to financial inclusion and digital financial service.
• Excellent presentation and representation skills in multicultural contexts.
• Ability to translate complex technical ideas to a non-technical audience in both verbally and in writing.

Languages:

• Written and spoken fluency in English
• Written and spoken fluency in the working language of the region. 
• Written and spoken skill in other languages of the region is desirable.

How To Apply

Interested individuals must first read the detailed job description on our website at www.fsdethiopia.org under "Job Opportunities". For easy access, just type https://fsdethiopia.org/work-with-us-2/. Applicants must submit their application with a cover letter and detailed description of their experience to jobs@fsdethiopia.org by August 13, 2024, with the subject line "[The region you are applying for] _Regional Financial Inclusion Strategy Implementation Coordinator". 

Direct any other questions about the roles, application process, or FSD Ethiopia to the email address jobs@fsdethiopia.org for assistance. 

Note: FSD Ethiopia is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds.