GRADE P3
DUTY STATION Nairobi, Kenya
START DATE 1 April 2019
CONTRACT LENGTH 12 months with possible extension
DEADLINE 15 February 2019 (midnight Geneva time).
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT 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. Self-reliance is often contingent to the ability of forcibly displaced 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.
Ongoing global processes such as the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and the focus on the humanitarian-development nexus show the need for and benefit of taking a holistic approach which requires the engagement of a broad range of stakeholders, leveraging the value-add and strategic positioning of each of them. In the area of financial inclusion, UNHCR engages with financial service providers (FSPs), specialized development agencies, and impact investors to facilitate the financial inclusion of refugees and other forcibly displaced. To make its planning and interventions effective in this area, UNHCR wishes to hire a Financial Inclusion Officer in Nairobi who will be working under the supervision of the Senior Financial Inclusion Coordinator based in HQ and in close collaboration with the 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 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 in Africa and neighbouring countries; establish key partnerships with financial inclusion actors – in particular investors, financial service providers and specialized development agencies. 2 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. S/he will establish and maintain 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.
RESPONSIBILITIES
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 to expand their understanding of microfinance and financial inclusion and to forge sustainable 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 neighbouring 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.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Economics, Development Studies, Business Administration, Finance or any other related field;
At least 6 years of relevant work experience in the area of Microfinance/Financial Inclusion;
Proficiency in English and French;
Solid experience with financial and social performance data analysis of microfinance institutions, international standards of the microfinance industry, benchmarks and market analysis;
Experience with developing training materials and training microfinance institutions;
Experience with conducting market studies to assess financial service needs of low income populations;
Experience with living and working on financial inclusion in Africa;
Previous experience working with refugees or migrants in the area of financial and/or economic inclusion an advantage.
