Programme Advisor- Making Access Possible (MAP), UNCDF (Re-Advertised)

Applicants who have already applied in the previous round, do not need to re-apply UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s least developed countries. It creates new opportunities for poor people and their communities by increasing access to microfinance and investment capital. UNCDF focuses on Africa and the poorest countries of Asia, with a special commitment to countries emerging from conflict or crisis. It provides seed capital – grants and loans – and technical support to help microfinance institutions reach more poor households and small businesses, and local governments finance the capital investments – water systems, feeder roads, schools, irrigation schemes – that will improve poor peoples’ lives. UNCDF works to enlarge peoples’ choices: it believes that poor people and communities should take decisions about their own development. Its programmes help to empower women – over 50% of the clients of UNCDF-supported microfinance institutions are women – and its expertise in microfinance and local development is shaping new responses to food insecurity, climate change and other challenges. All UNCDF support is provided via national systems, in accordance with the Paris principles. UNCDF works in challenging environments – remote rural areas, countries emerging from conflict – and paves the way for others to follow. Its programmes are designed to catalyze larger investment flows from the private sector, development partners and national governments, for significant impact on the Millennium Development Goals, especially Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger, Goal 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women, and Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability. Established by the General Assembly in 1966 and with headquarters in New York, UNCDF is an autonomous UN organization affiliated with UNDP. UNCDF, in partnership with FinMark Trust and the Center for Financial Regulation and Inclusion, has developed a new diagnostic / programmatic tool to promote financial inclusion at country level. The decision to develop this tool was taken following the G20 Financial Inclusion Expert Group meeting in September 2010 in Seoul, which called for the development of country level technical and programmatic tool to help governments and countries to achieve the goal of financial inclusion for all. This tool builds on FIPA’s experience with National Microfinance Strategies, Finmark Trust microfinance market assessment tool (Finscope) and CENFRI’s technical expertise in developing diagnostic and programmatic instruments related to financial inclusion (i.e similar tool developed on micro-insurance). It also reflects lessons learnt from the CGAP CLEAR exercises and incorporate the new trends that have emerged in the field of financial inclusion and are radically transforming this field (role of technology, innovation in agent banking models, potential of linking social programs’ (conditional) cash transfers to the development of savings accounts as a way to promote financial inclusion etc...). Based on this diagnostic / programmatic tool, UNCDF, in partnership with FinMark Trust and Cenfri, plans to develop a global initiative / program related to implementing this diagnostic / programmatic tool on financial inclusion in at least 15 LDCs as well as carefully selected non LDCs. Before any country selection, UNCDF will engage with the governments in potential countries to ascertain their interest in using the tool to develop a national roadmap towards financial inclusion, and will engage in a dialogue with global centers of excellence in this area, especially CGAP and AFI (Alliance for Financial Inclusion). With AFI, UNCDF will ensure that the implementation of this global program builds upon and leverage their on-going work of advocacy and capacity building on financial inclusion, and lead to a global peer to peer learning process (including between LDCs and non LDCs) among the countries that will have used this tool to build their national financial inclusion roadmaps. This is a Development Project funded position.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Programme Advisor will work under the direct supervision of FIPA’s Director at UNCDF, and in matrix supervision of the Team Leader for Africa. He/She will work closely and in regular consultation with FIPA’s regional offices, the rest of FIPA team at Headquarters, as well as the FinMark Trust and CENFRI teams. Key functions include: Programme Management Manage the “MAP” pilots in four countries; finalize the description of criteria for country selection to pilot test the tool and related pipeline of LDCs as well as non LDCs countries initially considered for the global program. Plan for and manage the expansion phase of the MAP programming. Finalize a global programme document (based on UNCDF format) describing how the MAP is being tested and implemented on a global basis, with a thorough analysis of the rapidly evolving context related to financial inclusion (including the revolutions of branchless and agent banking globally) and how the tool is addressing those challenges and opportunities. Engage, in close coordination with UNCDF, FinMark Trust and Cenfri, with key stakeholders (AFI, CGAP, WB, select bilateral donors etc…) Work on positioning of the tool within the global initiatives and players around FI (Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion, AFI and CGAP work, WP FSAPs programs etc…). Be responsible for the international hub envisioned to carry out this global program that would bring together UNCDF, FinMark Trust and CENFRI. Manage the delivery of programme purpose and outputs on time and to budget. Prepare annual plans and budgets. Overall programmatic quality assurance Resource Mobilization Mobilize global resources as well as country level resources based on programme resource requirements and new opportunities. Support efforts of UNCDF to mobilize additional resources for MAP and/or other programming. Knowledge Management Manage MAP’s knowledge generation and dissemination, including case studies, briefs, and research documents. Create knowledge products that assess the results of the pilots, and lessons learned Manage process of convening national and regional stakeholders to share lessons learned. Contribute to knowledge-sharing networks on microfinance and inclusive finance initiatives regionally and globally either by direct participation and/or online by flagging important discussions to FIPA’s global practice community. Ensure key documentation is available on the UNCDF Intranet to facilitate UNCDF staff access to programme information. Develop and provide annual Learning Plan to FIPA KM Specialist and attend approved trainings; share debriefing and value of training with the wider Practice community. Become familiar with UNCDF KM Strategy and other relevant resources (KM Strategy, HR Strategy, Learning Strategy, UNCDF Document Management Policy). Corporate Support Support annual and cumulative UNCDF results analyses and substantive inputs into Unit work plan and UNCDF and FIPA Business Plans. Support the development of UNCDF programme and business strategies and to annual reviews; contribute to quarterly global teleconferences. Provide advice to UNCDF senior management on technical issues and business development opportunities, including inputs into corporate presentations and reports; share perspectives to increase outreach and foster innovation. Representation Represent UNCDF at international meetings and conferences. Network with funders and practitioners and ensure global meetings are effective opportunities to build knowledge partnerships. Impact of Results Expected impact is to help substantially increase access to quality financial services for the poor, in the 20 countries targeted under MAP (and beyond through the replication of this approach by other donors / partners). In that respect, support the G20 vision around creating universal access to financial services through the development national financial inclusion roadmaps in those 20 countries, and contribute to a global KM and dialogue around financial inclusion.

Competencies

Functional Competencies Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda Influencing the public policy agenda Builds consensus concerning UNCDF’s strategic agenda with partners on joint initiatives Dialogues with national counterparts and other stakeholders to strengthen advocacy efforts, incorporating country, regional and global perspectives Results-Based Programme Development and Management Achieving results through programme design and innovative resourcing strategies Identifies country needs and strategies using a fact-based approach Makes use of a variety of resources within UNCDF to achieve results, such as cross-functional teams, secondments and developmental assignments, and collaborative funding approaches Ensures the full implementation of the programme and raise Financial Resources to obtain results Building Strategic Partnerships Building strategic alliances Makes effective use of UNCDF’s resources and comparative advantage to strengthen partnerships Creates networks and promotes initiatives with partner organizations Innovation and Marketing New Approaches Fostering innovation in others Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking Conceptualizes more effective approaches to programme development and implementation and to mobilizing and using resources Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing Participating in the development of policies and innovative approaches and promoting their application throughout the organization Promotes UNCDF as a learning/knowledge sharing organization Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise Expert knowledge of own discipline (to financial inclusion) Possesses expert knowledge of advanced concepts in to financial inclusion, a broad knowledge of related disciplines, as well as an in-depth knowledge of relevant organizational policies and procedures Applies a broad knowledge of best management practices; defines objectives and work flows, positions reporting relationships in such a way as to obtain optimum effectiveness for the unit/branch Keeps abreast of new developments in the area of financial inclusion and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself personally Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments Demonstrates expert knowledge of the current programme guidelines and project management tools and manages the use of these regularly in work assignments Global Leadership and Advocacy for UNCDF’s Goals Influencing global and national initiatives Advocates for increased priority given to human development issues internationally and in national planning frameworks Advocates for increased resources at international and national level Client Orientation Meeting long-term client needs Anticipates constraints in the delivery of services and identifies solutions or alternatives Proactively identifies, develops and discusses solutions for internal and external clients, and persuades management to undertake new projects or services Advises and develops strategic and operational solutions with clients that add value to UNCDF programmes and operations Core Competencies: Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents Building support and political acumen Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation Building and promoting effective teams Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication Creating an emotionally intelligent organization Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNCDF & setting standards Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Advanced university degree in economics, finance, business or public administration or related fields. Experience: A minimum of 10 years’ experience in microfinance, inclusive finance, or related fields of finance, development, research, advocacy, and policy development. Sound technical knowledge and experience in inclusive finance good practices for industry building, and development of inclusive financial markets and products in emerging markets, especially through private sector partnerships. Excellent networking capabilities and ability to associate him/herself with a range of actors (including policy makers, regulators, FSPs and donors) with a view to building relations and facilitating links. Resource mobilization experience and record of success in reporting to and managing donor grants and reporting mechanisms. Strong programme management experience with emphasis on monitoring, evaluation and incorporating lessons learned into microfinance projects and programmes. Experiences with similar assignments in developing countries, including LDCs. Excellent presentation and negotiations skills. Languages: Proficiency in English is required. Knoweldge of French is an asset , and knoweldge of Spanish is desirable.

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UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Programme Advisor- Making Access Possible (MAP), UNCDF (Re-Advertised)