This is an interim backfill role to cover for an employee who will be out on parental leave. The duration of the assignment is targeted for 9 months starting in January. However, the start and end dates may change.
Global efforts to expand digital financial inclusion hinge on whether governments, donors, and commercial providers adopt evidence-based interventions which have been proven to expand the poor’s access to digital financial tools. The PAC-FSP SPO will advance FSP’s efforts to accelerate adoption of evidence-based interventions among these partner groups. (S)he will advance this objective by: clearly articulating how digital financial inclusion can benefit governments, the private sector and, most importantly, poor households; clearly articulating the policies, regulations, and infrastructure investments required to catalyze digital financial inclusion; influencing policymaker decision-making by elevating these solutions in global and national dialogues; understanding and shaping international financing channels for digital financial inclusion; and building the evidence-base to facilitate sound decision-making. This role will report to the Deputy Director for FSP’s Policy, Global Scale, and Research initiative, and will work closely with the broader FSP team and with PAC strategy leads from across the foundation. This is a limited term position, with an expected duration of 9-months with ideal start in Jan 2020.
- Together with the Deputy Director and other members of the PAC-FSP team, develop, implement, and refine FSP’s advocacy and communications strategies
- Partner with the GPA PAC team, FSP program teams, and other GPA divisions to identify alignments and potential opportunities for FSP advocacy and communications using the foundation’s voice and platforms
- Negotiate, implement, and manage advocacy portfolio of investments
- Provide clear, concise and insightful written analyses and recommendations for investments
- Conceptualize and manage high impact and complex partnerships, coalitions, and advocacy campaigns
- Represent the foundation to external constituencies. This could include formal and informal presentations, attending conferences, sitting on working groups, and holding board seats
- Write and produce briefings, reports, email updates, and other materials on key global FSP policy and funding and other relevant issues for foundation leadership
- Serve as a point of contact on FSP policy advocacy-related issues for internal and external partners, working within the complex matrix-style organization across GPA and FSP
We are looking for a recognized global professional with deep sector, advocacy and communications expertise. Additional knowledge and skills include:
- Understanding of the key issues driving the growth of financial inclusion, as well as barriers for funding alignment.
- Understanding of supply side and demand side barriers and opportunities for women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment.
- Understanding of risks and opportunities taxation policy and tax administration and digital payments and digital ID.
- Experience developing and implementing advocacy and communications strategies to influence policymakers, NGOs and other external partners, including personal interactions with senior policy makers, civil society organizations, coalitions, governments, the media and other key external constituencies, especially in Africa.
- Understanding of the role of the US government in advancing global financial inclusion.
- Understanding of how investments in shared payment and identity infrastructure can drive access to digital financial services.
- Understanding of the critical policy and regulatory enablers for digital financial inclusion, including the licensing requirements, KYC policies, and agent regulations which encourage DFS innovation and competition while also protecting consumers and the financial system.
- Excellent strategic thinker and strategy development experience.
- Demonstrated ability to organize/prioritize work and meet deadlines within a fast-paced environment with multiple and contending demands.
- Innovative thinker who is hands-on and willing to go as deep or broad as necessary to achieve outcomes.
- Demonstrated ability to question and challenge colleagues, including managers, in a constructive manner.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to effectively synthesize information to reach diverse audiences and create consensus.
- A deep commitment to development issues.
- Ability to travel up to 30% domestically and internationally.
- High standards of personal integrity.
- 15+ years leading teams and advocacy initiatives in financial inclusion or development (preferably with a mix of service in either the public or non-profit sectors).