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. As the PAC strategy lead for the Financial Services for the Poor (FSP) team, the Senior Program Officer (SPO) will work to accelerate adoption of evidence-based interventions by:
- Clearly articulating to senior policymakers and other decision-makers how digital financial inclusion impacts various dimensions of household welfare, including health, education, labor participation, and women’s economic empowerment;
- Clearly articulating how governments can leverage payments and identity infrastructure to improve efficiency in public services, reduce corruption, increase fiscal space, and boost the welfare impact of public programs;
- Clearly articulating how governments can build-out this infrastructure in a manner which maximizes household welfare, while minimizing the downside risks associated with payment and identity infrastructure, such as data privacy abuses or exclusion errors in public programs;
- 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 and will work closely with the broader FSP team and with PAC strategy leads from across the foundation.
Areas of Responsibility:
- Together with the Deputy Director, lead the development, implementation, and refinement of FSP’s advocacy and communications strategies
- Partner with FSP country Program Officers to craft country advocacy strategies;
- Partner with FSP and other foundation teams to identify opportunities for FSP advocacy efforts using the foundation’s voice and platforms, including the voice of foundation leadership;
- Partner with external partners to build effective advocacy coalitions around key FSP objectives;
- Negotiate, implement, and manage a portfolio of advocacy investments;
- Publicly represent the foundation among key partners, including governments, regulators, grantees, donors, international standard setting bodies, think tanks, and commercial providers
- Write and produce briefings, reports, 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 stakeholders, working within the complex matrix-style organization across GPA and FSP
Educational Background:
Advanced degree preferred in public policy, international relations, public health, development or a related field
Skills/Experience:
We are looking for a recognized global professional with deep sector, advocacy, and communications expertise. Additional knowledge and skills include:
- Experience developing and implementing advocacy and communications strategies to influence policymakers, NGOs and other external stakeholders, including personal interactions with senior policy makers, civil society organizations, coalitions, governments, the media and other key external constituencies.
- Experience developing advocacy strategies in Africa or South Asia, desirable
- Excellent strategic thinker and strategy development experience
- Understanding of the key issues driving the growth of financial inclusion, as well as barriers to further growth
- Understanding of how investments in shared payment and identity infrastructure can drive access to digital financial services, as well as the risks associated with these technology investments
- Demonstrated ability to organize/prioritize work and meet deadlines within a fast-paced environment with multiple and competing demands
- 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
- 7+ 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).
Job Function:
Organization Info
Listing Stats
Post Date:
Sep 29 2018
Active Until:
Oct 30 2018
Hiring Organization:
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
industry:
Nonprofit