PROPEL Financial Inclusion Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization founded on the belief that a better world is possible. Established to respond to crises and hardships, Mercy Corps operates in more than 40 countries worldwide, partnering with local communities to implement bold solutions that help individuals and communities overcome adversity and build resilience. The organization is committed to empowering people through innovative programs that address the root causes of poverty and inequality, fostering sustainable development and social change.

Job Overview:
The PROPEL Africa Project, which stands for Pathways to Resilience, Opportunities, Professional Employment and Learning, aims to tackle the ongoing issue of youth unemployment and underemployment in several African countries, including Liberia, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda. The project recognizes that young people face systemic barriers to securing dignified employment, primarily due to a mismatch between skills development and labor market needs, as well as limited access to financial resources. The PROPEL Financial Inclusion Specialist plays a crucial role in leading the design and implementation of strategies that enhance young people's access to appropriate financial products and services. This position involves providing strategic and technical guidance, managing partnerships with financial service providers, and ensuring the availability of youth-friendly financial training and tools. The specialist will work to catalyze market solutions that expand opportunities for underserved youth, thereby contributing to the overall goals of the PROPEL project.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The PROPEL Financial Inclusion Specialist will be responsible for several key areas:

• Technical Leadership: Lead the financial inclusion strategy across the program countries to enable young people to access, use, and benefit from both formal and informal savings and credit products, including digital services. Conduct market assessments to identify barriers and opportunities for youth financial access and provide technical guidance on youth-friendly financial products and partnerships with financial service providers, fintechs, and microfinance institutions.
• Program Quality & Innovation: Ensure that financial inclusion interventions align with market systems development principles, support pilots, and scale up innovative financial solutions. Collaborate with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) team to assess financial inclusion outcomes and adjust strategies accordingly.
• Partnership Management: Build and maintain relationships with financial institutions, regulators, and ecosystem actors, supporting the negotiation of partnership agreements and co-designed interventions.
• Capacity Building: Train country teams and partners on financial inclusion approaches, providing ongoing mentoring and technical support.
• Finance & Compliance Management: Work with the operations and finance departments to ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources, and logistics needs are met in accordance with Mercy Corps’ policies.
• security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security: Collaborate with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members, ensuring that PROPEL activities are designed with a clear understanding of security risks.
• Organizational Learning: Commit 5% of time to learning activities that benefit both Mercy Corps and personal development.
• Accountability to Beneficiaries: Support efforts toward accountability to beneficiaries and engage communities as equal partners in project design, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Safeguarding Responsibilities: Integrate safeguarding into work practices and encourage team members to report any concerns.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates for the PROPEL Financial Inclusion Specialist position should possess a Master’s degree in economics, finance, development studies, or a related field. A minimum of 7 years of experience in financial inclusion, inclusive finance, entrepreneurship development, or market systems programming is required. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of youth financial behaviors and constraints in African markets, as well as experience engaging with private sector partners, financial service providers, or fintechs. Strong negotiation and partnership development skills are essential, along with an innovative mindset and a commitment to inclusive market solutions.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as economics, finance, development studies, or a related discipline. This advanced education is crucial for understanding the complexities of financial systems and the specific challenges faced by youth in accessing financial services.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in areas such as financial inclusion, inclusive finance, entrepreneurship development, or market systems programming. Candidates should have a proven track record of working in similar roles, particularly in the context of youth financial behaviors and constraints in African markets. Experience in engaging with private sector partners, financial service providers, or fintechs is highly desirable.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the international nature of the organization and the countries involved. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Uganda or other countries within the PROPEL project may be considered an asset, enhancing communication with local stakeholders and beneficiaries.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Kampala, Uganda, and requires up to 40% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations with limited amenities. The role is full-time and involves a commitment to ongoing learning and professional development, with team members expected to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a safe and inclusive work environment, adhering to safeguarding principles and ethical standards.