Financial Inclusion Specialist at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is an International non-governmental organization supporting relief and development work in over 99 countries around the world. CRS programs assist persons on the basis of need, regardless of creed, ethnicity or nationality. CRS works through local church and non-church partners to implement its programs, therefore, strengthening and building the capacity of these partner organizations is fundamental to programs in every country in which CRS operates. CRS re-established presence in Nigeria in 2000 and currently focuses on agriculture, health and emergency programming.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Financial Inclusion Specialist

Job Ref Code: FIS121118
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Band:9
Department: Programs / Rural Resilience Project
Reports To: Deputy Chief of Party

Job Summary

• The Financial Inclusion Advisor will coordinate all efforts by CRS and its partners under the Rural Resilience project to expand financial inclusion across project locations.
• S/he will provide technical leadership and guidance to project staff and partners on financial services to rural communities, the unbanked and underserved populations, smallholder farmers, MSMEs and other agricultural value chain actors within the anticipated USAID-Funded project.
• The Financial Inclusion Advisor will lead Rural Resilience’s efforts to leverage innovative and technology-led solutions to achieve the program’s goals.

Specific Job Responsibilities

• Identify best practice and trends, including role of technology, within the program and innovative financial services business models serving the poor in various sectors such as saving and lending schemes, agri-finance and SME finance;
• Contribute to the development of a program a financial inclusion strategy and upscaling of affordable low cost rural solutions for financial and non-financial services;
• Participate in the building of partnerships for the promotion of access to finance and collaborate with commercial and non-commercial partners that seek to deliver appropriate and affordable non-financial or financial services to smallholder farmers;
• Participate in the development of a capacity building plan for financial institutions, to create an efficient platform for the provision of access and financial inclusion solutions to underserved groups in the project areas;
• Provide technical advice in developing, planning and implementing financial inclusion strategies and support partner implementation of specific financing mechanisms;
• Develop new ideas/concepts that increase uptake of credit by rural communities;
• Ensure that the program access to financial interventions conform with the organization’s priorities and industry accepted norms and standards in financial models;
• Identify and/or develop required financial tools and methodological approaches, and provide technical assistance and training/capacity building to ensure programme interventions achieve or surpass established objectives;
• Contribute to data monitoring and management systems to ensure quality in implementation;

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Economics or other relevant field.
• At least 10 years of international management experience
• At least 5 years’ hands-on experience on financial inclusion projects in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Prior experience on USAID-funded financial inclusion projects of a similar size and scope in developing countries.
• Demonstrated experience in designing financial products for rural and marginalized communities.
• Experience managing programmatic and financial reporting requirements.
• Experience with USAID rules, regulations and requirements is preferred.
• Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa required.  Prior experience in Nigeria preferred.
• Knowledge of current practices in developing rural financial markets, particularly in financing agricultural value chain development.
• Understanding of the Nigerian financial sector.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of office applications.

Additional Information

• Required Travel: To field locations in Nigeria
• Work Environment: Abuja office.

Application Closing Date
5:00pm; 27th November, 2018.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should download the "Application Form Below" and send with a detailed resume as one document in pdf to: [email protected] indicating the position being applied for and the Job Ref Code as the subject of the application (e.g. Financial Inclusion Specialist, FIS121118)

Click here to download Application Form (MS Word)

Click here to download Job description (MS Word)

Note

• The above job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.
• CRS’ talent acquisition procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.
• Internal applicants are encouraged to apply within the first 10 days of posting.
• “CRS is an equal - opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, etc.
• Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply”.
• Statement of Commitment to Protection:
• ‘’CRS’ recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation’’.