March 3 2024

Senior Program Officer – Inclusive Financial System Delivery (LTE) at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

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Company

Job Description

Requirements

Method of Application

Deadline

Specifications

Job Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Job Schedule: Full time
Duration: Limited-term employment (LTE) for up to 21 months
Posted on: 29/02/2024
Job Requisition ID: B020139
Application Deadline: March 5, 2024.

The Foundation

We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, we’re committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.

The Team

The Global Growth & Opportunity (GGO) division works to catalyze sustainable transformative change in the face of inequities and market failures, to realize the potential of untapped markets, and to see the economic and social benefits of including everyone. We focus on the areas of Agricultural Development; Nutrition; Inclusive Financial Systems; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene; and Global Education. We seek solutions that are sustainable, transformative, and inclusive with an eye toward applying technology innovations as well as data evidence to drive change in the world’s developing countries.

The Inclusive Financial Systems (IFS) team is focused on helping people in the world’s poorest regions improve their lives and build sustainable futures by connecting them with digitally based financial tools and services. In just the past seven years, 700 million people worldwide have gained access to bank and mobile money accounts. This revolution in financial inclusion has the potential to offer a pathway out of poverty for millions of people, and to spur broad economic growth. Digital technology and changes in national policy are clearing away obstacles that once kept these services out of reach for many, but many more tough challenges remain.

Job Description

Your Role

The IFS country team develops and maintains strategies in nine focus countries. As a member of our country team, you will be responsible for IFS’s work in Nigeria.

In the role of PO, you will develop and lead the country action plan for Nigeria, including a portfolio of investments to support the plan. This will require you to be deeply involved in the country’s government, financial regulation, banking, and financial technology networks to drive a consistent, evidence-based strategy across the various grant-making areas that will deliver digital financial services to the poor. You will also help build and engage a strategic network of advisors. In doing so, you can recognize the interrelationships between policies and regulations; financial infrastructures; and public- and private-sector institutions to identify key strategies that will influence distinct classes of financial service providers to better serve low-income clients.

The role will report to the Deputy Director, IFS Focus Countries based in Seattle.

This is a limited-term employment (LTE) for up to 21 months

What You’ll Do

Develop and manage a cohesive portfolio of grants and investments that will foster the growth of digital financial services uptake and usage among the poor.
Initiate, develop, and cultivate strategic relationships with potential partners, including other organizations and individuals working in but not limited to corporations, the Central Bank, Mobile Network Operators, Government, Academics, Social Protection Agencies, etc. with the goal of advancing IFS’s core strategy in financial inclusion, consumer protection, digital identity, and low-cost payments infrastructure in the region.
Provide support for, and interact with, the community of fintech companies and commercial service providers, including non-profit organizations who will ultimately deliver financial services to low-income individuals in Nigeria.
Monitor and share key insights from the work done in Nigeria to facilitate work in other countries, especially countries that are a focus for the foundation.
Provide concise and insightful written analyses and recommendations for making investments including drafting grant proposals and progress reports for review by foundation leadership.
Serve as the primary contact within Nigeria for IFS initiatives engaging and working through key implementing partners in close collaboration with their governance bodies. Facilitate connections between technical knowledge specialists and country stakeholders working in financial inclusion.
Consult regularly with grantees and partners to improve the impact of projects and ensure the sharing of lessons learned. This will include field visits, hands-on oversight, operational guidance, and convening and facilitating interactions among key partners. Acquire and utilize market data that highlights the current landscape of the financial inclusion position across the region will be encouraged to determine appropriate interventions.

Requirements

Your Experience

We are looking for people who enjoy solving complex problems using a hypothesis and data-driven approach and are experienced in delivering innovative solutions in complex environments. You should be prepared to work across a diverse set of subject areas, bridging a wide range of expertise all while being a teammate, with a proven ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and diplomacy in an exciting, challenging environment.

Seven-plus years of prior work experience gained in some combination of the following:

Private Sector (e.g. Banks, Mobile Network Operators, FMCG), Governments, Central Banks, or public policy organizations; with an emphasis on experience in Nigeria and/or Sub-Saharan Africa more generally
Financial inclusion donor or similar grant-making organization
Development organizations utilizing technology to address the specific needs of very low-income and vulnerable people.
Technology company with a focus on large-scale enterprise platforms
Financial services with an emphasis on providing products to mass-market consumers or low-income audiences.
Startup ventures in the digital products and services market, including firms that provide venture capital and advisory services.
Knowledge of the public policy sphere in Nigeria specifically; additional exposure to the broader Sub-Saharan Africa region desired.
Demonstrated strategy skills and capacity to conceptualize, structure, and supervise projects/programs.
Excellent written and oral communication skills to convey complex concepts concisely.
Ability to navigate the vastly varied cultural, linguistic, and political landscapes in Nigeria. Experience with leading and working with a range of clients, colleagues, consultants, and other partners with broad exposure to senior policymakers & regulators.
Knowledge of mobile money and digital financial services platforms and technologies.
Proven ability to build personal and institutional relationships and networks.
Effective leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to inspire others.
Innovative and open-minded approach to all aspects of work. Ability to question and challenge colleagues, including managers constructively.
Ability to engage and negotiate with all levels of decision makers including C-Level and executives within the public and private sectors.
MBA or master’s degree in relevant subject matter.
Language skills to work effectively in Nigeria.

Other Attributes

Ability to travel internationally up to 40% of the time as needed.
This role is a limited-term position for up to 21 months, with salary and foundation-provided benefits.
While the role is based in Nigeria, candidates outside Nigeria are encouraged to apply.
No foundation-sponsored relocation support will be offered, and the candidate must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.

Hiring Requirements

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Candidate Accommodations

If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.

Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion — of voices, ideas, and approaches — and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.

All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.