Financial Inclusion Officer At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Terms of Reference

1. General Background

Access to formal financial products and services in host countries is instrumental to the economic inclusion of forcibly displaced and stateless persons. Without such access, people who are forced to flee lack the ability to open accounts to receive wages, safeguard savings, securely receive or send money, obtain credit to start a business or to buy assets, and validate professional achievements or education credentials.

Access to deposit accounts, payment systems, credit facilities, and insurance plays a key role in bolstering their financial resilience during displacement. It enables them to effectively plan for their future, whether that entails remaining in their country of asylum, returning to their country of origin, or resettling in a third country.

UNHCR is dedicated to ensuring that forcibly displaced and stateless persons have access to affordable and suitable financial services. Our work includes working with responsible financial service providers to deliver these services and raising awareness of the business potential in serving people who are forced to flee, while overcoming policy constraints that hinder their access to financial services.

Access to formal financial services is essential whenever people are granted foundational rights such as the right to work and to move freely within the host country. However, financial inclusion itself is not the ultimate objective. What truly matters is that forcibly displaced persons and their host communities possess the resources, skills, and knowledge to utilize financial services effectively, enabling them to achieve a certain level of financial stability and well-being. This includes the ability to meet basic day-to-day needs, recover from financial setbacks, manage debt effectively, and seize economic or educational opportunities.

With these outcomes in mind, UNHCR is augmenting its efforts in the financial inclusion space to:

• Expand its advocacy work with Financial Service Providers, Impact Investors and Governments.
• Engage with donors and the private sector to scope-out blended finance opportunities.
• Enhance financial skills for forcibly displaced persons through financial education.
• Expand its data collection, monitoring and analysis on financial inclusion and financial well-being of forcibly displaced persons.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment
The Financial Inclusion Officer will support the implementation of UNHCR’s financial inclusion agenda by performing the following duties:

• Support the selection of intervention areas in alignment with UNHCR’s strategic objectives and in coordination with field operations for implementing financial inclusion projects and fostering partnerships with the financial community.
• Enhance the capacity of field staff involved in financial inclusion operations, particularly in identifying suitable financial institutions for partnerships, data collection, and performance/outcomes monitoring.
• Assist UNHCR field operations in raising awareness about access to finance and financial well-being for forcibly displaced persons within the financial community and establishing partnerships with qualified financial service providers.
• Support the monitoring and reporting of the results of financial inclusion projects implemented by UNHCR or partners.
• Assist in reviewing project proposals from field offices and implementing partners to promote access to finance for forcibly displaced persons.
• Support the integration of the impact insurance workstream in financial inclusion activities whenever relevant.
• Support pilot testing of digital financial inclusion projects.
• Perform other related duties as required.

3. Qualifications and Experience
a. Education
Bachelor’s degree or preferably advanced degree in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Development Studies, or related field.

b. Work Experience
6 years of relevant experience with undergraduate degree; 5 years of relevant experience with graduate degree; or 4 years of relevant experience with doctorate degree. Relevant experience includes professional experience in program management and coordination in the financial inclusion sector.

Essential:
• Experience in working in microfinance schemes, implementing financial inclusion activities, provisioning of financial services for forcibly displaced populations.
• Understanding of and experience in the use of digital financial services in displaced settings.
• Experience in mentoring and strengthening the capacity of stakeholders in financial inclusion.
• Experience with resource mobilization and public-private partnership engagement for development programs.
Desirable:
• Previous experience working with UNHCR.

c. Key Competencies
• Solid understanding of the financial and socio-economic inclusion needs of forcibly displaced persons.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French.
• Effective communication and public presentation skills.
• Proactivity and ability to work independently as well as in a team.

Type of contract: UNOPS Individual Contractor Agreement
Duration: The assignment is expected to start as soon as possible. The initial contract will be granted until 31 December 2024 with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance.

Other information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No

Type of contract: UNOPS Individual Contractor Agreement
Duration: The assignment is expected to start as soon as possible. The initial contract will be granted until 31 December 2024 with the possibility of one-year renewal subject to satisfactory performance.