FINANCIAL INCLUSION LEAD, EL SALVADOR

CARE seeks a Financial Inclusion Lead for the anticipated USAID-funded Financial Inclusion in the Northern Triangle – Economic Empowerment through Digital Transformation activity. The activity will contribute to CARE’s strategy of working within human rights, gender equality, and diversity approaches, to address the root causes of poverty, inequality and forced displacement in Northern Central America.

The activity has been formulated in response to USAID El Salvador’s focus on addressing U.S. foreign policy priorities and related development challenges including governance; crime and violence; economic growth and integration; lack of economic opportunities for likely migrants; low-quality education for the most vulnerable; and climate change and high vulnerability to natural disasters.

The anticipated 4-5year activity will utilize market-based interventions to generate sustainable inclusive economic growth and opportunity in El Salvador. through digital financial inclusion, with a focus on micro and small enterprises (MSEs), remittance recipients and vulnerable populations, particularly those in urban and peri-urban areas of the country. Through collaboration with multi-national and local financial services providers, the activity will accelerate the use of digital and electronic payments from consumers, increase MSE access to credit and use of technology, and improve the experience of remittance senders and recipients, increasing speed, reducing transaction costs through digitization and the creation of a robust digital payment’s ecosystem.

This position is pending donor approval and funding. Salvadoran national candidates are encouraged to apply.

Location: San Salvador, El Salvador

Specific duties and responsibilities:

· Provide technical oversight and leadership, serving as the financial inclusion subject matter expert for the project.

· Work alongside colleagues to develop effective strategies to advance program participants’ access to informal and formal financial services, including women, youth, and other target groups.

· Develop technical resources including guides, case studies and other learning tools to strengthen capacity in financial inclusion.

· Provide technical support and strengthen capacities of program teams and partners (public, private, non-profit) to ensure project activities are effectively delivered and continually improved.

· Engage with key external stakeholders, including points of contact at USAID, to keep up to date on emerging financial inclusion-related trends and to communicate key aspects of El Salvador practice.

· Remain current with global best practices and innovations and ensure they are shared and integrated into the project as appropriate.

· Ensure strong linkages and integration with other related program components and activities.

· Contribute to project activity monitoring, including quarterly and annual reporting.

Qualifications

· Master’s degree or equivalent in international development, business, economics, or a related field of study.

· Minimum 5 years demonstrated experience with USG or other similar development projects focused on financial services, including credits, savings, insurance, payment systems, and remittance services, preferably with understanding of the financial services context in El Salvador.

· Demonstrated ability to work and coordinate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders, including national and local government, donors, cooperatives, community-based organizations, and the private sector.

· Spoken and written proficiency in Fluency in written and spoken Spanish and English.

· In-depth understanding of key concepts in financial inclusion, experience applying these to market systems development and livelihoods programs.

· Ability to build relationships with private sector actors and quickly establish credibility and relevance.

· Knowledge of financial services ecosystem as well as the Productive Safety Net Program in El Salvador is an advantage.

· Demonstrated commitment to principles of Gender Equity and Diversity, as evidenced in previous management positions and programming. Strong understanding of gender dynamics in El Salvador or similar context.

· Demonstrated commitment to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Harassment (PSEAH).

· Established industry connections and an ability to quickly access senior decision makers at financial service providers in the country.

· Ability to translate technical information for non-technical audiences; communicate complex ideas clearly and facilitate learning and reflection activities.

· Strong negotiation, influencing and networking skills.

· Strong project management and budgeting skills.

· Understanding of quality monitoring and evaluation and basic understanding of statistics.

· Experience applying development approaches that promote gender equality, women’s economic empowerment and youth engagement.

. Expertise and know-how in the promotion of TICs, or digitalization, remittances, and e-wallets for electronic payments is a plus.

· Willingness to travel to program areas as required and as the security situation allows.

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