Détail du poste

About the Organization :
CGAP (global resource center on access to finance) is supported by 33 bilateral and multilateral donor and private funding agencies committed to expanding access to financial services for the poor.

Background :
CGAP's Technology Program aims to improve the lives of millions of poor people by informing and advising financial institutions and others to expand access to financial services through the innovative application of technology. Co-funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the program leverages CGAP's expertise, neutrality, network of contacts and role as a public good for the field. The program advises financial institutions, governments, technology companies and donors, conducts business approach and market research, and offers funding for selected projects that support the program's research goals.

• Shaping the Technology Program’s strategy: In the past year, CGAP’s Technology Program has focused on finding low-cost channels for delivering financial services to the world’s poor, unbanked people. This work on “branchless banking” has helped shape the market for mobile phone banking and other technology approaches. CGAP is now formulating strategies to tackle additional challenges – for instance, how to offer tailored, affordable micro-savings and micro-insurance products, and how to connect microfinance institutions (MFIs) to national and international payment networks. The Program Manager will help shape the team’s strategy in these and other new areas;
• Designing and implementing projects: Since its inception in late 2006, the Program has helped shape 11 projects with leading MFIs, banks, mobile network operators and payment system providers targeting more than 10 million poor unbanked people in countries including Colombia, Ecuador, India, Kenya, Mongolia and Philippines. The partners have included companies like Safaricom, Globe Telecom, Equity Bank, IBM and others. The Manager will help team-members design and execute these projects by forming partnerships and consortia, providing technical assistance and project management support to partners, and keeping central banks and other government agencies informed. The Manager may take direct responsibility for one or two projects;
• Coordinating CGAP’s technology policy work: The Technology Program partners with CGAP’s Policy Team to understand the various risks involved in new technology approaches such as branchless banking, and helps policymakers and regulators respond encouragingly, yet prudently, to these promising new solutions. The Program manager will work closely with Policy Team colleagues to conduct in-country diagnostics, train regulators, and publish findings;
• Managing staff: The Program Manager will oversee the work of about ten team-members who handle administrative duties, design and guide projects with partners, conduct research on the effectiveness of technology for microfinance, and monitor projects in operation;
• Building and maintaining relationships: The Technology Program’s mandate is to advise a variety of stakeholders about the potential, and the costs and benefits of technology solutions. As new models are tested and learnings are communicateed, close relationships are maintained with development agencies (some of whom co-fund the work), technology and financial services firms, governments, microfinance organizations and others. The Program Manager will have primary responsibility for building and maintaining these relationships to maximize the market impact of our work;
• As manager of one of CGAP’s largest programs, the Program Manager will also contribute to CGAP’s overall strategic and operational decision-making.

• Master’s degree or equivalent international development, economics, business, or the political sciences;
• 10-15 years experience in financial services, microfinance, technology, and/or telecommunications;
• Proven managerial experience and leadership skills;
• Strong organizational skills; ability to multi-task and efficiently complete assignments;
• Self-starter, mature and flexible personality; able to work in multicultural, fast-paced team;
• Excellent verbal and good written command of English; fluency in French and/or Spanish helpful;
• Experience living or working abroad.

To Apply :
Interested candidates can send their applications to : Joseph Beale