Digital Payments Specialist (2 Posts) – UNDP
Scope of Work
To support BTCA in articulating the Theory of Change and accelerate the adoption of cross-border digital payments solutions across different regions in Africa, BTCA is seeking to hire an IPSAS to work alongside the UNDP Tanzania Country to perform the following:
Duties and Responsibilities
1. Theory of Change: Cash to Digital Payments
- Develop a robust theory of change articulating pathways through which shifts from cash to digital payments drive impact;
- Map the contribution of digital payments to advancing financial inclusion, gender equality, and the SDGs;
- Align theory of change with UNDP strategic priorities and relevant national/regional frameworks.
2. Impact Assessment and Knowledge Products
- Assess socio-economic impact of digital payments, particularly for women, youth, and rural communities;
- Provide a comprehensive legal and regulatory landscape highlighting opportunities and challenges within the existing frameworks, and providing comparative analyses with other regions;
- Co-produce knowledge products with local/regional academic and research institutions to serve as blueprints for replication in other regions across Africa;
- Provide evidence-based insights on how digital and financial inclusion is changing lives and advancing the SDGs.
3. Partnerships with Higher Learning Institutions
- Engage universities and research institutions to manage learning and sustain documentation;
- Build capacity of academic partners to conduct research and produce policy-relevant evidence and embed learnings into future or current curricula;
- Facilitate collaboration with the SDG Academy and other knowledge platforms for wider dissemination.
4. Knowledge Documentation and Dissemination
- Document lessons learned, best practices, challenges and opportunities from pilot initiatives;
- Develop case studies showcasing how responsible and inclusive digital finance is transforming livelihoods with real life scenarios;
- Ensure gender-responsive and inclusive approaches in all initiatives and engagements.
5. Policy Advocacy and Regional/Government Engagement
- Generate policy recommendations to influence national financial inclusion strategies and regulatory frameworks;
- Support advocacy with relevant policymakers and regulators on sustainable digital transitions;
- Facilitate knowledge exchange with COMESA, SADC, and ECOWAS to support regional scaling under the AfCFTA umbrella.
6. Capacity Development
- Strengthen internal UNDP staff capacity on digital financial services and financial inclusion;
- Organize trainings, workshops, and peer learning sessions with various partners;
- Develop policy briefs, guidance materials and toolkits for replication at country and regional levels.
7. Other functions
- Support BTCA and UNDP Tanzania Co to develop large, related program with a diverse funding base including program aimed at creating significant impact on digital trade in the region and coordinate the implementation with respective UNDP Country Offices to ensure donor requirements are met;
- Any other related administrative responsibilities contributing to the successful implementation of responsible digital payments under the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization
Institutional arrangement
- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: The Digital Payments Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the UNDP Tanzania Country Office Program Specialist running the EAC community cross-border pilot and with the UNDP Tanzania Country Office DRR on diversifying the funding base;
- The Digital Payments Specialist will work closely with the BTCA Advocacy and Partnerships Specialist based in Nairobi to help apply the lessons learned from the Tanzania Pilot to other regions across Africa;
- The candidate will liaise with other UNDP Country Offices, Regional Hubs, higher learning institutions, and regional economic communities as necessary;
- Regular updates and progress reviews will be conducted through virtual meetings and written reports.
Competencies
Core Competencies
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact;
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration;
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
Cross-Functional/Technical competencies
Business Development
- Knowledge Generation
- Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need;
- Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches.
- Communication
- Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
- Partnership Management
- Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
2030 Agenda/Prosperity
- Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility
- Cash Based Livelihoods;
- Cash Based Transfers;
- Digital innovations in adapting employment, livelihoods (incl. cash handouts) and provision of basic services.
Business Direction and Strategy
- Systems Thinking
- Ability to use objective problem analysis.
Required Skills and Experience
Minimum Education Requirements
- Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Finance, Digital Innovation, or related field is required or:
- A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Minimum years of relevant work experience
- A minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in digital finance, financial inclusion, or related areas is required.
Required Skills
- Proven experience in developing theories of change, knowledge products, and policy briefs.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section
- Previous experience with the UN and/or international organization, familiarity with its mandate and work is an asset;
- Experience in Communication is desired Experience working with academic institutions, regional bodies (COMESA, SADC, ECOWAS), or UN/International organizations;
- Strong background in gender-responsive and inclusive development approaches.
Required Language(s)
- Fluency in English.
- Knowledge of Kiswahili language is desirable.
Professional Certificates
- Finance professional certificates will be an added advantage.
