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Senior Consultant : Mobile Money and E-Payments


NetHope is a collaboration of the world’s largest international development agencies, NGOs and IT  companies. In September 2010, USAID entered into a cooperative agreement with NetHope to support  the Global Broadband and Innovations Alliance (“GBI”) to advance deployment of broadband  infrastructure and connectivity in developing economies and to stimulate the use of innovative  information technologies in the achievement of USAID’s programmatic mission.  One portion of  NetHope’s work for GBI is providing subject matter expertise and technical assistance in advancing the  use of e-payment platforms including mobile money in USAID funded programs.  

USAID implementing partners spend millions of dollars of payments in cash every year. These payments  may include disbursements of salaries, payments to vendors, payments to participants of programs, such as cash for work programs, emergency relief payments, and others. USAID is a global leader in recognizing that advances in communication technology and network capacities have enabled innovative new ways to make payments through mobile devices, smart cards and other electronic methods. USAID has identified significant benefits in the transition from cash to electronic payments including:
• Cost Savings. Decreasing the costs associated with physical cash operations
• Transparency. Increased accountability and tracking of financial flows
• Security. Safer delivery of payments, especially for women
• Financial Inclusion. Reaching those not yet in the financial services sector
• New Market Access. Opening doors for fee - for - service business models

NetHope seeks a consultant to work with NetHope to provide technical assistance to USAID to encourage the use of e-payments throughout the world. The senior consultant will participate in three areas of work with NetHope’s small team of payment innovation consultants: (1) providing technical assistance and tools to assist USAID Missions and implementing partners in integrating e payments into USAID funded programs; (2) designing and utilizing measurement techniques, with a focus on NetHope partners and the larger implementing partner community; and (3) conducting desk and in country market assessments to document and describe the challenges and requirements related to electronic payments in USAID programs and USAID implementations. 

Description 
The Senior Consultant will be responsible for:

1. Communications. Developing relevant content, including compilations of best practices, original reports and tools for use of e-payments and developing and implementing strategies for providing accessibility and raising awareness of these resources.  

2. Outreach and Awareness of e - Payments.  Organizing events and meetings that will raise awareness about epayments, their applicability and use in development programs and outlining steps for encouraging integration and adoption.    

3.  Market Assessments. Conducting country assessments (through desk research or in country) that can be used to encourage and facilitate the development sector’s continued transition away from cash to e payments.  The work will include conducting quantitative and qualitative assessments of development programs and their current use of cash, providing reviews of available payment technologies within specific market contexts, documenting and publicizing case studies of transitioning from cash to epayments, conducting outreach to implementing partners of USAID to encourage the analysis and use of epayments and showcasing and documenting best practices. 

 Required Qualifications 
• The Senior Consultant must be highly knowledgeable in current payment systems in emerging  markets, familiar with development programs and adept at developing and using quantitative and qualitative measurement and evaluation tools 
• Master’s degree in international relations, business, economics, political sciences or related discipline
• Minimum 10 years of experience working with civil society, non-profit or other relevant organizations with relevant work experience in program management and strategic planning 
• Experience working with USAID or other development organizations in a program or policy context 
• Strong background in change management and new technology adoption
• Experience with financial institutions and/or telecommunications sector 
• Willingness to participate in a small team and play multiple roles as needed
• emonstrated ability to interact effectively with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and written communication skills 
• Excellent organizational skills and developed ability to work in a virtual team environment
• Attention to detail and strong adherence to deadlines
• Strong quantitative skills
• Experience in organizing and managing multi-stakeholder and outreach events 
• High-level skills in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally 20-25% 
• Located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area

Please submit your cover letter and CV by June 3, 2013 to Alison Padget at alison.padget@nethope.org