Programme Manager, Agent Networks

Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA) is a leading financial sector development organisation working to promote financial inclusion in Nigeria. Established in late 2007, EFInA’s vision is to be the leader in facilitating an all-inclusive and growth-promoting financial system. EFInA is funded by the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

EFInA is seeking to recruit dynamic, strategic, and committed individuals to newly defined roles to build on its current achievements and accelerate the impact of financial inclusion in Nigeria. EFInA is a rapidly growing organisation with considerable influence in the financial sector. Employment with EFInA offers an exceptional and challenging opportunity for the right candidate.

THE ROLE

The Programme Manager, Agent Networks, will design, develop and execute EFInA’s strategy to establish ubiquitous agent networks to widen access to financial services in Nigeria. He/she will use the breadth of EFInA’s pillars – research, advocacy, capacity building and funding – to drive large scale formal inclusion and ensure that interventions customers have easy access to convenient and trustworthy agents via whom they can conduct a range of financial transactions. He/she will convene and mediate between financial institutions, agent aggregators, regulators, other development partners and customers to ensure a balanced approach to building trusted, robust and pervasive agent networks. Through these activities, the Programme Manager, Agent Networks, will support EFInA’s executive team in creating and implementing the services, structures and systems required to achieve EFInA’s strategic objectives over the next three to five years.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and execute an agent networks strategy to enable EFInA to lead implementation of pervasive agent networks in Nigeria
• Document the current landscape of agent networks in Nigeria and identify gaps
• In conjunction with the Head of Knowledge and Evidence, conduct and disseminate research related to agent networks in Nigeria
• Identify and build relationships with key external stakeholders to stimulate innovation and promote commitment to the development of agent networks
• Evaluate policies and regulations and advocate for required reforms to ensure that agent banking regulations encourage innovative approaches, develop the agent networks sector, and foster financial inclusion
• Identify and develop a pipeline of agent networks related projects for the Innovation Fund and additional future funding mechanisms
• Work with the Grants Manager to evaluate grant proposals, prepare grant agreements, and monitor and report on any grants related to agent networks
• Work with the Head of Programmes and other Programme Managers to embed agent networks into their respective strategies
• Work with the Head of Programmes to develop and implement a marketing strategy, including organising events, to increase awareness of the issues limiting the growth of agent networks and highlight EFInA’s recommendations for addressing these issues
• Identify areas for capacity building for key stakeholders to deepen their knowledge in agent networks and financial inclusion
• Develop a learning culture by sharing best practices and successes from agent network related activities, to ensure standards of excellence across the organisation

This role is based in Lagos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND AND QUALIFICATIONS

This role demands a highly numerate individual who has the capability to evaluate and synthesise large amounts of information. He/she must be a strategic thinker who has the strong organisational and project management skills required to proactively identify, develop, budget, monitor and drive EFInA’s agent networks strategy.The Programme Manager, Agent Networks must possess deep technical understanding of agent network operations in Nigeria (including consumer behavior, product development, and value chains); the ability to apply global best practices to develop and take agent networks to scale; and a proven track record of identifying, implementing and driving innovation, with minimal supervision. In addition, he/she should have excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, and possess the gravitas, credibility and track record for building and maintaining relationships with key external stakeholders.

The successful applicant will have eight or more years of experience in development or the financial sector, with a minimum of three years in inclusive finance, and/or agent banking or working on developing agent networks for low income communities. Equally the role could suit a candidate who has eight years’ business experience and with the capability to rapidly develop an understanding of agent network models. He/she will have a strong strategic focus, be results driven, and be committed to high standards of performance. He/she must be comfortable with negotiating change, taking responsibility and making complex strategic and operational decisions. Highly adaptable, creative, and accustomed to delivering results in a dynamic and fluid working environment, the Programme Manager, Agent Networks will make decisive and tangible contributions to EFInA as soon as he/she joins the organisation.

Essential:

• Master’s degree in Economics, International Development, Finance, Business Administration or other related discipline
• At least eight years’ experience in development or financial services (preferably in Nigeria), with either a minimum of three years in inclusive finance, agent banking, and/or working on developing agent networks for low income communities, or the capability to quickly understand agent network models
• Strong relationship management experience with the ability to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Experience working in a complex or pioneering environment and managing or facilitating change
• Project management experience with relevant certification
• Supervision and leadership experience
• Experience in evaluating proposals
• Commitment to the financial inclusion agenda

TO APPLY

For full role descriptions and required qualifications and experience, please visit www.efina.org.ng/careers

To apply, please send your CV and covering letter to efina@creativemetier.comby 31 May 2014, ensuring that you state which role you are applying for and where you saw this advertisement.

EFInA is an equal opportunity employer.