Senior Policy Analyst – Alliance for Financial Inclusion

The Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) is the world’s leading organization on financial inclusion policy and regulation. A member-owned network, AFI promotes and develops evidence-based policy solutions that help to improve the lives of the poor. AFI members are at the forefront of successful financial system reforms, and have the unique experience to help shape the emerging regulatory response. Many of the most effective financial inclusion policies have been innovated, supported and implemented by AFI member institutions, and offer valuable lessons for any country interested in reducing poverty. Together, AFI members are working to unlock the potential of the world’s 2 billion unbanked through the power of financial inclusion.
The Senior Policy Analyst function is within the Policy Analysis and Capacity Building Team (PACB) of the AFI Management Unit. The PACB team is responsible for developing AFI’s policy work in the areas of highest demand amongst members, and for successful delivery of AFI’s capacity building programs including physical and online trainings, joint learning programs, and peer advisory services.The PACB team includes the Head of PACB, the Capacity Building Program Manager, the Policy Analyst & AFI Data Portal Manager and the Program Officer, PACB.

Job Description
The Senior Policy Analyst must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, capacity to work independently, and personal drive and organization, and will involve working directly with senior level officials from AFI’s membership, managing relationships with key stakeholders and ensuring delivery of key outputs in a timely manner.

Main Duties and Responsibilities
The Senior Policy Analyst will play a leading role in policy analysis work in a range of new and emerging financial inclusion policy areas. The PACB team’s current areas of policy work include: the role of FinTech in financial inclusion; closing the financial inclusion gender gap; financial inclusion and climate change; the financial inclusion of forcibly displaced persons (FDPs); and the impact of de-risking strategies of financial institutions on financial inclusion & stability. The PACB team also provides the secretariat to the AFI Global Standards & Policy Committee (GSPC), which oversees AFI’s policy work and engagement with the global standard setting bodies.
An important responsibility of the Senior Policy Analyst will be to lead the secretariat to the Gender and Women’s Financial Inclusion Committee (GWFIC), a Committee of the Board established in 2016 in recognition of the persistent gender gap in access to quality financial services. The GWFIC’s membership include seven Central Bank Deputy Governors from across AFI’s membership. Under the GWFIC’s leadership, the membership of AFI adopted the Denarau Action Plan (DAP) and a strategic implementation framework has been developed. The Senior Policy Analyst will also support the Gender focal points from each of AFI’s technical working groups to develop relevant knowledge products and policy guidance.
Working Relations

The Senior Policy Analyst shall:
• be directly accountable and report to the Head, Policy Analysis & Capacity Building;
• liaise and work closely with the other PACB team members;
• liaise and work closely with Policy Programs and Regional Initiatives, Communications, Global Partnerships and M&E; and
• liaise and work closely with the AFI members’ institutions.
Responsibilities
The Senior Policy Analyst is expected to perform the following tasks:
• Support policy development and analysis in the AFI Management Unit across a range of policy areas as required, including support to the GSPC.
• Oversee the strategic implementation of the DAP, coordinating all AFI activities which contribute to successful implementation of the DAP, and developing excellent working relationships with the GWFIC and the AFI Working Group gender focal points
• Provide an effective secretariat to the GWFIC, organizing the Committee’s meetings and agenda in consultation with the GWFIC Chair, and ensuring the Committee is adequately supported by the AFI Management Unit to fulfil its mission and mandate.
• Provide technical and research support to the AFI Working Groups as required, particularly the Financial Inclusion Strategy Peer Learning Group (FISPLG).
• Lead organization (with support of the Team Project Officer) of the series of AFI Policy Brown Bags by identifying appropriate topics and inviting expert speakers (who may be AFI staff, members, or external stakeholders).
• Assist the PACB team with conceptualizing, preparing and organizing regional and/or global conferences and events, including policy support to the annual Global Policy Forum (GPF).
• Write or contribute to the drafting of technical reports on financial inclusion policy topics. This may include quality control of or technical comments on drafts provided by others, and/or contributing to the review of AFI members’ draft national financial inclusion strategies.
• Draft communication materials such as blogs for the AFI website, presentations, briefs, and conference materials.

Qualifications
The candidate will have an advanced Postgraduate Degree in a relevant field such as Public Policy, International Development, Economics, Law, Social Sciences or Gender Equality. A Minimum of seven years’ work experience in fields relevant to the position such as financial sector policy or regulation; financial technology & innovation; AML-CFT; international development policy; sustainable development; or related fields. At least two years’ experience with direct exposure to financial inclusion policy or closely related fields is preferred.

Competencies demonstrated:
Technical Skills
• Experience of working directly with senior public sector officials (e.g. briefing Central Bank Deputy Governors or producing papers for Board Committees).
• Excellent written and spoken English skills. A track-record of written publications (papers, articles, blogs), and experience of presenting at conferences or in training workshops would be an advantage.
• Experience in data analysis, conducting research to develop policy recommendations, and/or producing strategy documents.
• Proficient computer (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Database) and Internet research skills are expected
Planning and Relationship Building
• establishes goal-orientated courses of action for self and others
• identifies criteria to measure completion and success
• sets, allocates and manages resources and priorities
• ability to influence and guide others to achieve common goals
• demonstration of strong negotiation, communication, advocacy, and interpersonal skills
• ability to contribute to building productive relationships and partnerships across the organization and with stakeholders
• ability to think and act with a long-term perspective – to develop and implement plans and projects that deliver strategic and long-term outcomes
• strong interpersonal skills in working with people from diverse cultures, personalities and disciplines.

Internal/External Awareness/Focus
• understands and effectively uses AFI’s structures, channels and resources.
• works collaboratively within AFI and identifies impacts and implications.
• keeps informed of external issues, changes and opportunities and anticipates their impacts.
• demonstrates understanding of the regions and global market
Professionalism
• sets high professional goals and standards
• sets example and imposes professional excellence
• encourages and supports focus on quality
Communication (oral and written)
• communicates ideas effectively to a range of individuals and audiences.
• communicates from the receiver’s perspective and facilitates their understanding
• establishes the benefits of the information or recommendations to other parties.
• Demonstrates effective diplomacy in communication and engagement.

HOW TO APPLY:
Interested applicants please send your CV and Cover Letter to talent@afi-global.org before 10 October 2017
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.