Financial Services Officer at Mercy Corps

Location: Damaturu, Yobe State with travel to field/ project locations.

Position Status Full-time, Exempt, Regular

Reference: ABV/PRO/2020/0033

Program / Department Summary 

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and its influence spreads across the continent. Yet, inequality and insecurity have consistently undermined Nigeria's development. Mercy Corps Nigeria was established in 2012 to respond to these challenges. The Nigeria team is headquartered in Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with offices throughout Nigeria. With a strong and growing team of over 200 staff, Mercy Corps is currently serving over 600,000 beneficiaries across the country with programming in Lagos in the South; Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau in the Middle Belt; Kano, Yobe and Borno in the North.

Programs include girls’ education and financial inclusion, community peacebuilding, market-based Livelihood and a multi-sector humanitarian response that has a strong emphasis on WASH, Shelter, Cash and Protection. With the vision of a Nigeria in which all people are empowered, engaged, resilient and secure, Mercy Corps Nigeria focuses on the root causes of conflict, governance, humanitarian response, and market systems development.

Working with a diverse funding base that includes the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), UK Department for International Development (DFID), United Nations (UN), European Commission (EC), European Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), Global Affairs Canada (FKA DFATD), and several foundations, Mercy Corps empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. In 2019, Mercy Corps Mercy Corps is starting a $30 million USAID-funded Rural Resilience Activity in Nigeria’s northeast. The purpose of the Rural Resilience Activity is to sustainably move people out of chronic vulnerability and poverty. The Rural Resilience activity will enable individuals and communities to engage in strong and sustainable market systems rather than continuing to rely on humanitarian assistance, and faltering with each new shock. 

 General Position Summary 

The Financial Services Officer will be responsible for the implementation of all activities related to increasing access to financial services under the Rural Resilience activity. S/he will support in defining implementation strategies in coordination with the Financial Services Specialist and other sector-specific leadership team for context-specific approaches to increase access to formal and informal finance and financial services, particularly for marginalized groups. The position will support the training of staff, the provision of technical assistance; and ensuring that common strategies and approaches are applied consistently in all communities. S/he will coordinate closely with the M&E team to ensure that systems are in place to track, analyze and report results. The selected candidate will keep abreast of the latest research and evolutions in the field of financial services and integrate new ideas and approaches as appropriate, seek additional technical assistance as needed and ensure effective working relationships with collaborating agencies. 

Essential Job Responsibilities 

Program Management

• Support the implementation of team work plans and the successful implementation of financial services activities, ensuring timely implementation of work plan activities and identification of target groups within the approved budget, and the achievement of program deliverables for desired impact.
• Support in the provision of technical guidance on increasing access to financial services and ensure that interventions are responsive to stakeholders and consistent with Mercy Corps’ relevant program guidelines, principles, values, quality standards and strategic plan. Support the Financial Services Specialist to ensure that interventions are evidence-based and adhere to adaptive management principles. 
• Collaborate closely with the Financial Services Specialist and Investment Fund Manager by contributing to decisions around the use of the Grant Facility aspect of the program to catalyze new investment in viable economic opportunities (market systems, livelihoods, agribusiness, and employment) through grants that stimulate, rather than distort market development and avoid exacerbating conflict dynamics.
• Support the conduct and/or update of assessments to map existing financial services, involving direct stakeholders as well as public and private sector actors working within the target areas.
• Support the integration of community approaches, gender sensitivity and capacity building into all activities as appropriate while ensuring that all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
• Support the management of relationships and coordination with local implementing partners.
• Actively support planning meetings and workshops with government, NGO, private sector, and community partners to revise plans and promote partner acceptance/buy-in.
• In coordination with the MEL team, support the implementation of monitoring activities through regular field visits and assessments to ensure program quality and impact, actively supporting the documentation of approaches, successes and lessons learned.
• Coordinate with procurement, logistics, security, administration and human resources teams to ensure operational systems support field activities.
• Represent Mercy Corps at government, donor, NGO and other relevant events, in close coordination with the Financial Services Specialists and program leadership.  
• Support in the coordination of activities with consortium partners, sub grantees, local government and other implementers, as well as with other Mercy Corps programs.

Other duties as assigned.

Security 

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country and program leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its mission.

Organizational Learning  

As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves. 

Accountability to Beneficiaries 

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Accountability 

Reports Directly to: Financial Services Specialist

Works Directly with: Program Leadership, Technical Advisors, Finance and Operations teams, Partner Organizations

Knowledge and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in finance, accounting, economics, business administration or related fields
• Minimum of (3) years of demonstrated experience with USG or other similar development projects focused on financial services, including credit, savings, insurance, payment systems, and remittance services, preferably with an understanding of the formal and informal financial services context in Nigeria;
• Spoken and written proficiency in English and Hausa;
• Demonstrated ability to work and coordinate effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders, including government, donors, cooperatives, community-based organizations, and the private sector; and
• Expertise in promoting financial services for the poor, including savings, credit, insurance, e-payments, and new product development tailored to the needs of vulnerable populations.
• Experience with supporting assessments, monitoring and evaluation and other learning efforts required.
• Ability to work independently 
• Demonstrated strengths in analytical skills and report writing
• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills
• Excellent oral, written and computer skills

Success Factors 

The successful Financial Services Officer will combine exceptional management skills and capacity to manage relationships with different stakeholders. The position requires an ability to think creatively about improving opportunities for access to financial services to promote sustainable livelihoods. S/he will have the capacity to spark innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to programming and to inspire groups to collaborate closely to implement high-quality programs.

S/he will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.Method of Application