Back Communications & Knowledge Management Analyst (Digital Payments), UNCDF

The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) makes public and private finance work for the poor in the world’s 47 least developed countries. With its capital mandate and instruments, UNCDF offers “last mile” finance models that unlock public and private resources, especially at the domestic level, to reduce poverty and support local economic development.

UNCDF’s financing models work through three channels: inclusive digital economies, connecting individuals, households, and small businesses with financial eco-systems that catalyze participation in the local economy, and provide tools to climb out of poverty and manage financial lives; local development finance, that capacitates localities through fiscal decentralization, innovative municipal finance, and structured project finance to drive local economic expansion and sustainable development; and investment finance, that provides catalytic financial structuring, de-risking, and capital deployment to drive SDG impact and domestic resource mobilization. By strengthening how finance works for poor people at the household, small enterprise, and local infrastructure levels, UNCDF contributes to Sustainable Development Goal-SDG 1 on eradicating poverty and SDG 17 on the means of implementation. By identifying those market segments where innovative financing models can have transformational impact in helping to reach the last mile and address exclusion and inequalities of access, UNCDF contributes to a broad diversity of SDGs.

UNCDF’s policy and programmatic engagement with the European Commission and other EU institutions is growing and covers a increasingly wide range of issues including digital financial services and digital economies, green jobs and local economies, climate change and local government finance, municipal finance, and youth and SME finance, with a focus on LDCs and other developing countries. In line with the new EU Commission priorities, UNCDF unique mandate and financial tools and instruments can contribute to supporting LDCs and other developing countries in their transition to green economies and societies; addressing the climate emergency; and promoting inclusive growth and job creation in particular for youth and women, using digitalization as an accelerator, addressing current challenges including irregular migration and promoting peace and stability.

The UNCDF Brussels Liaison Office includes UNCDF practice areas and programme staff and support functions. The Office coordinates UNCDF corporate analysis of developments and trends related to EU institutions, supports UNCDF strategic engagement, policy and technical dialogue with EU and Brussels based partners, ensures UNCDF positioning with existing new EU instruments, promotes UNCDF outreach and visibility efforts and supports UNCDF field-based presences concerning collaboration with the EU Delegations.

Inclusive Digital Economies Practice Area (IDE):

Since 2008, UNCDF has been supporting digital finance with significant success which has led UNCDF to make digital finance the largest part of its inclusive finance portfolio. UNCDF is also host to the Secretariat of the Better than Cash Alliance (BTCA), a partnership of governments, companies, and international organizations that accelerates the transition from cash to digital payments in order to reduce poverty and drive inclusive growth. UNCDF also serves as the secretariat for the UN Secretary-General’s Task Force on Digital Financing of the SDGs, which will consider the next wave of digitalization of finance and how the systemic changes to the financial ecosystem due to digital technologies will impact financing for the SDGs. For several years UNCDF’s work in digital finance has led it to support new digital solutions linked to finance, to further drive financial inclusion and to achieve the SDGs. This includes projects linked to on an off-grid energy, agriculture, employment, health and transport.

With 60 professionals with strong digital finance experience across the globe and with close to several hundred projects in digital completed or on-going, UNCDF is one of the leading development agencies in digital finance with a mission and expertise to reach the poorest and most vulnerable populations in some of the world’s most difficult markets. UNCDF’s digital team and resources are currently spread across several programmes and UNCDF is in the process of consolidating its financial and technical resources to create a comprehensive team of experts in various domains to drive the new strategy “Leaving no one behind in the digital era”.  The Global Digital Manager will drive the consolidation of these various programs under one strategy.

Based on over a decade of experience applying a market development approach in digital finance in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, UNCDF started in 2017 to expand the scope of its programmatic agenda to go beyond digital finance[1]. Through the “Leaving no one behind in the digital era” strategy, UNCDF shifts from focusing only on digital finance to the development of inclusive digital economies. The strategy recognizes that reaching the full potential of digital financial inclusion in support of the SDGs aligns with the vision of promoting digital economies for the following reasons:

The value of Digital Financial Services (DFS) becomes more obvious, especially to poor and vulnerable populations, when it is closely linked to their ability to respond to the specific constraints and needs they face to participate in agriculture, access education, health, energy and other basic services key to overcome poverty.

New innovative services should be developed to address these unmet needs. Innovation will come from traditional providers but mainly from a range of new players (entrepreneurs, start-ups in various sectors, and platforms like Facebook, Grab, WeChat, etc.).

Position Context:

Working under the overall guidance of the Technical Specialist (Digital Finance Policy, P4, Brussels) and with matrixed reporting (for corporate issues) with the Senior Coordination Advisor, P5 PPC Brussels and the close collaboration with the UNCDF Global Digital Lead Manager, P5 based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,  the Communications/KM Analyst ensures effective communication of the results of the implementation of UNCDF’s digital strategy. 

The Communications/KM Analyst will also have the primary responsibility for developing and harmonizing our branding for the new digital strategy, curating and overseeing knowledge generated at the country and regional levels and ensuring that knowledge generated is accurate, reliable, relevant and fulfils UNCDF’s need to understand how the markets are moving towards digital inclusion of all. The Communications/KM Analyst is expected to provide support to the Technical specialists and KM focal points  at the country/regional levels to help them develop meaningful communication annual plans and make sure their digital knowledge products are linked to the learning agenda of the “Leaving no one behind in the digital era” strategy.

The Communications & Knowledge Management Analyst (Digital Financial Services/Digital Payments) will be working in close collaboration with the Partnerships, Policy and Communications Unit (PPCU) in New York, especially with the Communications Specialist.  She/he will also liaise with the Regional and Country Offices ensuring programmatic results and knowledge generated is accurately shared with our corporate partners.

Working under the guidance of the FIPA Digital Team, UNCDF Directorate and the PPCU, the incumbent should support the development and implementation of UNCDF strategy for partnering with UN Agencies around UNDAF, the Post 2030 Agenda and other potential joint programming opportunities at HQs and at the global, regional and country office levels.

Within the context of UNCDF programme activities, the staff member is ultimately accountable for achieving the key results summarized above. These results in turn provide senior management with critical inputs in making decisions with regards to the overall communication strategy of our results to our partners.

The fixed-term P-2 role is based in Brussels, Belgium and reports to FIPA Global Technical Specialist (Digital Finance) P4 with matrix reporting line to PPC EU Coordinator Advisor/PPC Unit Head.

Summary of Key Job-functions:

• Lend support the coordination of  communications and marketing of UNCDF’s strategy and results to EC/EU and key European audiences;
• Support the  development and implementation of the communications and marketing plan for the new digital strategy;
• Support the research and knowledge process and production of the digital strategy thought leadership including needs assessment, commission, review, design and publication
• Participate in the  knowledge sharing/integration into all aspects of the strategy and foster lateral learning between country, regional offices and implementing partners;

Detailed Description:

• Support the FIPA Global Digital Lead & Policy Lead in  assessing digital innovations trends as well as research and knowledge needs to develop a strategy for communications and knowledge projects, to help position the UNCDF as a thought leader on digital innovations to drive inclusive growth and country and regional offices
• Work with the Data, Results and Learning Specialist, the country and regional managers, to develop a communications and knowledge sharing strategy in line with the key results produced at the country level;
• Support the Data, Results and Learning Specialist, to manage the production and dissemination and communication of key messages from the UNCDF Annual Digital Inclusion Report;
• Ensure the inclusion of key customer segments, gender issues and sex and age disaggregated data and/or analysis in the digital communications and knowledge sharing  strategy;
• Support in building effective and efficient research partnerships with think tanks, academia, members and other stakeholders to expand acceptance by governments, development agencies, INGOs and private sector that digital-payment solutions are preferable to cash

Outcome: Help in positioning UNCDF as a thought leader in digital innovations

• Support development of a communications and marketing strategy at the global, regional and country levels in line with our research agenda and in line with our resource mobilization efforts
• Monitor the implementation of the communication and marketing strategy at the regional and country levels
• Ensure that branding for the digital strategy is consistent with UNCDF branding guidelines and funders’ requirements
• Ensure consistency of application of branding in all our digital knowledge products at the global, country and regional levels
• Provide training on digital knowledge products and knowledge sharing at the regional and country level;
• Manage the dissemination process of diverse publications and news releases through print and video, focusing on achievement of the programmes’ results;
• Oversee digital communications and knowledge management officers at global, regional and country levels.
• Support the preparation and dissemination of appropriate press releases, blogs etc. of key digital knowledge products at the country level
• Manage all social media channels and activities; keeping content up to date, uploading new materials (knowledge products, press releases) and tracking site usage and views or hits
• Curate the content of the UNCDF website and ensure the knowledge products are relevant to our work in digital finance and economy and up to date;
• Monitor website indicators with support of UNCDF Communications team;
• Identify key events where the results of our programmes can be disseminated on an annual basis at the global level to raise UNCDF’s visibility with other development partners and funders
• Provide quarterly report to the FIPA Management on research and learning activities for their quarterly reporting to funders
• Liaise with CGAP, Making Finance work for Africa, GSMA, UNDP regional and country offices and development partners for information sharing.

Outcome: Efficient, reliable and proactive communication, dissemination and sharing of knowledge focused on the digital strategy and achievement of communications annual work plans

• Support preparation of annual research and knowledge work plans in support of the digital strategy with targets and budgets for management approval
• Develop standard templates, procedures and processes to ensure the digital strategy is achieved;
• Develop terms of reference, organize, coordinate, supervise and administer the resources of the Knowledge and Research of the digital strategy in order to ensure timely and effective delivery of research and knowledge products;
• Assist the Management team in ensuring the knowledge products are relevant to a range of stakeholders (including for example policy makers and bloggers) and are easily accessible in terms of language, style and medium
• Support in development of  a cadre of excellent researchers and writers for the digital strategy;
• Assist in creating and managing the Digital ExCom and Editorial and Publications Committee (EPC).

Outcome: Efficient, reliable and proactive support to knowledge generation process in support of the digital strategy

• Work with the Management team to design and implement a peer learning agenda and a knowledge sharing strategy across countries and regions.
• Build knowledge generation into all aspects of the digital strategy and related country programmes  
• Support Lead development and implementation of strategy for increasing networking and lateral learning at the global, regional and country levels;  
• Manage internal and external learning events relevant to the digital strategy (i.e. team meetings, retreats, partner meetings etc)
• Identifyopportunities for scholarship or sponsorships for the digital strategy’s partners, help match events and partners, organize logistics and registration with partners
• Coordinate UNCDF funded scholarships and/or travel support for learning events with relevant programme assistants, draft MOUs and monitor follow up required in MOUs
• Assist country and regional offices in developing and maintaining list serves and contact databases for partners and other stakeholders

Outcome: Improved lateral-learning and networking within UNCDF, between UNCDF and its partners in the digital strategy, and between UNCDF partners

Core Competencies:

Innovation:Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Level 4: Generates commitment, excitement and excellence in others

Leadership: Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully

People Management: Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Level 4: Models independent thinking and action

Communication: Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully

Delivery: Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 4: Adept with complex concepts and challenges convention purposefully

Functional/Technical Competencies:

Education:

• Master’s Degree in economics, finance, public/business administration, communications, social sciences, international relations or related fields. A first university degree with two additional years of relevant experience is also acceptable. 

Work Experience:

• Minimum two years of professional experience in positions in knowledge management and communications;
• Experience working with an international organization or UN is preferred.
• Working knowledge of current developments in digital innovations  and digital finance and major actors/stakeholders is preferred.
• Some experience in branding, communications and experience in media relations, graphic design and video production; overseeing document and report production, print and electronic publishing is required.
• Previous experience in managing & coordinating high-level events, oversee contributions of other actors, along with formulating high-quality donor proposals, developing proposals, corresponding budgets, is considered essential.

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required. Professional level fluency in French is also required.

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Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension