Financial Inclusion Specialist (Regional) – PROPEL , Kampala - Uganda

Financial Inclusion Specialist (Regional) – PROPEL , Kampala - Uganda | Mercy Corps

Financial Inclusion Specialist (Regional) – PROPEL , Kampala - Uganda

Mercy Corps Kampala International Mid level

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Summary by Impactpool

The Financial Inclusion Specialist (Regional) for the PROPEL project in Kampala, Uganda, will lead the design and implementation of strategies to enhance youth access to financial products and services. This role involves providing technical guidance, managing partnerships with financial service providers, and ensuring the alignment of financial interventions with market development principles. The specialist will also focus on capacity building and compliance management while promoting safety and security within the team. The position requires a strong background in financial inclusion and a commitment to innovative, inclusive solutions for underserved youth.

Candidate Requirements:

Description

Financial Inclusion Specialist (Regional) – PROPEL, Kampala - Uganda

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. i n disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program Summary

The PROPEL Africa Project (Pathways to Resilience, Opportunities, Professional Employment and Learning) aims to address the persistent challenge of youth unemployment and underemployment in Liberia, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda . Currently , young people encounter systemic barriers to securing dignified employment, arising from misalignments between skills development and labour market needs, and inadequate access to financial resources. Implemented by JA Africa and Mercy Corps, PROPEL responds to these challenges through a dual approach: equipping underserved youth aged 15–30 with relevant, demand-driven business, employability and life skills, while simultaneously improving the way the labour market works for young people.

Position Summary

The PROPEL Financial Inclusion Specialist leads the design and imp lementatio n of strategies and a ctivi ties ac ross the fou r count r ie s to improve young people’s access to appropriate financial products and services. This includes providing st rategi c and technical guida nce , p lanning and m anag ing act iviti es, iden tifying and managing partnerships with financial service providers (FSPs), and recruitin g and manag ing consult ancy supp ort t o ensure the availa bility and use of youth-friendly financial training and tools, and catalyzing market solutions that expand opportunities for underserved youth.

Essential Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

Lead financial inclusion strategy across program countries to enable young people to access, use and benefit from formal and informal savings and credit products, including through digital services and channels

Conduct market assessments to identify barriers and opportunities for youth financial access.

Provide technical guidance on youth-friendly financial products and partnerships with FSPs, fintechs , and MFIs.

Program Quality & Innovation

Ensure financial inclusion interventions align with market systems development principles.

Support pilots and scale-up of innovative financial solutions.

Work with the MEAL team to assess financial inclusion outcomes and adjust strategies.

Partnership Management

Build and maintain relationships with financial institutions, regulators, and ecosystem actors.

Support negotiation of partnership agreements and co-designed interventions.

Capacity Building

Train country teams and partners on financial inclusion approaches.

Provide ongoing mentoring and technical support.

Finance & Compliance Management    

In collaboration with the countries operations and finance departments, ensure proper financial management, procurement, administration, human resources and logistics (including transport and asset management) needs of the program are conducted within Mercy Corps’ policy and with the maximum benefit to the program.   

Security

Work closely with the country team’s security focal point to develop and maintain systems that promote the safety and security of all team members.   

Ensure that PROPEL activities are designed and implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security.

 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. 

Safeguarding Responsibilities

Actively learns about safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.

Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.

Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility

Consult ants o r C o untry F i nanci al Incl usion O fficers as ne eded. The number of direct and indirect reports is to be determined.  

Accounta bility

Report s Dir ectly To: PRO PEL Pr ogram Direc tor

Work s Di rectly With : Cou ntry Teams, Ec o sys tem Support Fun ctions Speciali st , J A A frica technic al teams, a nd M ercy Cor ps ’ Glob al and R egiona l Te chnica l and Q uality teams

Knowledge & Experience

Master’s degree in economics, finance, development studies, or related field.

Minimum 7 years of experience in financial inclusion, inclusive finance, entrepreneurship development, or market systems programming.

Strong understanding of youth financial behaviors and constraints in African markets.

Experience engaging with private sector partners, FSPs, or fintechs .

Success Factors

A succes s ful Fin ancial I nclusion Special ist is able to trans late financial sys tem constraints into pr acti ca l program inter ventions. The y have stron g ne gotiati on an d partners hip develop me nt skills . They have an in nova tive min dset and a comm itme nt to incl us ive market solutio ns.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

This position is based in Kampala Uganda . I t requires up to 40% travel to support country programs, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Team Efficiency and Effectiveness

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work. We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, , , religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into

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