Job Opportunity – Senior Program Officer, Inclusive Financial System Delivery at Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation

The Gates Foundation, also known as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), holds the distinction of being the largest private foundation globally. Established by Bill and Melinda Gates in the year 2000, it is renowned for its transparent operations. The foundation’s primary objectives are to improve healthcare and alleviate extreme poverty on a global scale, while also focusing on expanding educational opportunities and access to information technology within the United States.

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is overseen by three trustees: Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffett. Notable figures within the foundation include Co-Chair William H. Gates, Sr. and Chief Executive Officer Susan Desmond-Hellmann. As of November 24, 2014, the foundation possessed an endowment of US$42.3 billion. Its substantial size and utilization of business strategies in philanthropy have positioned it as a leader in venture philanthropy.

However, the foundation acknowledges that there are limitations to its philanthropic role. In 2007, the founders were recognized as the second most generous philanthropists in America, with Warren Buffett claiming the top spot. As of May 16, 2013, Bill Gates had personally donated US$28 billion to the foundation.

Your Role as Senior Program Officer, Inclusive Financial System Delivery at Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation

As a member of the IFS country team, your primary responsibility as Senior Program Officer, Inclusive Financial System Delivery at Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation will be to oversee and implement strategies in Nigeria. Specifically, as the PO (Program Officer), you will be tasked with developing and leading the country action plan for Nigeria. This plan will include a portfolio of investments aimed at supporting the overall strategy.

To successfully carry out this role, you will need to establish strong connections within Nigeria’s government, financial regulation, banking, and financial technology networks. By doing so, you will be able to drive a consistent and evidence-based strategy across various grant-making areas. The ultimate goal is to provide digital financial services to those in need.

Additionally, you will play a crucial role in building and engaging a strategic network of advisors. This will require you to understand the interrelationships between policies, regulations, financial infrastructures, and public- and private-sector institutions. By identifying key strategies, you can influence different classes of financial service providers to better serve low-income clients.

As the PO, you will report to the Deputy Director of IFS Focus Countries, who is based in Seattle.

What You’ll Do as Senior Program Officer, Inclusive Financial System Delivery at Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation

• Your main tasks will involve developing and managing a cohesive portfolio of grants and investments. This portfolio will aim to promote the growth of digital financial services among the poor in Nigeria.
• Furthermore, you will be responsible for initiating and cultivating strategic relationships with potential partners. This includes organizations, individuals, and entities such as corporations, the Central Bank, Mobile Network Operators, Government, Academics, Social Protection Agencies, and more. The goal of these partnerships is to advance IFS’s core strategy in financial inclusion, consumer protection, digital identity, and low-cost payments infrastructure in the region.
• Supporting and collaborating with fintech companies, commercial service providers, and non-profit organizations in Nigeria to deliver financial services to low-income individuals.
• Sharing valuable insights and lessons learned from projects in Nigeria to assist in similar initiatives in other countries, particularly those prioritized by the foundation.
• Providing detailed analyses and recommendations for investments, including preparing grant proposals and progress reports for foundation leadership review.
• Acting as the main point of contact for IFS initiatives in Nigeria, working closely with implementing partners and governance bodies to enhance financial inclusion efforts.
• Engaging with grantees and partners regularly to enhance project impact and knowledge sharing, through field visits, operational guidance, and facilitating interactions among stakeholders.
• Utilizing market data to identify opportunities for interventions in the financial inclusion landscape across the region.

Your Background as Senior Program Officer, Inclusive Financial System Delivery at Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation

• We seek individuals who excel in problem-solving using data-driven approaches and have a track record of delivering innovative solutions in complex settings. The ideal candidate should be comfortable working across various subject areas, leveraging diverse expertise, and demonstrating teamwork skills. A minimum of seven years of experience in roles involving collaboration with fintech, commercial services, and non-profits is preferred.
• Experience working with private sector entities such as banks, mobile network operators, and FMCG companies in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Engagement with governments, central banks, and public policy organizations in the region.
• Familiarity with financial inclusion donors and grant-making organizations.
• Utilization of technology by development organizations to assist low-income and vulnerable populations.
• Focus on enterprise platforms by technology companies.
• Providing financial services to mass-market consumers and low-income audiences.
• Working with startup ventures in the digital products and services market.
• Understanding of public policy in Nigeria and broader Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Demonstrated strategy skills in project conceptualization and supervision.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for conveying complex ideas.
• Navigating diverse cultural, linguistic, and political landscapes in Nigeria.
• Experience collaborating with senior policymakers, regulators, and various stakeholders.
• Knowledge of mobile money and digital financial services platforms.
  Building personal and institutional relationships and networks.
• Effective leadership abilities to inspire others.
• Innovative and open-minded approach to work.
• Engaging and negotiating with decision-makers in public and private sectors.
• Possession of an MBA or master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Language proficiency for effective work in Nigeria.

Application
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