Project Manager, DFS Affordability Research Initiative

Job Description

Responsibilities

Stakeholder Management:
• Work with project leadership and a Tanzanian technical lead consultant to manage and support a high-level and far reaching stakeholder engagement strategy, across public and private sector sectors. This will include, but is not limited to, developing partnerships with public sector entities (examples include the Bank of Tanzania, Tanzania Revenue Authority, Ministry of Finance and other financial sector regulatory bodies) and private sector entities (such as Banks, Mobile Money Providers, Associations, Fintechs and other relevant actors in the private sector)
• Ensure consistent and constructive collaboration across stakeholders, identifying key individuals and areas of mutually beneficial engagement
• Work with Tanzanian technical lead consultant, the IPA Financial Inclusion Program (FIP) team, and

the IPA Country Director, to ensure continued partner and government support of research ideas and

studies and to ensure access to information and administrative data critical for the research process
• Identify and overcome challenges and risks related to project partnership management
• Manage and support an on ongoing dissemination process

Identifying Knowledge Gaps & Development of Needs Assessment Analysis:

An initial objective of this initiative is to identify knowledge gaps where research can provide up-to-date and accurate insights on DFS affordability in Tanzania. This will include:
• Drive a comprehensive desk review of the DFS ecosystem in Tanzania through exploration of

individual elements of the ecosystem, such as regulations, competition, market structure and business models, consumer protection, and demand side dynamics
• Lead Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with stakeholders representing each element of the ecosystem in order to collate perspectives on DFS affordability
• Cross-examine and analyze KII results and institutional priorities to identify important areas for

research and exploration
• Drive the development of a needs assessment analysis report that will be shared with all stakeholders and will be a summation of the work in points 1-3 above.

Coordinate the Implementation of Identified Research Studies & Development of Policy Briefs:
• Support the implementation of selected research studies through enabling partnerships with required stakeholders, such as mobile money providers, commercial banks and public sector entities and collaborating with principal investigators (PIs), consultants, internal teams
• Overcome challenges and risks related to establishing partnerships, convening stakeholders, legal requirements etc, to allow independent and objective research implementation
• Contribute to and support dissemination of 4-6 high impact policy briefs based on project workstreams and research activities

Communication and Dissemination:
• Work with IPA communications team to design strategies for dissemination of findings that influence public and private sector decision-making
• Work with topical experts to disseminate overall research findings to relevant stakeholders in Tanzania
• Build consensus around a set of policy recommendations that align with public and private sector stakeholders’ incentives
• Support the development of the research inception report and prepare regular progress updates and presentations for stakeholder blocks
• Support all implementation of results activities

Resource Planning and Supervision:
• Liaise with IPA Tanzania Operations team and Country Director on all event and workshop planning
• Work with global FIP team and Tanzania Country office to bring in expertise where required, taking technical direction from the FIP team and the Tanzania country office

Qualifications

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:
• More than three years of experience working in the digital financial services (DFS) industry in

Tanzania and/or internationally. Demonstrated understanding of the DFS landscape in Tanzania

including pricing, regulations, competition, market structure, interoperability, consumer impact etc.
• Ability to engage with and build consensus among high-level executives at public and private sector institutions; Comfort in developing external relationships and leading project development discussions with funders and high-level stakeholders in general
• Experience managing multi-year programs, including coordination with multiple external and internal stakeholders, adherence to timelines, active monitoring and identification of risks, and implementing appropriate course correction strategies
• An existing network in the financial sector space in Tanzania
• Ability to develop project related high policy briefs, needs assessment reports, and other external facing research products and deliverables
• Proactive and collaborative attitude, entrepreneurial mindset and versatility
• Exceptional communication skills in English and Swahili (written and oral)
• Ability to travel within Tanzania (10 to 20%)
• Passion for making data-driven decisions and an understanding of bridging research to policy
• Masters Degree in Economics/ Business Administration / Public Policy or commensurate applied work