About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.in 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 implementation of strategies and activities across the four countries to improve young people’s access to appropriate financial products and services. This includes providing strategic and technical guidance, planning and managing activities, identifying and managing partnerships with financial service providers (FSPs), and recruiting and managing consultancy support to ensure the availability 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.

• 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.
• 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.
• Build and maintain relationships with financial institutions, regulators, and ecosystem actors.
• Support negotiation of partnership agreements and co-designed interventions.
• Train country teams and partners on financial inclusion approaches.
• Provide ongoing mentoring and technical support.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

• Strong understanding of youth financial behaviors and constraints in African markets.
• Experience engaging with private sector partners, FSPs, or fintechs.

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