Financial Inclusion Advisor

World Vision Australia (WVA) is seeking a Financial Inclusion and Women’s Economic Empowerment Advisor to play a role as an effective technical portfolio leader and technical advisor to WVA supported projects in Field Offices in Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East.

This role will focus on Financial Inclusion and Women’s Economic Empowerment portfolio leadership, technical support for projects, and supporting the business development outcomes, while at the same time design, grow and support the FI and WEE portfolios of innovative programs to maximise impact achieved. This role requires diverse experience in working with financial inclusion and substantive field experience, including savings groups and financial literacy, as well as formal financial services, such as microfinance, micro-insurance, Small Growing Business (SGB) finance with a particular focus on inclusion of women inclusion in economic and social activities. Experience working on grant programs funded by institutional donors, with experience working on DFAT funded aid and development programs an advantage. The role will also require, on occasions, working in partnership with Vision Fund International, World Vision’s micro-finance subsidiary, therefore, experience working with Microfinance Institutions or other financial service providers is highly desirable.

Reporting to the Economic Empowerment Manager, your main duties and responsibilities will include:

• Portfolio leadership – Lead WVA’s portfolio across strategy development, technical resources and strategic partnership.
• Technical support – Provide comprehensive and integrated technical support to the implementation of selected projects/programs under WVA management.
• Thought leadership and external engagement – Enhance, demonstrate and promote WV’s thought leadership to influence development policy and practice.
• Business development – Support business development and acquisition of new projects/programs.
• Cross functional engagement to support WVA strategic priorities.

Your skills and experience will include:

• Demonstrated experience in providing technical support in the areas of
  • Financial inclusion and resilience (such as microfinance institutions, savings groups, fintech, microinsurance or other financial service providers with an inclusive access to finance focus) in developing and/or fragile contexts.
  • Women’s economic empowerment in developing and/or fragile contexts through community norm change and private sector (including community groups, government agencies and the civil society) engagement
• Demonstrated track record in supporting economic development program teams to achieve financial inclusion outcomes across the program cycle, including design, monitoring and evaluation.
• Stakeholder management skills and track record in the context of cross-disciplinary teams and cross-cultural contexts.
• Experience in training and facilitation, including developing training resources and practical tools. Experience in coaching/mentoring would be an advantage.
• Demonstrated skills and track record in business development for strategic funding and research opportunities, including donor relations, grant proposal development/writing. 
• Self-managed work experience, with ability to maintain focus and achieve outcomes under pressure.
• Knowledge of cross-cutting issues (gender equality and women’s empowerment, disability inclusion, climate change and disaster risk reduction and environmental safeguarding)
• Experience in women’s economic empowerment in the context of financial inclusion is an advantage.

What you need to know…

This role is a permanent position operating in a full-time capacity and will be based in our office in Burwood East, Melbourne. Remote work in Australia will be considered for the right candidate.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to bring your expertise and experience to contribute to a cause that you are passionate about and work in the largest non-government organisation in Australia and one of the largest development organisations in the world.
• Being part of a professional and dedicated team united by their commitment to one common goal; the fight against global poverty, its causes and making a real difference in the world.
• Competitive salary, hybrid working and flexible salary packaging scheme.
• Participating in comprehensive professional development programs that include on-the-job learning, e-learning, workshops, forums, leadership development.

For your information, the interviews will start immediately, and the role may be filled before the closing date.

The selection process 

We embrace diversity, employing people from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds. We take our Safeguarding responsibilities seriously and we are committed to providing an environment that is safe for children. Our stringent recruitment procedures make sure the safest and most suitable people work with the children in our programs. All successful candidates will undergo all required pre-employment checks which is inclusive of a criminal record check. We provide our staff and volunteers with ongoing supervision, support, and training in their work with vulnerable children and their families.  World Vision Australia participates in the Inter-Agency Scheme for the Disclosure of Safeguarding-related Misconduct in Recruitment Process within the Humanitarian and Development Sector. 

Who we are

World Vision is a Christian organisation that empowers everyday Australians to create meaningful change for children through relief, development and advocacy work. 

For more information on World Vision and the work we do, please visit our website: www.worldvision.com.au/about-us