Grameen Foundation Research Lead - MFSI Project Job in Uganda

Position Title: Research Lead, Mobile Financial Services Incubator (MFSI) project

Contract: Full time project contractor (18 months)

Classification: Exempt

Job Summary: The Research Lead will be responsible for managing all stages of the research process for the Mobile Financial Services Incubator (MFSI), from initial design to data collection and dissemination. He/she is expected to have strong analytical and communicative skills and experience designing and analyzing quantitative research.

The project:

Recently, there has been some concern about the lack of innovation within the branchless banking space.

Very few service providers have gone beyond payments in their service offerings and explored the latent demand for other products—from savings to micro-insurance and loans.

Research conducted by CGAP also shows that many of the existing products have not reached the poor.

To address this problem, CGAP and GF are working together to lower the cost threshold of experimentation and set up an incubator that tests innovations in mobile financial services.

The incubator will combine in-depth research approaches with rapid product testing and aim to develop mobile financial services that are appropriate for the poor and that move the industry beyond payments.

Reporting and relationships: The position will report directly to the Project Director.

Availability:

The MFSI Research Lead will be expected to work a typical work week of 37.5 hours plus additional hours to get the job done.

The position will be based in Kampala, Uganda. This position will need to be flexible to work in local conditions, and be available to work across different time zones.

This position will require travel (20%-30%) within Uganda, and periodic travel to other countries as needed.

Essential Job Functions

·       Develop a research plan for the incubator

·       Work with the AppLab team to determine product ideas that could be tested

·       Work with Research Coordinator to hire and monitor researchers in the field

·       Facilitate data collection process

·       Analyze data collected

·       Write-up research findings in various forms (blogs, monthly updates, reports etc.)

·       Design monitoring and evaluation framework

·       Monitor and write-up user feedback from the field

·       Share feedback with designers who will make alteration to product prototypes

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

·       Deep commitment to eradication of poverty and alignment with Grameen Foundation’s mission

·       Experience working in developing countries

·       Belief in the potential to leverage information and communication technology (ICTs) for the benefit of poor people –with practical experience

·       Extensive knowledge of various quantitative data collection methods (i.e. surveys, data mining)

·       Ability to triangulate research methods to strengthen reliability of research outputs

·       Experience in the dissemination of research findings, both through formal (academic publications) and informal (blogs etc.) channels

·       Strong writing skills

·       Understanding of technology, particularly mobile money applications

·       Experience managing fieldworkers

Education and Experience

·       At least post-graduate degree with research PhD preferred

·       5+ years experience in research role

Physical and Environmental Conditions:

This position does not require unusual demands for physical effort.

This position may occasionally require physical effort to lift and transport boxes weighing no more than 50 pounds.

Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of places such as offices, meeting or training rooms, residences, or commercial vehicles; e.g., use of safe work place practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations and traffic signals.

Additional Comment:

The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Interested candidates may apply by email to Dr. Olga Morawczynski (olga@applab.org).

Please put “MFSI - RL” in the subject line. No calls please.

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