Financial Inclusion Officer|Mekelle

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.

Position: Financial Inclusion Officer

Location: Mekelle

Position Status: Full-time, Regular

Program / Department Summary Mercy Corps is implementing a three‑year (36 months) program, 'Resilience and Incomes for Smallholders in Ethiopia through Digital Financial Services II' (RAISE-DFS II), funded by Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA). Building on the success of RAISE-DFS I, which reached over 350,000 users with inclusive digital and Islamic financial services, this second phase moves from piloting to institutionalization and system‑wide scale‑up. RAISE-DFS II will catalyze a transformation in Sharia‑compliant and digital financial services across the lowlands and highlands of Ethiopia. The program will achieve its overall objective to increase incomes and enhance resilience for rural households, particularly women and youth, across Tigray, Afar, Amhara, Somali and Oromia regions, targeting 100,000 individuals.

The Program Has Three Outcomes

• Outcome 1: Financial institutions provide climate‑responsive products and services that enable rural women and youth to adapt and build resilience to climate change.
• Outcome 2: Women and youth benefit from using DFS through strengthened consumer protection and improved trust and understanding of the services.
• Outcome 3: Financial institutions expand outreach into new areas and to underserved populations through improved and expanded agent networks and services.

General Position Summary The Financial Inclusion Officer will support the implementation of high‑quality financial inclusion programming through capacity‑building for teams, conducting market assessments, designing interventions, and building relationships with key market actors from the private sector and government. The Officer will also design Intervention Concept Notes (ICNs) that integrate financial inclusion, climate responsiveness, and gender‑transformative approaches, and will work closely with the MEL team to ensure robust monitoring and learning. The officer will represent Mercy Corps' financial inclusion work externally through building relationships with key partners and participating in relevant coordination and learning events.

Essential Responsibilities

• Enhance strategic partnerships with financial institutions, fintechs, regulators, and other stakeholders to advocate, promote, and advance organizational issues, priorities, and competency for successful program delivery.
• Collaborate with clients, partners, and stakeholders to link and harmonize approaches and to promote common interests and achievement of results.
• Leverage synergies with complementary Mercy Corps programs to accelerate last‑mile distribution, strengthen value‑chain finance, and deepen digital ecosystems.
• Support the development of work plans, activities, targets, budgets and standards for measuring progress and results, and determine the processes, tools, and methodologies to be used to ensure effective implementation and operations.
• Conduct high‑quality market system assessments in financial services, with a specific focus on climate‑responsive products, Sharia‑compliant finance, gender‑inclusive design and consumer protection systems.
• Design ICNs for MSD programs using tools such as Results Chains and 'Who Does, Who Pays?' matrices, ensuring integration of gender equality, climate resilience and conflict sensitivity.
• Lead the establishment, expansion and digitization of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) to facilitate formal credit and savings access for predominantly women members. Requires frequent travel to East and West Hararghe zones in Oromia region to directly oversee VSLA formation, training, digitization and linkage to formal financial services.
• Support partner FIs to develop and scale climate‑responsive financial products, including input‑linked loans, solar and irrigation financing, drought‑resilient livestock packages and energy‑efficient technologies.
• Support the expansion and strengthening of agent networks, including recruitment, training, retention of women agents, improved liquidity management and enhanced supervision systems.
• Support strengthening of consumer protection systems within partner FIs, including complaint‑handling mechanisms, transparency practices and integration of Fayda National ID into onboarding and KYC procedures.
• Ensure gender integration and mainstreaming in all interventions, with a minimum target of 50% women participants and specific attention to women’s economic empowerment, agency and access.
• Monitor progress and identify risks for timely action and early resolution, with particular attention to data protection, safeguarding and consumer risks.
• Responsible for full compliance with Mercy Corps rules, regulations, and policies on financial activities, financial recording/reporting systems and follow‑up on audit recommendations.
• Actively support knowledge building, sharing and application within the program.
• Submit high‑quality reports for financial inclusion programming to the Program Manager and other Mercy Corps Ethiopia team members.
• Work with a wide range of financial service providers in establishing partnerships and managing relationships on a regular basis, ensuring alignment with the program’s co‑investment and cost‑share model.

Teamwork

• Plan own work, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure of tight and conflicting deadlines.
• Work closely with team members and partners to support capacity‑building and gender integration into the programs.
• Demonstrate very good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations.
• Show strong capacities to guide a multi‑cultural team in difficult circumstances.
• Support the identification of program issues, challenges, and risks, appropriate recommendations and implementation.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• Learn about safeguarding and integrate it into work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to area of work.
• Practice Mercy Corps values including respecting dignity and well‑being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourage openness and communication in the team; encourage members to submit reports if they have concerns using reporting mechanisms such as the Integrity Hotline.

Supervisory Responsibility

None.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: RAISE-DFS Programs Manager

Works Directly With: RAISE-DFS team in Addis Ababa, Oromia, Somali, Tigray, Amhara and Afar; other Mercy Corps program teams; Operations and Finance teams.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• A degree in Business, Economics, Development Studies, Program Management or related Social Science fields.
• At least 4–6 years of work experience in program management and coordination, preferably in financial inclusion and digital financial services (DFS).
• Experience in Sharia‑compliant/Islamic finance product development (Murabaha, Musharaka, Takaful).
• Experience in climate‑responsive financial product design (input‑linked loans, solar financing, livestock resilience packages).
• Experience in product and strategy development.
• Experience in financial literacy programs and community awareness campaigns.
• Strong experience in VSLA operation and management, particularly in the Oromia region (East and West Hararghe zones), including group formation, training, record‑keeping and linkage to formal financial services.
• Practical job experience in the financial sector (banks, microfinance institutions or fintechs) is a competitive advantage.
• Familiar with all aspects of the relevant market systems including key actors.
• Understanding of Market Systems Development (MSD) approach is essential.
• Familiarity with VSLA methodology and digitization practices is advantageous.
• Knowledge of consumer protection frameworks, responsible finance and grievance‑handling mechanisms in digital financial services is desirable.
• Understanding of gender‑responsive and gender‑transformative approaches in financial inclusion is required.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to project sites and field locations, including insecure environments, is required (40-60% travel). Frequent travel to East and West Hararghe zones in Oromia region is specifically required.
• Fluency in English and Amharic is required. Knowledge of local languages (Afar, Afan Oromo, Somali or Tigrigna) is an advantage.

Success Factors

A successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, communication, initiative, accountability and the ability to operate within a complex security and political situation while following strict security protocols.

The Ideal Candidate Will Demonstrate

• Strong understanding of systemic change and sustainability.
• Ability to facilitate co‑design processes with financial institutions and market actors to develop climate‑responsive and gender‑inclusive products.
• Experience in agent network strengthening.
• Commitment to gender equality and social inclusion, with ability to design interventions that address structural barriers for women and youth.
• Strong relationship management skills.
• Willingness to relocate for short‑term within coverage regions when necessary.
• Computer literate, especially in Microsoft Office; familiarity with digital data tools (Kobo, CommCare, Power BI) is an advantage.

Ongoing Learning

Team members dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further personal and professional growth.

Team Engagement and Effectiveness

We foster a culture of trust and respect, valuing each team member’s contributions, empowering them to reach their full potential and motivating them to do their best work.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, and we will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment by or of team members. Team members comply with the Code of Conduct policies and values at all times and complete mandatory e‑learning courses on a yearly basis.