Key Financial Inclusion Expert – Sierra Leone

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Key Financial Inclusion Expert for a finance consultancy assignment financed by UNCDF in Sierra Leone.

Aninver Development Partners is preparing a strategic proposal for a UNCDF-backed initiative in Sierra Leone focused on expanding financial inclusion through the digitization of community-based savings groups. The project aims to integrate marginalized populations, particularly smallholder farmers and women, into the formal financial ecosystem by leveraging digital tools and mobile technology.

We are seeking an expert Key Financial Inclusion Expert to join our team for this assignment in Sierra Leone. The ideal professional will contribute extensive sector expertise to design, pilot, and scale interventions that bridge community savings mechanisms with regulated financial service providers, driving sustainable economic development across the country.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Design and implement a scalable, secure, and user-centric digital solution to digitize community savings group operations.
• Enable the linkage of savings group members, particularly smallholder farmers, to formal financial institutions and appropriate digital financial services.
• Promote gender-sensitive financial inclusion and ensure high levels of participation among women across rural and under-served areas.
• Build the capacity of savings group members and local agents through targeted training and literacy-friendly financial education tools.

Scope of work

• Review baseline findings, conduct rapid needs assessments, and co-design digitization strategies alongside local partners and financial institutions.
• Support the deployment and testing of digital platforms offering multiple access channels such as USSD, IVR, and agent-assisted options.
• Implement pilot programs targeting savings groups operating across varied agricultural value chains in rural and urban provinces.
• Design and test onboarding pathways and linkage models enabling group members to open formal accounts and access savings, credit, and digital payments.
• Deliver gender-sensitive training materials, literacy-friendly tools, and consumer protection frameworks for community groups.
• Co-develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track key performance indicators including digitization rates, active users, and loan disbursements.

Your role as Key Financial Inclusion Expert

• Lead financial inclusion strategies and provide technical guidance throughout the design and implementation of the digitization project.
• Collaborate with banks, microfinance institutions, mobile money operators, and regulators to foster sustainable financial ecosystems.
• Assess community financial needs and identify appropriate financial services that can be delivered by licensed institutions.
• Support the development of linkage models connecting digital savings records with formal credit scoring and financial products.
• Contribute to capacity building initiatives, ensuring financial education and consumer protection measures reach all participants effectively.
• Monitor operational metrics, financial flows, and user experience to mitigate risks such as over-indebtedness and fraud.
• Draft technical reports, case studies, and contributions for interim and final project deliverables.

Requirements

• Education: Not specified
• At least 5 years' experience in financial inclusion
• Languages: Not specified

Desirable

• Previous experience working on UNCDF or other United Nations-funded projects.
• Familiarity with agricultural value chains and smallholder farmer financing.
• Proven track record in promoting gender-inclusive financial services.

A dedicated financial inclusion specialist with over 5 years of experience in expanding access to finance, deep familiarity with community savings groups, and a strong commitment to driving inclusive economic growth in Sierra Leone.

Assignment details

• Location: Sierra Leone
• Financed by: UNCDF
• Sector: Finance
• Estimated duration: 15 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a UNCDF-financed project in Sierra Leone.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.