This position is located in USAID’s Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation (IPI), in the Innovation, Technology and Research (ITR) Hub, which leads USAID in experimentation and innovation to transform development. The ITR Hub leverages the promise of innovation, technology and research to bring about positive change and solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

We partner with USAID Missions, entrepreneurs, small businesses, researchers, universities, technology companies, government, civil society, faith-based organizations, and development professionals to keep the Agency on the forefront of science and technology, incorporate breakthrough innovations, and apply the best tools to emerging priorities.

In taking smart risks to transform development, we are:

• sourcing, testing, and scaling proven solutions that impact millions of people;
• opening development to people everywhere with good ideas;
• using data and evidence in decision-making; and
• harnessing scientific and technological advances.

ITR’s collaborative approach supports USAID’s mandate to be on the forefront of science and technology, incorporates breakthrough innovations into our programs and policies, and applies the latest tools, like artificial intelligence and evidence-based approaches to development priorities, countering malign influences and engaging new private sector partners.

The Program Analyst I position sits in the Digital Finance team within the Technology Division of the IPI Bureau’s ITR Hub. The Technology Division of ITR: (a) fosters the development of an open, inclusive, and secure digital ecosystem where USAID works; and (b) promotes the responsible use of technology and geospatial analysis in development and humanitarian assistance. This mandate is pursued through diverse engagements with internal and external stakeholders (across USAID, the U.S. Government, and stakeholders beyond the USG). This mandate places special emphasis on strengthening the resilience of digital ecosystems in the face of diverse threats, and also ensuring these ecosystems develop in a manner that promotes (rather than undermines) empowerment, agency, equity, and equality for underserved communities and women.

The Digital Finance team’s vision is to advance empowerment, resilience, well-being, and equity for underserved communities by fostering the development of open, inclusive, and secure digital finance ecosystems and economies worldwide. The team works toward this vision by focusing on two objectives:

1. Equip and collaborate with USAID operating units and other U.S. Government stakeholders to design, fund, or implement programs related to digital finance and the digital economy that advance humanitarian assistance or development priorities; and
2. Manage or catalyze strategic initiatives that result in market-level impact and global norms that advance our vision of open, inclusive, and secure digital finance ecosystems and economies.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Program Analyst I provides assistance to one or more Digital Finance work streams in the areas of research, analysis, reporting, programming, policy, planning, and/or program operations. The incumbent serves as a point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, resolving inquiries and coordinating with others where appropriate. The incumbent will work with implementing partners as part of a team under the guidance of team lead, A/CORs and Senior Activity Managers, where appropriate, to build internal and external relationships and monitor and support progress toward completion of programmatic goals. The incumbent supports various components of programs and teams which may involve communications and outreach, program coordination, selection process, grant management, M&E, and engagement. The Program Analyst I will be expected to perform analytical-type tasks such as collecting, compiling, and analyzing data for various program documents, designing and maintaining spreadsheets in support of financial tracking systems, and drafting reports and communications content such as blogs and case studies on digital finance content.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

1. Researches, plans, analyzes, and organizes technical and/or statistical information and develops data for use in briefings, publications, and reports.
2. Assembles, analyzes, and communicates facts, evidence, and expert opinions on relevant issues related to digital financial services and digital development broadly.
3. Helps team cultivates relationships with and coordinates with other Bureaus, Missions, and other partners to ensure alignment with complementary programs within and external to the Agency.
4. Supports the management of high-level relationships with external partners, including but not limited to, private sector partners, program leads, and donor community.
5. Consults with the relevant pillar and regional bureaus and missions in order to reflect the broader agency needs and requirements within emerging partnerships. Consults, as needed, with other federal agencies to identify synergies and areas of further level
6. Prepares or coordinates preparation of reports, briefings, conferences, publications, training, and other means of promoting wide understanding of improved knowledge and methods.
7. Keeps abreast of new developments and emerging issues by attending meetings, workshops and conferences and formulates recommendations for USAID steps in response to these developments and shares them with colleagues.
8. Further initiates contacts with USAID employees to develop news and learnings from the Agency's work in digital financial services. Identifies common trends across the Agency’s work
9. Provides coordination support on program activities, in particular programs related to research.
10. Provides technical assistance as requested or assigned and works with USAID staff on digita finance-related activities
11. Other duties as required.

Required Qualification, Education and/or Experience:

1. A Bachelor's degree is encouraged, preferably in International Affairs, Communications, Economics, Public Policy, Technology, Business or related field. Master’s Degree preferred with at least one year of experience. At least 6 years of experience may be substituted for a Bachelor's degree.
2. For a Bachelor's Degree, at least 3 years’ professional experience including positions working for or supporting social enterprises and/or businesses, impact evaluations, venture capital, management consulting, financial services, impact investing, and/or grant-making.
3. Experience and knowledge of digital financial services, financial inclusion, payments, fintech, or MSME finance
4. Experience implementing, supporting or measuring programs in developing country context is preferred.
5. Track record of solving problems by identifying areas for improvement, iterating, and delivering results
6. Track record of building trusted relationships with partners.
7. Experience working with a variety of key stakeholders from different countries and cultural backgrounds.
8. Exceptional writing skills and attention to detail
9. Comfort task-shifting, multi-tasking, and working with ambiguity
10. Ability to work well in teams

Strong Skill-sets Needed:

1. Listening
2. Writing
3. Editing
4. Verbal Communication
5. Teamwork
6. Multitasking
7. Organizing and Planning
8. Data Analysis

USAID Assumptions and Constraints:

1. Candidate must be a US citizen eligible to obtain a Secret security clearance
2. Requires compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794d); USAID Graphic Standards (available at www.usaid.gov/branding), USAID Mission & Core Values (available at http://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/mission-vision-values) or any successor branding/mission/core values policies.
3. Requires collaboration with USAID IPI and other Operational Units

Estimated Schedule:

Full-time

Place of Performance:

Washington, DC - Ronald Reagan Building (RRB). On-site support with limited telework.

Travel - Limited International and Domestic Travel