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.
Purpose / Project Description:
Mercy Corps seeks to establish a global roster of experienced Financial Inclusion (FI) consultants to provide targeted, high-quality technical support across a range of market systems and financial sector development programs. The consultant roster will be used by country teams, regional teams, and headquarters to address short-term technical gaps in financial inclusion programming. Assignments may range from remote diagnostic research, proposal development, and program design support to in-country deployment for financial sector assessments, technical assistance to partner financial institutions, and design of blended finance mechanisms. Consultants may also be engaged to provide technical troubleshooting and advisory support during program start-up, scale-up, or transition phases. This SoW outlines the scope, expectations, and typical deliverables for consultants engaged under this roster, organized by thematic area. Specific assignments will be governed by individual consultancy agreements or task orders aligned to this overarching SoW, with activities and deliverables tailored to the needs of the relevant program and context.
Provide hands-on technical leadership for financial sector diagnostics, product design, and technical assistance to partner financial institutions, including banks, MFIs, and non-bank financial service providers.
Support country and regional teams to design, launch, and adapt financial inclusion interventions that are evidence-based, commercially viable, and responsive to the needs of underserved populations, including women, youth, and conflict-affected communities.
Financial Institution Technical Assistance
Design and deliver training to partner FSPs on topics such as financial analysis, risk management, product pricing, cash flow management, and inclusive lending. Particular emphasis will be placed on supporting the digitization of both operations and customer-facing products and services.
Support FIs to design and finalize new or improved financial products, including tailored loan products, savings instruments, and Sharia-compliant offerings, using a practical, applied learning approach.
Risk Sharing and Blended Finance Mechanisms
Review existing blended finance mechanisms relevant to the target context — including risk-sharing facilities, loan guarantee funds, and concessional lending arrangements — and identify lessons learned and replication opportunities.
Design risk-sharing products or mechanisms that incentivize FI lending to target sectors, clearly defining governance, operating model, key stakeholder roles, and an implementation roadmap.
Evaluate potential blended finance sources — including impact funds, development finance institutions, donor capital, and diaspora investment — and develop strategies for engagement and capitalization.
Inclusion, Gender, and Vulnerable Populations
Analyze the specific financial barriers, needs, and opportunities facing women, youth, IDPs, conflict-affected populations, and other marginalized groups within target markets.
Advise on program design and partner selection to promote equitable access, including through women-led groups, informal savings associations, and digital channels.
Coordination, Technical Representation, and Learning
Support or represent Mercy Corps in financial sector coordination mechanisms, technical working groups, and donor engagement forums at country or regional level, where requested.
Engage with local and international partners, FSPs, UN agencies, and donors to strengthen coordination and coherence of financial inclusion approaches.
Deliverables will vary by assignment but may include:
Lead proposal sections: technical narratives, logframes, theory of change, and indicator and budget inputs
All deliverables should be clear, concise, action-oriented, and suitable for use by program teams and partners operating across a range of development and humanitarian contexts
The Consultant will report to:
Experience working across multiple geographic regions, including Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Team Engagement and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment 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, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis. 
