Financial Inclusion for Economic Restart and Integration in Iraq

The overall objective of the Project is to sustainably improve the access to inclusive financial services for vulnerable target groups and MSMEs.

With the project focussing on the development of the financial sector, institutions in the downstream partner structure are mostly private financial service providers. The target group of the overall project is the Iraqi population as they indirectly benefit from enhanced access to financial services across the country. The beneficiaries are vulnerable Iraqi population groups such as women, youth, people affected by poverty, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, refugees and MSMEs.

Tasks of expert

• Oversee all activities related to digital financial services (DFS) and advising DFS providers on financial product development, pilot testing, marketing and risk management
• Identify or verify needs for advisory and capacity building indicated by FSPs in the field of digital financial services for MSMEs and vulnerable groups
• Support the research activities related to MSME finance with a focus on digital finance in this field (e.g. new digital finance business models, digital financial services such as digital credit/ e-payments /mobile money and digital outreach channels)
• Advise DFS providers on compliance with consumer protection regulation and principles (international best practice) with regards to DFS and product design/marketing
• Assist the FSPs in establishing / adjusting digital processes, risk management and e-KYC (Know Your Customer)
• Provide on-sight capacity building for FSP staff or agents in the area of DFS (Digital financial services)
• Draft and amend procedure manuals and training material in this respect for DFS providers
• Occasionally, provide trainings or other input for selected other stakeholders in the Iraqi financial sector on digital MSME finance
• Contribute to training and awareness raising campaigns for vulnerable groups on the availabilty and usage of digital financial services
• Taking cross-cutting themes into consideration (such as gender equality, digital solutions)