Analyst, Karandaaz Innovation

About Us

Guided by Karandaaz vision, we believe that every Pakistani deserves to be Financially Included and Economically Empowered. Our Mission at Karandaaz is to Foster economic growth and create jobs through financial inclusion of unbanked individuals and unserved enterprises.

Karandaaz Pakistan is a Non-profit organization, based out of Islamabad, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan under Section 42 of the Companies Act 2017. We are supported by Department for International Development (DFID) and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). Karandaaz is governed by an eminent board who set the strategy of the organization and steer it towards achievement of its objectives.

Position Summary: 

Karandaaz Pakistan seeks to hire an Analyst for the Karandaaz Innovation function to support the implementation of its growing portfolios of Innovation Challenge Fund and Women Ventures. The successful candidate will work in close coordination with Senior Associate Innovation and will report to Head of Karandaaz Innovation.

Karandaaz Innovation through its programmatic interventions, Innovation Challenge Fund (ICF) and Women Ventures (WV), aims to address gaps in the financial architecture to improve access to finance. The ICF is designed to overcome the challenges in financial inclusion by investing in innovative products and services. Karandaaz works with private sector firms to invite solutions to these challenges and reduce the risk of product development by funding the projects. Challenge funds are designed to leverage the innovative power and commercial instincts of the private sector, and financial service providers to overcome developmental challenges. The challenge fund can help overcome market failures that would otherwise prevent a solution-provider from making an initial investment, either from the cost of information discovery, costs of mitigating risks or simple lack of available funding. The Analyst will assist the Head Karandaaz Innovation in initial research, selection and contracting of partners, financial and technical monitoring for challenge fund rounds.

Women Ventures is a programmatic intervention by Karandaaz to provide growth capital and business development support to female entrepreneurs who are aspiring to scale up expand their business operations. Women Ventures is currently supporting 18 women led businesses and has provided business development support to more than 65 businesses. These businesses belong to a range of sectors and are actively contributing to job creation and economic development. Women Ventures has also entered into institutional partnerships in order to expand its outreach and also to strengthen support available to businesswomen within the ecosystem. The Associate will support the selection and investment process for WV, as well as the post investment monitoring of selected women led businesses.

The ideal candidate will have experience in working on grant design & management and have passion for private sector development, particularly the financial inclusion space. The candidate would have displayed versatility in the areas where they have worked.

Job Responsibilities

• Conduct research and analysis to develop background and market knowledge on thematic problems and key challenges in the financial inclusion space.
• Help the ICF Head in drafting concept notes based on selected themes and specify challenge round designs (eligibility and selection criteria, advisory committee constitution, application forms, guidance notes and systems for fund disbursement, governance, transparency and performance monitoring etc.) and budgets.
• Assist in implementing the competitive process for challenge rounds, including proposal screening and selection of partners with a special focus on innovation, “new to market” products and capacities of implementing partners.
• Monitor projects funded through ICF, including managing the funds disbursement process, assessment and oversight of key milestones, institutionalizing regular progress updates from partners, flagging delays and problems in implementation to Head ICF, and successfully closing projects.
• Support the selection and investment process for Women Ventures, which includes managing the application submissions, data collation, evaluation, interviews, business development support, post investment monitoring, and relationship management.
• Support contract drafting and management for the women led businesses and ensuring that businesses are compliant with the terms of agreement
• Coordinate with the Communications team for promotion of ICF and Women Ventures to relevant audiences through use of different communication platforms such as social and print media, events etc.
• Develop communication products, in collaboration with the Communications team, to document success stories and key lessons from ICF supported activities. These may include blogs, articles, videos and case studies.
• Work with the M&E team to ensure that development objectives of the ICF and Women Ventures are measurable and reported at all stages. Assist M&E team in executing monitoring and evaluation of ICF and WV related activities.
• Any other task as may be required by the supervisor for achievement of results related to Karandaaz Innovation.

Eligibility

1. Technical Skills, Education & Experience

• Four years Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business or economics – or related field of study with an understanding of project management and social science research
• At least two (2) years of relevant experience, preferably in programme and investment management in the financial inclusion space.
• Demonstrated experience of working independently, strategic thinking, and managing a complex project portfolio.
• Strong analytical skills in terms of research, sectoral analysis and programme design
• Excellent English writing and presentation skills
• Experience in working with various stakeholders from the public and private sectors.
• Knowledge of the financial access space and impact investing will be a significant advantage.

1. Behavioral Skills

• Highly organized, with demonstrated project and time management skills
• Have strong decision-making skills, analytical skills and problem-solving skills
• Ability to interface with and manage stakeholders at senior level
• Ability to work on multiple and tight deadlines with a commitment to quality, accuracy and attention to detail
• Team player and self-starter, shows initiative; works independently; has innate curiosity; passion for research, analysis and delivering insights to the market
• Ability to work with geographically dispersed multicultural teams.
• Ability to travel to different locations in Pakistan, as required.

Culture and Values at Karandaaz

Karandaaz Culture is guided by our values of Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Equity (ICARE). These values shape our choices on what we do and how we do it, both with colleagues internally and partners externally. We also believe that we are all responsible for creating a great place to work and are constantly looking to hire individuals who bring the same level of passion and commitment to the purpose of the organization.

If you believe in Karandaaz vision and values and feel excited about the work we are offering, please send us your application for this position to careers@karandaaz.com.pk clearly mentioning the position title in the subject line. We will be accepting submissions till August 16^th, 2020.

Karandaaz is an equal opportunity employer.  Women and people with disabilities and encouraged to apply.