IFMR Finance Foundation (IFF)
is an Indian non-profit whose mission is ‘to ensure that every individual
and every enterprise has complete access to financial services’. We do
this by addressing key gaps in the Indian financial system that are
constraining access. We believe in the deeply transformative power of
finance and that a high-quality financial system is consistent with
universal access.
IFF has made important contributions to the financial system in India
over the three years of its existence, notably:
1. Formulated guidelines for Indian Pension Fund Regulatory
Development Authority’s distribution of its pension product for
low-income households (
http://bit.ly/npslite
)
2. Participating in the development of the domestic capital market,
particularly for securitised debt instruments.
3. Conceptualised a new model for financial services delivery in
remote rural India called the Kshetriya Gramin Financial Services (KGFS).
IFF has partnered with Prof. Rohini Pande of Harvard University to
evaluate this model
4. Commissioned the first ever randomised evaluation of a micro-credit
program. This was conducted by Prof. Esther Duflo and Prof. Esther
Banerjee of MIT. The results from this evaluation has significantly
improved global understanding of the specific ways in which micro-credit
helps customers and where it does not, in the short-term.
We are looking for a Head of IFMR Finance Foundation. S/he would:
a) Direct the research and policy efforts of IFF. This would involve
identifying key questions and partners. This requires an in-depth
understanding of the Indian financial system architecture, key players,
existing policy frameworks and an analysis of the constraints.
b) Ensure outreach – disseminate learning and insights from our work
to a group of key practitioners in the Indian financial systems. Write
extensively for the IFMR blog (
www.ifmrblog.com
), in Indian media and
policy journals
c) Provide strategic inputs to IFMR group companies in order to
amplify their advocacy impact in the areas of origination, capital
markets development and risk transmission
d) Identify and build key partnerships that will accelerate the
achievement of the mission
e) Lead the structuring and implementation of the Annual IFMR
Financial System Design Conference.
f) Mentor a team of around five professionals within IFF
Qualifications:
Candidates should have a strong commitment to financial access and a
sound understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of financial sector
development. S/he should have demonstrated aptitude for building,
managing and motivating teams. S/he should have very strong conceptual
and communication skills. The work culture at IFF demands intensity and a
continuous commitment to expertise. S/he would be a qualified PhD in
Economics/Public policy or a M.Sc.in Economics or Finance from a
top-ranked university.
S/he would report directly to the Board of IFF and be based in
Chennai, India. Compensation will be competitive by domestic benchmarks.
To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to
‘aswin.kumar@ifmr.co.in
’.
Please include the job title ‘Head –IFMR Finance Foundation’ in the
subject line. Applications must be received by July 30, 2011.