Project Head, Pakistan Micropayment Initiative (PMPI)

Project Concept:Digitizing Microfinance: Enabling a payment Ecosystem

Branchless Banking (BB) is silently revolutionizing Pakistan’s financial market. With the BB service providers aiming to deploy over 400,000 agents and extending access of these delivery channels to over 45 Microfinance Providers (MFPs) by 2020, the sector is poised to achieve 10 million borrowers resulting in the upsurge of penetration rate to 37 percent.

PMN appreciates the vitality of innovation to make a realistic approach towards the achievement of the above described goals. PMN has covered significant strides in its commitment to deploy innovative technologies to enable the provision of financial services to the unbanked. The implementation of a Microfinance Exclusive Credit Information Bureau (MFCIB) is a case in point. PMN aims to further its efforts towards bringing the non-banked into the mainstream by opening up yet another avenue (electronic payments) for the microfinance industry.

The project aims to:

• Expose the microfinance sector to the realm of digital payments
• To deploy and promote the use of Alternate Delivery Channels (ADCs) to:

1. Ensure  smooth flow of regular transactions
2. Enable branch independent transactions; and to
3. “Channelize through channels”, bringing down operational expenses and transaction costs

• Develop an ecosystem of onus transactions for the microfinance industry making the use of technology affordable

Main Activities

• The project will require a massive technical overhauling at PMN site. PMN will set up data center, systems, network and human resource for M-Switch deployment. Next step would be to enhance the technical capacity of Microfinance Providers (MFPs) manifold through trainings, technical assistance and deployments to ensure their integration with M-Switch.
• After the technical capacity has been built, the project shall also fill in the gaps in the electronic payment infrastructure by deploying a sizeable ADC infrastructure after thorough analysis of the current infrastructure geo spread. This newly deployed ADC infrastructure will also be resonated with M-Switch and subsequently, the national banking switch, 1-Link.
• Once the preliminary ecosystem for electronic payments has been deployed and the Microfinance (MF) clientele has been equipped to perform onus transactions, this newly developed switch will be linked with 1-Link, reducing MFPs cost of independent linkage and enabling the customers to perform off-us transactions.

Outcomes

• The successful deployment will be a huge enabler for achieving financial inclusion, across the board.
• Upon completion, the initiative will bring the complete suite of electronic banking services: POS; ATM; MNOs; Mobile and Internet banking; CMS; and IVR to an onus transactional environment, creating a local ecosystem of electronic payments.
• Currently, only the commercial and microfinance banks are part of the payment systems’ landscape. The initiative will also make microfinance institutions a part of the system viably by bringing down cost of transactions.
• PMN will deploy a switch dubbed “M-Switch”, which in addition to providing the services mentioned above, will serve as a single point of contact with the current banking switch, “1-Link” eliminating high integration costs and permitting off-us transactions.

The responsibilities would broadly cover (but not be limited to) the following:

• Pakistan Micro-Payments Initiative Leadership:
• Develop strategic vision for the initiative in consultation with MFIs, MFBs and stakeholders (ala SBP, SECP and donors).
• Define the organizational structure, hire competent resources and assign yearly KPIs to complete the objective of this initiative.
• Establish a governance process in collaboration with all stakeholders for sector’s information privacy.
• Work with Technology Analyst to ensure buy-in of the sector on the initiative.
• Evaluate, identify and advise the Steering Committee on appropriate technology platforms for delivering PMN’s services.
• Work with management and comprehensively evaluate proposals received and ensure vendor selection is transparent and adds value.
• Lead the initiative of building PMPI’s IT infrastructure (Data Center and NOC) from scratch.
• Build and manage PMPI’s Networks, IT services and operations, Engineering Operations and Support teams.
• Act as a relationship manager and tier-one support provider to switch clientele.
• Direct development and execution of an enterprise-wide disaster recovery and business continuity plan.
• Thought Leadership & Organizational Management:
• Lead the Technology and Engineering teams.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of technology standards, industry trends, emerging technologies, and software development best practices through stakeholder engagement, reading and conferences.
• Share knowledge, mentor, and educate the network’s members, management, and stakeholders with regard to the PMN’s technological vision, opportunities, and challenges.
• Direct recruitment, training, retention, and organization of all development staff in accordance with the network’s hiring process, and budget requirements.
• Ensure that PMN’s technological processes and services comply with sector expectations and applicable laws and regulations for privacy, security, and social responsibility.
• Should be able to leverage existing resources and develop new business opportunities.
• Microfinance Industry Collaboration
• Evaluate MFI & MFBs current technological capacities and enhancement needs, in terms of both technology and human resource development & support this enhancement through trainings and technological support.
• Support Technology Analyst in promotion of technology initiatives within the sector.
• Brainstorm and come up with innovations to drive the sector in collaboration with PMN’s functional leads and the sector.
• Ensure delivery of assigned initiatives per specification.

Education and Experience

• The ideal candidate should have the following qualifications.
• The candidate must have three years Bachelor’s degree (person with Master’s degree and technical background will be preferred).
• At least 8 years of progressively responsible team management and technical experience in IT and Operations.
• Prior experience of working with payment switch development highly desirable.
• Proven track record of working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to deliver on deadlines in a fast paced environment.
• Problem solving ability, energy and a desire towards bringing about financial inclusion for base of pyramid customers.
• Innovative, out of the box thinker with excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to question assumptions and constructively thought challenge ideas with the desire to build a work culture based on these principles.
• Willingness to travel, as and when required, optimizing job results. 
• Excellent Communication and Presentation Skills.