Consultants Needed - Data and Fintech SMEs

About Accion:

Accion is a global nonprofit committed to creating a financially inclusive world, with a pioneering legacy in microfinance and fintech impact investing. We catalyze financial service providers to deliver high-quality, affordable solutions at scale for the three billion people who are left out of — or poorly served by — the financial sector. For nearly 60 years, Accion has helped tens of millions of people through our work with more than 160 partners in 55 countries. More at http://www.accion.org.

Project Summary:

The Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI)’s work on Data Risks and Opportunities focuses on supporting transparent practices, responsible algorithms, and emerging frameworks for data rights in financial inclusion.

We look for ways to bring transparency to the data practices of digital financial service providers. We study how financial service providers use algorithms and what must be done to protect already-underserved populations against algorithmic bias in automated decision-making. We also monitor emerging data privacy and protection frameworks around the world to document what does and does not work to advance financial inclusion while safeguarding data privacy, portability, and other consumer rights.

CFI is looking for data and fintech experts who are available to consult on short and long-term research projects. This call is not tied to an immediate opportunity but rather, upcoming needs over the coming year.  Applicants can be individuals or organizations and can be based globally.

Scope of Work

Consultants can expect to apply their skillsets at various stages of the research process – from project development to research design to partnership management; from instrument design to data collection to analysis and publication.  Projects could partner with a range of stakeholders including government actors, financial service providers, platforms etc.

Applicants need only fit one of the following consultant profiles to apply:

1. Data Scientist for Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Consultants should have experience building or supervising models that have been deployed in the financial sector, ideally using alternative data such including call detail records (CDR), social media etc.  Preferred candidates should have some exposure to AI ethics and/or policy and algorithmic auditing tools.
2. Data Protection Counsel: Consultants should have strong technical knowledge of data protection law and practices and experience applying them to innovative uses of data, ideally having experience advising companies in the technology or financial services sectors along with experience monitoring compliance with regulatory requirements and engaging with regulators.
3. Privacy Engineers: Consultants should have experience in the finance industry as well knowledge managing privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) such as cryptographic algorithms and/or data masking techniques.
4. UX/UI Designer: Consultants should have experience with consumer-facing financial products and services and knowledge of modern design tools such as Adobe suite, Figma, Miro and prototyping tools.  Preferred candidates would have experience in human-centered design, particularly for low-income and vulnerable populations.

Qualifications

• At least 6+ years of experience in your area of specialization

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in emerging markets
• Foreign language is a plus (Arabic, French, Spanish)