East African Community Secretariat
EAC - Payment
and Settlement Systems Integration Project (EAC - PSSIP)
Terms of Reference: Payment Systems Specialist / Project Manager
1.0. Background
Following a
request from EAC Secretariat to the African Development Fund (ADF) for support
to the areas of Payment and Settlement Systems Integration of the EAC Financial
Sector Development and Regionalization Project (FSDRP1), the ADF committed to
provide a grant in support of the establishment of EA Payment and Settlement
Systems Integration Project (EAC - PSSIP) in the EAC region.
The Protocol
Agreement amounting to Fifteen Million Units of Account (UA 15,000,000) signed
between EAC and ADF to fund the 4 years project.
The EAC-PSSIP is
aimed at complementing the integration of the regional Financial Market
Infrastructure to facilitate the undertaking of cross border funds transfers in
support of the economies of the region as a whole, together with providing
outreach to rural areas in order to encourage greater participation in the formal
financial sector.
The objective of
the EAC PSSIP is to develop a robust environment for both wholesale and retail
payment and settlement systems and to facilitate market integration, support
effective application of monetary policy and financial markets aimed at
enhancing safety and efficiency in the overall payment and settlement systems.
This will
ultimately contribute to the pursuit of sound macroeconomic policies and
improve the functioning of regional integrated financial markets.
The project
includes the following key components:
(i) integration
of financial market infrastructure;
(ii)
harmonization of financial laws and regulations; and
(iii) capacity
building.
It is expected
that integration of existing systems will be substantially completed by 2014
and that the regional technological platform will be in place by 2016.
2.0. Main Purpose of the Position
The purpose of
the position of Payment Systems Specialist is to enable the PSSIP and the EAC
Secretariat, to coordinate the development of technological and communications
platforms, as well as oversee the drafting of guidelines for the regulation of
financial sector related ICT systems in the EAC region.
The Payment
Systems Specialist/ Project Manager will report to the Director of Planning.
3.0 Scope of the Work
The assignment
objective is to provide the technical input required to implement for payment
system integration and harmonization, relating to the project’s key components
listed above.
This should be
done in accordance with best international technological and communication
standards and within the bounds of the common regulatory and legal framework of
the region.
The Payment
Systems Specialist/Project Manager is in charge of the technical and business
aspects of the project and is the referent for technical and functional
questions relative to each work stream and is in charge of the organisation of
activities with providers and Central Banks.
To achieve this
objective she/ he is expected to carry out the following project specific
tasks:
i) Assists EAC
Project Coordinator in the project delivery, in line with schedule, cost,
quality and project scope limits conditions;
ii) Assists EAC
Project Coordinator in the supervision of all project activities and in the
management of the providers;
iii) Assists
Central Banks in the supervision of all Change Management activities;
iv) Is in charge
of the overall project plan, the Project Management Plan, the issues log and
the risks log;
v) Ensures the
project complies with the Project Management Plan;
vi) Reviews and
amends business and technical issues, project risks and project scope change
propositions;
vii) Responsible
for validation of technical and functional deliverables;
viii)
Participates in the Steering Committees and Regional Core Project Team
meetings;
ix) Responsible
for project reporting;
x) Participate
in oversight and coordination of the EAC’s financial sector payment systems
agenda; and
xi) Any other
duties as may be assigned to him/her by the project coordinator from time to
time.
4.0 Qualifications and Experience
The suitable
candidate for this position will be expected to possess:
- Masters in Information technology, or Economics/finance/business related subject with additional professional qualification in Information Science and technology.
- He/she should have a minimum of 6 years’ experience in the area of payment systems with at least three (3) years of the above-mentioned experience at middle to senior management level.
- Experience in payment systems development and operations;
- expertise in assessing and reporting on existing payment systems infrastructure,
- knowledge of technologies and resources currently in place; and
- expertise in assessing potential software development for the banks and financial service providers, as well as in undertaking similar assignments in developing countries, preferably within Africa, will be an added advantage.
5.0 Skills and Competencies
Specifically,
the Payment Systems Specialist should be able to demonstrate his/her knowledge
and skill in some of the following areas:
i) International
information technology best standards and practices;
ii) Payments
system regulation and supervision;
iii) Protocols
for financial transactions;
iv) Protocols
for paperless securities settlement transactions;
v) Financial
clearing house operations;
vi) IT Security
measures;
vii) Disaster
recovery systems.
viii) Risk
management
ix) Capacity
building for payment systems
6.0 Deliverables:
i. Quarterly
progress reports on implementation of the EAC PSSIP.
ii. Validation
reports for the technical and functional aspects of the project
iii. Annual
Regional Capacity Building program for users and relevant technical working
groups.
7.0 Terms and Conditions of Service /
Duration
This is an
EAC-PSSIP project position supported by the African Development Fund (ADF), and
is a non-established position for which contract terms are limited to the
period of the project, and may be renewed subject to performance and extension
of the funding.
The Payment
Systems Specialist/project Manager will be recruited by the EAC Secretariat for
an initial period of two (2) years including a probation period of six months.
The contract may
be renewed contingent upon project budgeting and a satisfactory performance
evaluation.
Attractive
consolidated remuneration packages for fixed contract positions will be paid in
accordance with the EAC-PSSIP budget.
8.0 Starting Period: October, 2013
9.0 How to Apply
Download EAC Job
Application Format from the EAC website
Interested
candidates should submit their applications quoting the reference number of the
position applied for, by registered mail, courier service, e-mail (all soft
copies should be in MS Word) or dispatch together with Curriculum Vitae, copies
of both academic and professional certificates and testimonials, names and
addresses of three referees, and day time telephone/cell phone contact details
to:
The Secretary
General
East African
Community Secretariat
Headquarters
EAC Close
P.O. Box 1096
Arusha -
Tanzania.
Fax No: 007 27
2502455/2504481
E-mail:
eac@eachq.org
To be received
not later than 5th September, 2013
The East African
Community is an equal opportunity employer.
Female
candidates are encouraged to apply.
We shall only
respond to those candidates who strictly meet the set requirements.
