Digital Payments Specialist at UNDP July 2026

Job snapshot

UNDP in Tanzania is recruiting a Digital Payments Specialist. The post sits inside the finance function, where accuracy and controls matter most. The post is based in Dar es Salaam.

UNDP in Tanzania operates a finance function with reconciliation and reporting at its core.

Role overview

Education & Work ExperienceMaster's Degree - 5 year(s) experience OR Bachelor's Degree - 7 year(s) experience.

Key responsibilities

• Type: Full time Jobs.
• Category: Accounting.
• Job Identification35541.
• Posting Date07/16/2026, 05:13 PM.
• Apply Before07/24/2026, 06:59 AM.
• Job ScheduleFull time.
• Locations Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
• AgencyUNDP.
• GradeIPSA-10.
• Vacancy TypeInternational Personnel Service Agreement.
• Practice AreaEffectiveness.
• Contract Duration6 months.
• Required LanguagesEnglish and Kiswahili.
• Vacancy Timeline1 Week.
• Tiered Approach.
• In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby.
• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed while 2026.
• Tier 1: remaining UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments.
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on routine PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers.
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: every remaining contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates.
• Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if every, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
• Background.
• The East African Community (EAC) is one of Africa's most advanced regional economic blocs, recognized for its strong track record of cooperation in trade, finance, and digital transformation.
• Cross-border trade plays a pivotal role in the region's economic fabric, particularly for women and youth-led micro and small enterprises (MSMEs).
• These enterprises are central to livelihoods, food security, and job creation, and they sustain regional supply chains via the movement of agricultural goods, textiles, foodstuffs, and household items across borders.
• In doing so, they serve as the two economic engines and social safety nets, driving inclusive growth and resilience across East Africa.
• To unlock the complete potential of cross-border trade, the EAC has embarked on ambitious initiatives to modernize payment systems and accelerate digital integration that is inclusive and responsible, serving women-led enterprises and youth.
• The EAC Cross-Border Payments Masterplan provides a regional roadmap for harmonized, fast, and low-cost payment systems, while the World Bank-supported East Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) is investing in digital public infrastructure to make trade more inclusive, interoperable, and efficient.
• The two initiatives emphasize the critical importance of regulatory harmonization and coordination, particularly in areas like licensing regimes, Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) frameworks, and interoperability standards.
• Together, these efforts are directly aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Protocol on Digital Trade, which seeks to build a unified African digital economy by lowering transaction costs, boosting competitiveness, and expanding access to inclusive finance.
• Despite these advances, cash continues to dominate transactions in informal cross-border trade, which remains a lifeline for millions of traders, particularly those living and operating around border areas.
• Heavy reliance on cash is particularly pronounced at strategic border crossings like Namanga (Kenya - Tanzania), Gatuna (Rwanda - Uganda), and Rusumo (Rwanda -Tanzania), among others, where traders engage in daily exchanges with limited access to secure, affordable, and interoperable digital payment solutions.
• Here, traders face persistent challenges - covering limited access to fit-for-purpose financial products, low levels of trust in digital systems, and lack of awareness of accessible products and redress mechanisms.
• Regulatory bottlenecks, along with concerns around fraud, hidden charges, and dispute resolution, more discourage the transition from cash to digital transactions.
• The reliance on cash exposes traders, especially women and youth to heightened security risks, limited access to capital, and exclusion from formal financial ecosystems.
• Without digital transaction histories, traders are locked out of affordable credit opportunities, limiting their ability to expand operations, manage risks, or build resilience.
• This undermines the inclusivity and competitiveness of regional trade and perpetuates cycles of financial exclusion, ultimately hampering economic development inside these communities and the region at large.
• It is against this backdrop that the Better Than Cash Alliance (BTCA), which has supported the successful development and implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, is spearheading an innovative initiative to pilot responsible, interoperable digital merchant payment solutions at selected EAC border points to delivering digital solutions to entrepreneurs in cross-border trade at key border posts in the region.
• This initiative is grounded in the understanding that digital payments are not just a technological advancement but a strategic driver of financial inclusion, economic opportunity, and greater participation of women and youth in the digital economy.
• By reducing dependency on cash, digital merchant payments can generate transaction histories that unlock credit, improve transparency, reduce costs, and expand market opportunities for MSMEs.
• Additionally, digital payments have proven to be safer, and a linkage into greater participation in the digital economy.
• In doing so, they strengthen productivity and resilience while contributing directly to SDG targets on poverty reduction, gender equality, decent work, and reduced inequalities.
• The initiative is designed to be catalytic in several ways.
• First, it aligns with UNDP's strategic priorities on inclusive digitalization, financial innovation, and sustainable development, and with BTCA's mandate to accelerate the responsible transition to inclusive digital payments.
• Second, it leverages a pilot approach to mobilize key stakeholders and players, test scalable, fit-for-purpose solutions that can be replicated across multiple EAC border points and remaining regions covering ECOWAS and SADC.
• Third, it provides a regional convening platform, via the planned conference "Making Digital Payments Work for East Africa" to share evidence, disseminate lessons, and mobilize commitments from governments, regulators, financial service providers, fintechs, traders' associations, and regional economic communities.
• BTCA has partnered with UNDP Tanzania Country office to activate pilots for responsible digital payments serving traders in border communities transacting inside the EAC.
• Given Tanzania's strategic position inside the two EAC and SADC, there is an opportunity to scale and leverage the COMESA-EAC-SADC tripartite agreement.
• These activations demonstrate leadership in building interoperable digital ecosystems that reduce cash dependency, expand pathways to credit for MSMEs, and foster resilient and inclusive economies across East Africa.
• Ultimately, this work contributes to the broader regional and continental agenda of leveraging digital transformation as a driver of inclusive trade, sustainable finance, and gender-responsive economic growth.
• Scope of Work.
• To support BTCA in articulating the Theory of Change and accelerate the adoption of cross-border digital payments solutions across different regions in Africa, BTCA is seeking to hire an IPSAS to work alongside the UNDP Tanzania Country to perform the following.
• Duties and Responsibilities.
• 1. Theory of Change: Cash to Digital Payments.
• Developing a robust theory of change articulating pathways via which shifts from cash to digital payments drive impact.
• Map the contribution of digital payments to advancing financial inclusion, gender equality, and the SDGs.
• Align theory of change with UNDP strategic priorities and relevant national/regional frameworks.
• 2. Impact Assessment and Knowledge Products.
• Assess socio-economic impact of digital payments, particularly for women, youth, and rural communities.
• Providing a comprehensive legal and regulatory landscape highlighting opportunities and challenges inside the existing frameworks, and providing comparative analyses with remaining regions.
• Co-produce knowledge products with local/regional academic and research institutions to serve as blueprints for replication in remaining regions across Africa.
• Providing evidence-based insights on how digital and financial inclusion is changing lives and advancing the SDGs.
• Engage universities and research institutions to manage learning and sustain documentation.
• Building capacity of academic partners to conduct research and produce policy-relevant evidence and embed learnings into future or current curricula.
• Facilitate collaboration with the SDG Academy and remaining knowledge platforms for wider dissemination.
• 4. Knowledge Documentation and Dissemination.
• Keeping records of lessons learned, best practices, challenges and opportunities from pilot initiatives.
• Developing case studies showcasing how responsible and inclusive digital finance is transforming livelihoods with real life scenarios.
• Making sure gender-responsive and inclusive approaches in every initiatives and engagements.
• 5. Policy Advocacy and Regional/Government Engagement.
• Generate policy recommendations to influence national financial inclusion strategies and regulatory frameworks.
• Supporting advocacy with relevant policymakers and regulators on sustainable digital transitions.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange with COMESA, SADC, and ECOWAS to support regional scaling under the AfCFTA umbrella.
• 6. Capacity Development.
• Strengthen internal UNDP staff capacity on digital financial services and financial inclusion.
• Arranging trainings, workshops, and peer learning sessions with different partners.
• Developing policy briefs, guidance materials and toolkits for replication at country and regional levels.
• 7. Other functions.
• Program aimed at creating significant impact on digital trade in the region and coordinate the implementation with respective UNDP Country Offices so that donor requirements are met;. This as well covers supporting BTCA and UNDP Tanzania Co to develop large, related program with a diverse funding base.
• Every remaining related administrative responsibilities contributing to the successful implementation of responsible digital payments under the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.
• The incumbent performs remaining duties inside their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
• Institutional arrangement.
• Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: The Digital Payments Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the UNDP Tanzania Country Office Program Specialist running the EAC community cross-border pilot and with the UNDP Tanzania Country Office DRR on diversifying the funding base.
• The Digital Payments Specialist will work closely with the BTCA Advocacy and Partnerships Specialist based in Nairobi to help apply the lessons learned from the Tanzania Pilot to remaining regions across Africa.
• Routine updates and progress reviews will be conducted via virtual meetings and written reports.
• Competencies.
• Core Competencies.
• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
• Cross-Functional/Technical competencies.
• Business Development.
• Knowledge Generation.
• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
• Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches.
• Communication.
• Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner the two via written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Partnership Management.
• Building and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
• 2030 Agenda/Prosperity.
• Recovery Solutions and Human Mobility.
• Cash Based Livelihoods.
• Cash Based Transfers.
• Digital innovations in adapting employment, livelihoods (incl. cash handouts) and provision of basic services.
• Business Direction and Strategy.
• Systems Thinking.
• Ability to use objective problem analysis.
• Required Skills and Experience.
• Minimum Education Requirements.
• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Finance, Digital Innovation, or related field is required or.
• Required Skills.
• Proven experience in developing theories of change, knowledge products, and policy briefs.
• Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section.
• Previous experience with the UN and/or international organization, familiarity with its mandate and work is an asset.
• Experience in Communication is desired Experience working with academic institutions, regional bodies (COMESA, SADC, ECOWAS), or UN/International organizations.
• Strong background in gender-responsive and inclusive development approaches.
• Required Language(s).
• Fluency in English.
• Knowledge of Kiswahili language is desirable.
• Professional Certificates.
• Equal opportunity.
• As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from every backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization.
• Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
• UNDP is as well committed to creating an inclusive workplace where every personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
• Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority.
• UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority.
• Every selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
• Right to select multiple candidates.
• UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.
• We might as well retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for remaining comparable positions with UNDP at the identical grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
• Use of AI by candidates.
• Applicants are invited to read UNDP's guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection.
• Scam alert.
• UNDP does not charge a fee at every stage of its recruitment process. For more information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
• How to Apply.
• Job type complete-time Job, To submit your application, please follow the link provided below.

Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years (with master's degree) or 7 years (with bachelor's degree) of experience in digital finance, financial inclusion, or related areas is required.
• A first-level university degree (bachelor's degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an extra two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• The candidate will liaise with remaining UNDP Country Offices, Regional Hubs, recognised tertiary institutions, and regional economic communities as necessary.
• 3. Partnerships with recognised tertiary institutions.
• Finance professional certificates will be a useful extra.
• Minimum years of relevant work experience.

Key skills

• Talent Acquisition
• Regulatory Compliance
• Fleet & Vehicle Operation

How to apply

Apply through the UNDP in Tanzania careers portal for this Digital Payments Specialist.

Apply on the UNDP in Tanzania site

Common questions

What role is open?

UNDP in Tanzania is recruiting a Digital Payments Specialist.

Where is the job based?

The post is based in Dar es Salaam.

How do I apply?

Submit your application directly on the employer's official portal: Apply on the UNDP in Tanzania site