Financial Inclusion Strategy Consultant

Financial Inclusion Strategy Consultant
[SHORT-TERM CONSULTANT- INDIA]

Location: Anywhere in India, with occasional travel within the country.

Duration: 3 months, with a potential for extension based on project needs

About IDinsight

We amplify social impact by partnering with leaders to develop tailored solutions. Our mission

is to use data and evidence to help leaders combat poverty worldwide.

IDinsight is a mission-driven global advisory, data analytics, and research organization that helps global development leaders maximize their social impact. We tailor a wide range of data and evidence tools, to help decision-makers design effective programs and rigorously test what works to support communities. We work with governments, multilateral agencies, foundations and innovative non-profit organizations in Asia and Africa. Our work spans various sectors, including agriculture, education, health, governance, sanitation, financial inclusion, and other areas. We have expertise in various rigorous approaches and methodologies, which we tailor to each client depending on their needs and constraints.

To achieve a positive social impact we:

• Support clients’ use of data and evidence for routine and major decision-making.
• Inform funding decisions – toward high-impact initiatives and away from less effective programs or approaches.
• Create and share tools, knowledge, and ideas that expand the use of data and evidence for social good.

IDinsight is committed to non-discrimination in our recruitment, employment practices, and organizational culture, regardless of people’s age, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Our diverse, growing team of over 200 outstanding colleagues operates in nearly two dozen countries worldwide. Learn more about our mission and values at www.IDinsight.org.

About the Project

IDInsight is working with a philanthropic organisation that aims to advance financial inclusion (FI) by enhancing equitable access and usage of financial tools and services for underserved and vulnerable populations. This project, led by IDinsight, identifies and addresses critical data gaps to generate key benchmarks on India’s financial inclusion landscape. The project will generate a strong evidence narrative around the current status of FI in India and provide recommendations on areas of further support & investment.

About the Role

IDinsight seeks a part-time Strategy Consultant to support the assimilation and dissemination of insights for the project. The consultant will use their expertise to independently translate findings from our pan‑India survey into clear narratives, “so what?” implications, and actionable recommendations for leaders. The role combines strategic thinking, data storytelling, and stakeholder engagement to shape our point of view on India’s financial landscape, including areas of growth and opportunity. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the project team.

The consultant is expected to support the project team in the following areas:

1. Data Synthesis & Insight Generation: Synthesize large-scale pan-India survey data into structured insights, themes, and key messages.​ Identify demographic and regional differences, emerging trends, and white spaces using data and evidence. Surfacing new insights that strengthen and clarify the analytical narrative.
2. Developing a strategic narrative based on insights: Translate research findings into clear strategic recommendations, areas of growth and opportunities to help leaders make informed decisions. Frame insights in a way that resonates with diverse stakeholder audiences (eg: C-suite, project teams).
3. Team Engagement: Present insights and facilitate discussions with the IDinsight project team to share updates, generate ideas, and plan upcoming work. Support the team through high-quality presentations and participate in stakeholder meetings as needed.
   
   

The Consultant would be required to produce the following deliverables:

• Executive Summary note (By April 15): A concise synthesis highlighting the “so what” of the findings for portfolio strategy. It will outline key takeaways for different stakeholders across the financial inclusion ecosystem, present a structured strategic narrative linking insights to decisions and priority action areas, and surface new or underexplored insights to strengthen the overall analytical story.
  
• Executive-ready slides (By April 30): A set of executive-ready slides, accompanied by summary notes, tailored for senior stakeholders and designed to clearly communicate key insights, strategic implications, and recommended action areas.
  

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

• 8-10 years in strategy consulting/management consulting, or a similar role.
• Strong understanding of India’s financial inclusion ecosystem, with particular insight into digital payments, credit, savings, and government financial inclusion programmes. Familiarity with past public and private sector efforts to improve financial outcomes among low-income households, including what has worked, what has not, and why.
• Strong track record of converting data into narratives, storyboards, and strategic recommendations for CXOs or senior management.​

• Excellent structured problem‑solving and synthesis skills; ability to move from data to clear “insight → implication → recommendation”.​
• Proficiency in creating professional presentations and visual stories using PowerPoint/Google Slides; familiarity with BI/visualisation tools is an advantage.​
• Demonstrated experience working with survey data or user research in India, preferably multi‑region or pan‑India studies.​
• Strong data literacy: able to read survey tables, crosstabs, basic statistics, and work closely with analysts (no need to be a pure data scientist).
• Proven ability to engage with high-level stakeholders from governments, financial institutions, and multilateral organizations.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication in English. Knowledge of Indian languages is a plus.​

• The consultant may work remotely from anywhere in India but should be available for travel to meetings or workshops as needed.
  
  

Nuts and Bolts

Start Date

Preference for candidates available to begin immediately.

Location

The consultant can work from anywhere in India if they can provide the requisite support. However, they are expected to travel to Delhi on short notice for meetings as and when required. We will not be sponsoring a work visa for this role.

Compensation

Compensation will be commensurate with the consultant’s qualifications and experience and the budget available for this project. Travel expenses will be reimbursed as per IDinsight’s policies.

Rate schedule

The consultant shall be expected to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week. Compensation will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience IDinsight is hiring for and the budget set aside for this project. All payments will be subjected to applicable taxes and deductions as per India tax regulations and made to a bank account in India.

How to Apply

To apply, please send your CV and a brief cover letter detailing your experience and interest in the role to Jasmeet Khanuja (jasmeet.khanuja@idinsight.org) & Natasha Goel natasha.goel@idinsight.org). Please include “Strategy Consultant for FInancial Inclusion Project” in the subject line of the email.

IDinsight’s commitment to reducing power asymmetries

IDinsight is committed to reducing power asymmetries in the social sector. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion reflects our understanding of the need for the sector to abandon unhealthy practices of the past. We wish to be part of a new generation of international NGOs who are honest about this history and transparent about our role in the present. Our commitment is also aligned with the impact of our work.

We seek a diverse workforce that inherently embodies our commitment to fostering inclusivity. This also helps us refine and improve our methods and relationships and strengthen the services we provide our clients and their communities or constituencies. The following commitments represent our vision for the IDinsight team:

1. IDinsight will have greater representation from the populations with whom we work and the clients we serve.
2. IDinsight will have greater representation from the countries in which we work.
3. Across all countries in which we recruit, we will seek greater representation from historically excluded communities.
4. IDinsight will foster an inclusive work culture that empowers a diverse team to do their best work.

IDinsight is committed to non-discrimination in our recruitment, employment practices, and organizational culture, regardless of people’s age, disability, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by the consultant. The statements in this document do not constitute an exhaustive list of the responsibilities. IDisnight reserves the right to amend and change the responsibilities to meet organisational needs as necessary.