Company Profile

WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision. Together, we develop solutions in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion for youth around the world, particularly young women and young refugees. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $40 million. We have over 90 staff in our Ottawa office, and over 200 people overseas implementing 16 development projects in collaboration with donors such as Global Affairs Canada, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Mastercard Foundation and the African Development Bank.

Job Description

• Consultancy: Identifying opportunities for increased gender parity in the Brighter Investment student loan model.
• Position Location: Accra, Ghana
• Reports to: Inclusive Economy Advisor
• Contract term: 20 days between February and April, 2019
• Application deadline: January 15th, 2019
• Start date: February 1st, 2019

Background
Brighter Investment (BI) is a financial services company specialized in financial products for higher education in developing countries. BI has tested an investment-led funding model for student loans over the last four years in Ghana, and the results to date show that BI students have outperformed their peers, increased their incomes and are less likely to be unemployed with their degree. 

These positive first results suggest that BI’s investment model is a viable solution to improve access to higher education in Ghana. However, BI’s model to date has been skewed towards male applicants. 

BI is seeking innovative and cost effective approaches to improving the gender balance in its student portfolio.

WUSC and BI are working together to increase the gender parity of the BI model with the goal of funding the higher education of a larger proportion of female students.

General  Duties

• BI and WUSC will be identifying the key focus areas in the client journey of female students enrolling with Brighter Investment which present hurdles for potential female students. 
• The consultant will be expected to undertake research in the selected focus areas and provide findings as well as costed recommendation for either (a) interventions which can be cost effectively integrated in the BI model, or (b) small one time investments which can lead to more sustainable and successful female applicants.
• The consultant will be expected to work closely with the BI and WUSC teams in Ghana.

Expected Outputs

• While keeping a focus on the goal of the project which is to assist BI to seek innovative and cost effective approaches to improving the gender balance in its student portfolio with the goal of funding the higher education of a larger proportion of female students

The consultant will be expected to produce the following outputs:

• Deep Analysis of the identified focus areas which present hurdles for female applicants;
• Costed recommendations which are appropriate for inclusion in BIs model and/or which can be pursued with one-time limited funding.

Required Skills or Experience

The Consultant is expected to have:

• Business experience, with a preference for experience with small businesses, business in the financial services sector, student loan sectors, or student recruitment sector.
• Expertise or demonstrated experience working for the inclusion of women in business or education.
• Demonstrated experience in developing costed recommendations for businesses.
• Demonstrated experience with Excel and quantitative analysis.
• Ability to communicate (oral and written) in English