Human-Centered Design Expert Consultant at Bioversity International

• As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance agricultural resilience and financial inclusivity through innovative technology, we seek a Human-Centered Design (HCD) Expert with extensive experience in building digital ecosystem products, particularly in the fintech sector. The consultant will play a pivotal role in designing and refining the Shamba Shield innovation bundle, which integrates Risk Contingent Credit (RCC), risk scoring tools, and digital agro-advisory services into a cohesive package aimed at addressing the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in accessing credit.

The consultancy will extend over a period of 4 months, with a possibility of extension.

Objectives:

•  To leverage human-centered design principles in the development and enhancement of our digital product bundle, ensuring it meets the real-world needs of our stakeholders.
• To facilitate the integration of RCC, risk scoring, and digital agro-advisories into a unified platform that is intuitive, accessible, and impactful. This will include a and design thinking approach to integrate different elements into a comprehensive innovation bundle.
• To contribute expertise in the planning and execution of the Innovation packaging and Scaling readiness (IPSR) workshop, including partner engagement and the application of HCD methodologies to the ShambaShield product bundle.
• To assist in the drafting of workshop reports and proposals that detail the role of HCD in the development and scalability of the product bundle.

Key duties & responsibilities

Product Design and Framing:

• Apply HCD methodologies to conceptualize and design the innovation bundle, ensuring it aligns with the needs, behaviors, and contexts of the target user base.
• Work collaboratively with product teams to prototype, test, and refine product features based on user feedback and interaction data.

IPSR Workshop Facilitation:

• Engage actively in the IPSR packaging workshop, providing insights on HCD principles and practices to integrate into the innovation bundle.
•   Facilitate sessions on HCD methodologies, encouraging participation from partners and stakeholders to co-create solutions that are both innovative and grounded in user needs.

Partner Engagement:

• Collaborate with a diverse range of partners, including financial institutions, agricultural experts, and technology developers, to gather insights and align objectives with the principles of human-centered design.
• Advocate for the adoption of HCD practices in the development and scaling of financial and agricultural technologies.

Documentation and Reporting:

• Assist in the preparation of detailed workshop and project reports that capture key insights, discussions, and outcomes, emphasizing the application of HCD to our innovation bundle.
• Contribute to the drafting of proposals, articulating how HCD will be integral to the development, implementation, and scaling of the product bundle.

Key Deliverables:

• A comprehensive design framework for the innovation bundle, based on RCC, risk scoring, and digital agro-advisories; by including key HCD elements.
• Detailed report from the IPSR workshop, highlighting the integration of HCD principles.
• A proposal document outlining the application and impact of HCD in the product bundle, including strategies for implementation and scaling.

Requirements

• Proven experience in human-centered design, especially within digital product development and fintech ecosystems.
• Strong background in facilitating workshops and engaging a wide range of stakeholders in the design process.
• Excellent analytical and reporting skills, with the ability to communicate complex design principles in accessible language.
•  Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in dynamic, cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of agricultural and financial sectors, particularly in the context of smallholder farming, is highly desirable.