Market Engagement Manager

role at GSMALocation: London/Nairobi (UK/Kenya) • Fixed Term Contract – 6-month maternity coverOverview

As the Market Engagement Manager, you will collaborate with mobile operators and their partners across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia-Pacific to drive initiatives aimed at improving the affordability and ownership of internet-enabled handsets for women, empowering them to meet their needs and support their livelihoods.You will engage with operators and others in the mobile ecosystem to shape their strategies and approaches to handset affordability, helping to build scalable and impactful solutions for underserved populations, particularly women. Your work will build on the existing efforts of the Digital Inclusion team and ensure that operators are supported in addressing the device affordability barrier.What The Hiring Manager Says

This role offers an exciting opportunity to drive strategic interventions focused on improving the affordability of internet-enabled devices in low- and middle-income countries. As a Market Engagement Manager, you’ll collaborate closely with mobile operators to shape and refine their handset affordability strategies, driving digital inclusion for underserved populations, particularly women. The role requires a blend of commercial acumen and a passion for digital inclusion. You’ll help create scalable and impactful solutions that can drive long-term change for women and underserved populations.Claire Louise Sterngold, Director, Handset AffordabilityAbout The Team

GSMA Mobile for Development M4D is a global team within the GSMA that brings together mobile operator members, tech innovators, the development community and governments to realise the impact of mobile in LMICs. This role sits within the GSMA’s Connected Women programme, which works with mobile operators and partners to address barriers to women accessing and using mobile internet and mobile money services. For more information, visit the GSMA Connected Women website at: www.gsma.com/connectedwomen.About The Role

As the Market Engagement Manager, you will collaborate with mobile operators and their partners across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia-Pacific to drive initiatives aimed at improving the affordability and ownership of internet-enabled handsets for women, empowering them to meet their needs and support their livelihoods. You will engage with operators and others in the mobile ecosystem to shape their strategies and approaches to handset affordability, helping to build scalable and impactful solutions for underserved populations, particularly women.Key Roles And Responsibilities

Drive handset affordability initiatives with the telecom industry: Engage with mobile operators and key stakeholders to develop and advance strategies that improve device affordability and adoption for underserved populations (including device financing), with a particular focus on women. Provide direct support through strategic workshops and technical assistance, ensuring timely, high-quality execution and tracking impact to refine and scale initiatives in alignment with digital inclusion goals. Facilitate partnerships for enhanced impact where relevant.Secure operator commitment for technical assistance and research projects: Engage mobile operators to secure their commitment to participate in technical assistance projects, such as qualitative research, design sprints, and program evaluations. Support operators in optimizing their handset affordability and adoption interventions through sharing tailored insights and guidance.Monitor trends and impact measurement: Stay informed about trends in digital inclusion and handset affordability, particularly in LMICs and for women. Help to measure and evaluate the impact of affordability initiatives and use data-driven insights to guide further efforts and improve outcomes.Collaborate with the insights team: Work closely with the insights team to shape thought leadership on handset affordability and deliver data-driven strategic advisory for operators and other stakeholders. Help translate insights from operator engagements into actionable recommendations, contributing to industry best practices and publications.Share insights across the ecosystem: Collaborate with the insights team to document and share findings from operator engagements, disseminating key learnings and actionable insights to the wider mobile and development ecosystem.About You

The right candidate will bring experience and understanding of how to drive digital inclusion for underserved populations, and in particular women, in LMICs at scale. This includes strong commercial experience and an understanding of approaches to increasing handset affordability with a gender lens. You will be excited to join a diverse team that shares a passion for the ways mobile technology can empower underserved populations in LMICs, especially women.You must have the right to work in the UK or Kenya.Capabilities

Commercial expertise: Commercial experience, with a strong understanding of the telecom sector and mobile for development initiatives. Experience in strategy, consulting, or telecom business is highly desirable.Expertise in handset affordability and barriers to access: Knowledge of approaches to improving handset affordability and/or consumer credit, with a strong understanding of challenges facing underserved populations in LMICs—particularly women.Strategic and analytical skills: Ability to develop and implement actionable strategies with measurable impact, especially in the mobile sector. Able to balance commercial viability with social impact and keep operator partners aligned with goals.Experience in LMICs with underserved populations, ideally focusing on women: Experience working with underserved communities in LMICs, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa or Asia-Pacific. Background in mobile for development or development contexts is a plus.Exceptional communication and advocacy skills: Strong written and verbal communication with emphasis on influencing stakeholders and maintaining commitment from operator partners.Relationship-building and influence: Ability to build and sustain relationships with key stakeholders, especially mobile operators. Able to engage and influence virtually and in-person and maintain momentum.Global perspective and cultural sensitivity: Ability to work in a global, cross-cultural environment with diverse teams.Project management and execution: Strong project management skills with the ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and lead workshops, events, and meetings.Contract/Employment Details

Contract type:

Fixed Term Contract (Fixed Term)Worker type:

EmployeeWhat We Offer

Working at the GSMA offers access to the mobile industry and a fast-paced, evolving environment with global solutions and impactful projects. Benefits include learning and development opportunities, generous holiday allowances and other perks.To learn more about the GSMA, visit our career site, LinkedIn page and Twitter page.GSMA Values

Our values drive our culture and how we work. We are passionate, insightful, and stronger together. We foster diversity, equity and inclusivity and support work-life balance with flexi-time and remote options.

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