MDI Analyst

Job ID		str-lon-501
Department		Strategy and Development
Location		London
Description  GSMA – Our role The GSMA represents the interests of the worldwide mobile operator community. Spanning 219 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world's mobile operators as its members, as well as linking them with more than 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem (including; handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media and entertainment organizations). The GSMA is focused on innovating, incubating and creating new opportunities for its membership, all with the end goal of driving the growth of the mobile communications sector and the role of operators within it. In addition, we work with Governments, regulators and NGO’s to develop the social and economic value of mobile on a country, region and global basis. Finally we operate and produce the world leading Mobile World Congress and its sister events. The GSMA is governed by a 25 member board, comprising CEO level representatives from the world's leading mobile operators, among them AT&T, Bharti Airtel, China Mobile, NTTDoCoMo, Orange, Telefonica, Telecom Italia-TIM, Deutsche Telecom and the Vodafone Group. Please visit www.gsma.com for a wealth of further information. GSMA – Our Organisation Our people include some of the best talent from around the world focusing on developing strategic industry initiatives. We are a truly international organisation with offices in London, Atlanta, Barcelona, Brussels, Hong Kong and Santiago, and through our different offices we embrace the diversity that has allowed the mobile industry to be acknowledged as one of most fast moving and dynamic industries in the world. Our unique position at the centre of the industry allows us to collaborate with our diverse membership and support them through some of their most complex challenges that they face as an industry.
Context  GSMA – Research & Intelligence The Research & Intelligence team provides data, analysis and insight to teams within the GSMA, our members and wider industry stakeholders. A centralised analyst team provides strategic and analytical support across the organization and develops our reputation as a powerful source of intelligence for the mobile industry. This team maintains and develops two mobile industry data driven websites at present. Wireless Intelligence is a subscription based product providing the definitive source of mobile operator data, analysis and forecasts, delivering the most accurate and complete set of industry metrics available. Wireless Intelligence is relied on by a customer base of over 800 of the world's leading mobile operators, device vendors, equipment manufacturers and financial and consultancy firms, the data set is the most scrutinised in the industry. Mobile and Development Intelligence is data driven website specifically for the developing world mobile industry. Through an open access portal, MDI offers offer data and analysis to support business decision-making and clarify the evidence of the socio-economic impact of the mobile industry in the developing world. The MDI team serve as thought leaders for the Mobile for Development sector through analysis that is presented on the site, in publications, and presentations throughout the world. Issues & Objectives We have identified four macro issues that need to be addressed in order to increase total investment and activity in the mobile and development sectors and in parallel improve product/project success rates. If solved, there will be an amplification of the social, economic and environmental benefits that MFD products and projects are built to deliver. These barriers are:  Lack of Data for Business Cases, Product Strategies and Programmes  Limited Visibility of MFD Organisations and Community  Limited Understanding of the Impact of Mobile on Development  Fragmentation of Platforms and Limited Cross Sector Convergence As our objective is to accelerate the rate at which the private sector, donors and investors allocate funds to mobile and development innovations, we are building a robust, data rich, user friendly and freely available portal that provides a new level of visibility into the landscape of players. Through MDI, GSMA is creating the resources and tools needed to influence the sector and put a spotlight on the myriad opportunities that exist to bring valuable services to vulnerable populations throughout the world. All of this will lead to an increase in the mobile industry’s ability to have long term meaningful impact on the lives of the underserved. By increasing the level of investment and the number of products and services offered that prove to be fundamentally valuable to poor populations, MDI will have an indirect impact on the livelihoods of millions of people in the developing world. By providing a platform that highlights successful models, MDI will accelerate the rate at which these solutions are able to reach and benefit even more people. There are very few instances where commercial sustainability, consumer demand, and positive social and environmental impact are so strongly aligned. In the future Research & Intelligence will develop further data driven websites for wider GSMA.
Criteria  Mobile for Development (M4D) Today mobile phones are the most popular and widespread personal technology on the planet, with global connections estimated to reach 6 billion in 2012. In the developing world, mobile phones have revolutionised telecommunications and leapt from market penetration rates of nearly nothing to 62%, with 20% growth in the African market just between the years 2009 - 2011. Most importantly, a significant proportion of these mobile connections are believed to be in the hands of low-income users. For example, over 40% of people living on low-incomes in Africa have access to a mobile phone. As the one technology that is becoming widely accessible to all populations, including those at the bottom of the economic pyramid (BOP), there has been increased focus on the invaluable role mobile technology can play in improving social, economic and environmental development in emerging markets. As the remaining unconnected populations get access to mobile technology and the capabilities it provides, the lives of these populations will fundamentally shift. The simple increase in access to information at a faster pace, from new sources, will influence everything. Affordable mobile phones and the opportunities they usher in for the poor will be one of the most dramatic game-changing technologies the world has ever seen. Industry growth will happen with or without our intervention; the role of MDI will be to educate all those interested in harnessing the power of mobile for good. GSMA – MDI Analyst Role • Input and support into the MDI research agenda. • Work across M4D programme teams, alongside Wireless Intelligence analyst team, and with the Government and Regulatory Affairs team to leverage their experience and understand their research priorities. • Create reports, case studies, and analytical articles based on both quantitative and qualitative analysis within assigned M4D topic areas. • Present to the wider GSMA, provide training through webinars, and speak at conferences and other public events about the MDI programme and specific research areas. • Support the MDI team in managing external research grants. • Support the creation of market diagnostic tools to assess market readiness within the M4D ecosystem, including infrastructure, transactional services, social inclusion, and the availability of local content. • Actively research for additional organisations, products, and services that should be captured by MDI. • Support the tagging of research, organisations, products, and services within MDI. Create both written and visual analysis of the data on organisations captured in MDI. • Continuous support the quantitative data updates and quality control alongside the platform team. • Creation and management of a tracking, assignment, and response system to address all MDI feedback and questions submit through the platform. • Actively input relevant news into the MDI site feed.
Package  Criteria for Selection • 1-2 years experience in a strategic, consultancy or analytical role within the mobile industry • Broad telecoms background with a solid understanding of industry trends • Financial tracking and analysis experience, including experience working with and interpreting company financial reports • Proven ability to implement strategies for a highly complex programme, spanning international, political and technological work streams • Experience of working on programmes based in developing markets is desirable • Excellent and demonstrable analytical/data and modelling skills • Demonstrated experience with knowledge management and diffusion of knowledge, new approaches, and tools • Cross industry experience desirable: mobile, development, NGO, political • A self-starter; highly motivated to develop the programme and drive it through to completion • An existing network within the respective industries is a plus • Highly consultative with a demonstrable ability to translate customer problems/requirements into team led research and analysis projects • Excellent analytical and mathematical skills
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