JOB PURPOSE:

The Project Officer – Savings will report to the Country Programme Coordinator and will be responsible for field level planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the Women and Youth Savings Group Project intended to empower vulnerable women and youths with skills and knowledge to establish and engage in profitable individual or group businesses. The officers will be responsible for establishing Savings groups and ensuring their effective functioning as well as ensuring financial inclusion of vulnerable groups.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Implementation

• Undertake community vulnerability assessment in target communities to define community gaps and provide basis for planning.
• Identify and/or form and mobilize local structures such as VSLA groups, financial institutions and marketing groups in the villages and district.
• Lead the identification and selection of the project clients.
• Support implementation of Savings Groups activities.

Monitoring and Evaluation, Reporting, and Learning

• Develop work plans for implementation of VSLA activities.
• Undertake periodic on-site monitoring of the project activities.

Capacity Building and Stakeholder Engagement

• Train front-line staff and the clients on VSLA principles, procedures and actions, financial literacy and recording, etc.
• Facilitate trainings for VSLA members on life skills such as basic literacy and numeracy, etc.
• Support VSLA groups to graduate to Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs).
• Link VSLA groups to financial services for further financial access.

Partnership Building and Knowledge Management

• Ensure full participation and engagement of key partners and target clients in programme management.
• Facilitate and organize exposure or exchange visits for the VSLA clients and leaders to develop learning and experience sharing.
• Facilitate planning, organizing, and management of VSLAs.
• Participate in field level assessment and/or evaluation of project performance.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Grade Twelve (12) Certificate.
• A degree in Development Studies or related fields, Agriculture or Agribusiness; Communication for Development, Social Sciences; Marketing; or Business Administration.
• Minimum seven (7) years of experience in community development related work, four (4) years of which must be in community engagement, livelihoods and collaborating with women, youth, and groups.
• Proficiency in communications, both written and verbal, is crucial for reporting and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation tools and techniques is also important.

• Undertake community vulnerability assessment in target communities to define community gaps and provide basis for planning.
• Identify and/or form and mobilize local structures such as VSLA groups, financial institutions and marketing groups in the villages and district.
• Lead the identification and selection of the project clients.
• Support implementation of Savings Groups activities.
• Develop work plans for implementation of VSLA activities.
• Undertake periodic on-site monitoring of the project activities.
• Train front-line staff and the clients on VSLA principles, procedures and actions, financial literacy and recording, etc.
• Facilitate trainings for VSLA members on life skills such as basic literacy and numeracy, etc.
• Support VSLA groups to graduate to Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs).
• Link VSLA groups to financial services for further financial access.
• Ensure full participation and engagement of key partners and target clients in programme management.
• Facilitate and organize exposure or exchange visits for the VSLA clients and leaders to develop learning and experience sharing.
• Facilitate planning, organizing, and management of VSLAs.
• Participate in field level assessment and/or evaluation of project performance.

• Proficiency in communications, both written and verbal
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation tools and techniques
• Community engagement skills
• Livelihoods development skills
• Collaboration with women, youth, and groups

• Grade Twelve (12) Certificate
• A degree in Development Studies or related fields, Agriculture or Agribusiness; Communication for Development, Social Sciences; Marketing; or Business Administration