ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Adeso, formerly known as Horn Relief, is an expanding and vibrant African-based international development and humanitarian organization. We assist communities to help them realize their full potential, working alongside them to create facilitative environments in which they can thrive. Our belief that economic, social and environmental security is the bedrock of a healthy community drives the nature and intent of our programming. We work to prevent and overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by reinvigorating the economy, developing skills for life and work, providing developmental assistance, and influencing policy.
For the past 20 years we have strengthened rural livelihoods through environmental awareness, training, technology transfer and innovative humanitarian projects in pursuit of a peaceful, self-reliant, and greener future. Currently, Adeso implements programs in Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan. Adeso is an exciting and dynamic organization experiencing managed rapid growth. It offers sound employment conditions with opportunities for personal growth and development.
PROJECT SUMMARY
Resilience and Economic Growth in Arid Lands-Improving Resilience (REGAL-IR) is a 5-year program sponsored by USAID/Kenya and Feed the Future (FTF) to reduce hunger and poverty, increase social stability and build strong foundations for economic growth amongst pastoralists and transitioning pastoralists in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). The program is designed to empower communities to take charge of their development and to strengthen their capacity to select, design, implement and monitor activities toward increasing their social, economic, and environmental resilience to natural and human-induced shocks.
REGAL-IR is implemented by a consortium of partners led by Adeso, other partners include Global alliance for improved nutrition (GAIN), Fin church aid (FCA), Sidai Africa, VSF-Suisse, COFI and local NGOs. The project has six thematic areas that include: Strengthening and diversifying livelihood opportunities; Advancing value chain inclusiveness; Improving management and productivity of natural resources; improving conflict management; Improving drought management and Improving consumption of nutritious foods. An intensive community engagement process – Participatory Learning, Planning and Action (PLPA) guides’ program implementation in the six thematic areas above. REGAL-IR situates its efforts within those of a larger family of resilience actors including REGAL-AG, the Millennium Water Alliance, World Food Program and other actors.
POSITION PURPOSE
Under the general supervision of the Technical Advisor-Livelihoods Diversification, the Microfinance project officer will be tasked to take a lead in the implementation of the financial linkages and business development support activities developed for micro and small business supported by REGAL IR project. The Project Officer will be in close contact with microfinance providers, financial institutions and business community and local partners. S/he will also take a lead in influencing microfinance institutions to develop products that meet existing financial demands for these enterprises.
Through the self-help group (SHG) approach, REGAL IR project has initiated SHGs and supported them to start micro enterprises in line with available business opportunities. So far the project has supported SHGs to conduct feasible analysis of available business opportunities and in cases where businesses have been successfully identified, the project has provided grants to SHGs; once business are started, REGAL IR subsequently focuses on the micro enterprise growth and development. To achieve enterprise growth, the project builds on three key areas*; internal funds* mobilization through group savings and project grants, external funds access through linkage to formal and informal financial institutions and capacity building support of business owners through business development services.
SPECIFIC ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• The officer will build on the successful institution of savings and lending culture among the project targets and enhance ongoing internal fund mobilization by;
• Maintaining an accurate database of SHGs, PMOs, Farmer association’s internal funds levels and lending practices.
• Regularly support project officers on mentoring SHGs to grow their savings through regular trainings, sharing better saving and lending practises among others.
• Support regular review of groups saving and lending records as well as business records on purchases, sales and credit and generate monthly reports on internal funds mobilized by groups. • Monitor utilization of community resilience empowerment fund and generate repayment reports and fund growth levels.
• Develop linkage and uptake of microfinance services by self-help groups, PMOs and farmer associations by;
• Mapping of existing micro finance services providers in each county, define and evaluate suitability of their financial products to project beneficiaries.
• Develop possible financial products suitable for as it is project targets and advocate for their uptake by existing micro finance providers.
• Sensitize project beneficiaries on existing microfinance services, their suitability to their business growth and support their registration. • Monitor and ensure proper fund utilization, repayment and support loan recovery in cases of default.
• Support project beneficiaries access to business development support services and trainings based on start and improve your business programme.
• Regularly visit businesses established under the project to assess non-financial needs and recommend possible mentorships and trainings.
• Develop specific business development support guidelines and conduct regular trainings on the guidelines for project officers and community facilitators.
• Enhance adoption of better business practices that enhance entrepreneurship among project beneficiaries.
HOW TO APPLY:
This is a challenging opportunity for a dedicated and highly motivated professional. If you would like to join this dynamic team and help contribute to better resilience and economic growth for African communities, please submit your application to jobs@adesoafrica.org quoting the position in the email subject matter by 24th June 2016. Kindly note that applications screening and interviews will be on a rolling basis.
Each application should be addressed to the Human Resources Manager and include the following:
• An updated CV; and
• An application letter which should include cover letter, remuneration requirements and contact information for three work-related referees.
Applications not including all of the above information will not be reviewed. We regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Adeso is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on one’s background, beliefs, gender or sexual orientation.