Mercy Corps
is looking for committed and dynamic individual to take up the following
position.
Financial Services
Manager - Wajir,
Kenya
Mercy Corps
is a leading global relief and development agency saving and improving lives in
the world’s toughest places. In more than 40 countries, we partner with local
people to put bold ideas into action, help them overcome adversity and build
stronger communities.
Working
with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives
to grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs.
We see
global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable
solutions.
Program /
Department Summary: Formal
financial inclusion as well as accessibility to viable capital is imperative
for economic growth and wellbeing for citizens of Wajir.
However,
appropriate or Sharia-compliant financial services that serve pastoralists and
agro-pastoralists in Wajir are non-existent.
Further,
capital constraints are important underlying challenges for most of Mercy Corps
programming in Wajir. It is for this reason that Mercy Corps is partnering with
a Sharia-compliant SACCO to buy down their risk and help them enter the Wajir
market.
In addition
to helping to provide appropriate financing in Wajir, we are also working to
strengthen savings groups and eventually link them to formal financial
services.
Mercy
Corps’ work emphasizes crowding in and expanding businesses that provide
important and beneficial products and services to communities and households
over the long-term.
As our
market facilitation approach expands partnerships with private sector actors,
it is increasingly important to deepen our financial services work similarly.
General
Position Summary: The
Financial Services Manager will be responsible for improving access to
financial services for producers, agribusinesses, livestock owners and traders,
and small business owners in Wajir county with particular attention to Mercy Corps’
programming areas.
S/he will
be responsible for helping to support, market and roll out the products of
Sharia-compliant SACCO, support their operations and identify areas and propose
actions to build their management and technical capacities.
Under the
guidance of the Programs Manager/ Head of Office, the Specialist will conduct
assessments and research regarding service delivery, product appropriateness,
extension needs, institutional arrangements, markets for financial services,
accessibility of services and new opportunities and models, and come up with a
plan to help roll out and market the SACCO’s products.
Essential Job Functions:
1. Work
closely with the Markets team members and broader program team in planning and
implementation of financial access components of the projects according to the
approved work plan and budgets, project document and implementation strategies.
2. Provide
direct and ongoing field supervision over the economic development and market
specialists to provide quality advise and technical review in areas related to
markets and economic development;
3. Identify
value-addition opportunities that strengthen economic opportunities, especially
for rural women and urban poor, in the livestock and agriculture sectors as
identified by local and national government as well as independent market
studies and needs assessments; these will focus on urbanized areas such as
Wajir, selected sub counties and districts that are heavily engaged in
livestock production, horticulture and value chain development
4. Support the
startup and roll out of the Sharia-compliant SACCO in Wajir; help market their
products and services and help promote understanding and community acceptance
of their vision and products.
5. Undertake
financial inclusion or financial product research and assessments as needed and
with partners
6. Identify
the capacity gaps of financial services actors, design and implement most
feasible capacity building activities based on identified gaps.
7. Conduct
due-diligence on potential partners and support the negotiation process, as
requested, in finalizing teaming and partnership agreements.
8. Provide
continuous support and oversee activities of the local financial institutions
identified for capacity building support.
9. Work
closely with all program team members to identify clients for financial
services and to support service extension and financial inclusion as well as
development of suitable products and services
10. Ensure an
integrated approach to program implementation in order to maximize resource
utilization and synergy between the staff and different MC programs where
relevant and feasible.
11. Actively
participate in the periodic program planning, review and reflection meetings
and sessions.
12. Prepare
periodic work plans and progress reports. 13. Prepare accurate and timely
reports and other project documentation and communication that contribute to a
learning organization;
13. Coordinate
with other Mercy Corps programs and local government bodies to ensure coherent
program implementation and to capitalize on business opportunities in Mercy
Corps’ target communities.
14. Conduct
himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring
credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
15. Other
duties as assigned.
Organizational Learning: As part of
our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding
that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the
communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to
learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability
to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps
team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability,
specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding
international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary
communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our
field projects.
Supervisory
Responsibility: Economic
Development Specialist and Markets Systems Team Leader
Accountability
Reports
Directly To: Programs
Manager and Head of Office
Works
Directly With: Wajir-based
program team, operations and finance team in Wajir and equivalent departments
in Nairobi.
Knowledge
and Experience:
- A
degree in Business Administration, Economics or Finance is required. a
graduate degree (MA/S) will be an added advantage
- Minimum
of five to seven years working for a financial institution with
orientation to mass markets or within the private sector is required;
- Interest
and ability to work closely and through private sector partners
- Must
be familiar with the local Wajir context and fluency in the Somali
language will be an added advantage
- Familiarity
with M&E, information, communications and knowledge sharing technologies
and use of innovative approaches on digital financial services
- Excellent
written and verbal communication skills;
- Excellent
computer skills, specifically in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
- Excellent
attention to detail and ability to complete tasks in a timely manner;
- Excellent
teamwork abilities and interpersonal skills;
- Excellent
networking and negotiation skills required;
- Strong
analytical and quantitative skills
- Demonstrated
flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm as well as a willingness to learn
and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed
working environment mandatory;
- Ability
to focus on day-to-day tasks at hand while also working towards
longer-term objectives with an understanding that these will change
continuously
- Willingness
to spend much time in the field and work closely with program target
groups.
Success Factors:
- Innovative,
decisive and inclusive leadership approach.
- Creative
and insightful in development programming including the relationships
between economic empowerment, peace-building and reconciliation.
- Cultural
knowledge, sensitivity and respect.
- Ability
to engage with strategic institutional partners
Interested candidates who meet the above required qualifications
and experience should submit a cover letter, detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV)
listing three professional references (including a recent supervisor) to
hrkenya@ke.mercycorps.org on or before Monday 18th April, 2016 by 4.00pm.
The email
subject line must clearly show the job title and location they are applying
for.
Applications
without the right subject heading will be automatically disqualified.
Please do
not attach any certificates.
(Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
We will
only get in touch with shortlisted candidates.)
NB: Mercy Corps does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment
process.
