VSLA and Livelihood Officer job at Save the Children

About the Organization

The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, is an international, non-government operated organization. It was founded in the UK in 1919, with the goal of helping improve the lives of children worldwide.

Job Description

Are you passionate about being an advocate for children? Do you want to use your expertise to bring about lasting change for children and be a part of an inspiring, dynamic global movement?
The overall purpose of this position is to support the SBCC-CSSP project in the VSLA Model through the care group approach. The VSLA & livelihood Officer will work closely with the SBCC officer and directly under the guidance of the SBCC Coordinator and Project Manager and will be responsible for all capacity strengthening related activities: VSLA training, linkages with financial service providers (FSPs) and all the financial digital inclusion activities of the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Implementation

Facilitate the formation and strengthening on VSLAs and integrating them in household support groups ensuring adherence to the VSLA methodology.
Conduct regular field visits to provide technical support and guidance to Household Support groups inline with VSLA activities.
Facilitate the formalization of VSLAs by collaborating with local authorities to register the VSLAs
Foster strong relationships with community members, local leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure community ownership and sustainability of programs.
Facilitate community meetings and discussions to identify needs, priorities, and opportunities for livelihood development.
Work closely with the districts, adolescents and youth to identify and enroll eligible youth in vocational training courses.
Work closely with the districts to collaborate with local businesses for internships and job placements.
Coordinate the distribution of startup kits to trainees upon successful completion of training.
Monitor trainees' progress and provide additional support as needed.
Promote inclusive participation, particularly of women and marginalized groups, in all VSLA and livelihood activities.

Training and Capacity Building

Organize and conduct training sessions for Household support group members on VSLA methodology, financial literacy, business skills, and income-generating activities.
Build the capacity of community facilitators and local leaders to support implementation of VSLA interventions.
Develop training materials and tools tailored to the specific needs of target communities.

Partnership and Collaboration

Collaborate closely with district local government structures and other existing structures of the respective districts to align efforts.
Represent the SCI in relevant forums, meetings, and networks related to VSLAs and livelihoods.
Explore and develop partnerships that enhance the sustainability of activities.

Qualification, Experiences and Competencies

At least University degree or equivalent in economics, entrepreneurship, business administration, Finance, development studies or any other relevant field that provide an understanding of saving, banking and finance.
A good knowledge of working with and through local existing structures i.e. community leaders, cultural leaders, youth/ women’s associations, etc.
At least two years’ experience implementing banking, microfinance, cooperatives, income generation and/ or business projects with a reputable organization, institution or company.
Experience working with refugees and vulnerable communities.
Experience in working closely with local governments in implementation of projects; and in networking with other organizations implementing similar projects.
Strong analytical skills and strategic planning abilities.
Ability to establish and maintain conducive collegial relations and perform effectively as a member of a team.
Highly developed cultural awareness and ability to work well in a multi-cultured environment with people from diverse beliefs and cultural backgrounds.
Skills in implementation and use of behavioral change communication strategy to drive behavior adoption is essential.
Demonstrated ability to train and mentor community structures on interpersonal communication (IPC) and participatory group facilitation skills and strategies is desired.
Demonstrate ability to coordinate the implementation of SBC activities including behavior change campaigns, and community engagement.
Fluent oral and strong analytical and written English communication skills is required.
Demonstrates Save the Children’s core values of accountability, collaboration, integrity, ambition, and creativity.
Willingness to be based at the duty station is a must.