TECHNICAL OFFICER – LINKAGE - MOROGORO

POSITION: TECHNICAL OFFICER – LINKAGE - MOROGORO

Organizational Context:

CARE is a leading humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting poverty and social injustice with a special emphasis on women and girls.  CARE Tanzania is part of CARE International, whose vision to seek a world of hope, tolerance, and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security.  CARE International is a global force and a partner of choice within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty.  We are known everywhere for our unshakable commitment to the dignity of people.  CARE Tanzania and partners contribute to the empowerment of the most marginalized and vulnerable rural women and girls to exercise their rights.

Job Summary

The Link UP project’s ultimate goal is to build replicable models for financial inclusion by providing opportunities for VSLA members to access formal financial services via linkages to financial service providers through the introduction and expansion of technology-enabled financial services. During the implementation phase the Link UP project in Tanzania will reach 250,000 VSLA members for group linkages and close to 70,000 members for individual linkages. As groups mature, many seek the security of a bank account to hold their growing savings, or are in need of larger loans than the group can provide. The linkage activities will start with secure savings accounts as almost all groups express the desire to have a safer place to store their funds. CARE Tanzania is seeking for a Technical Officer who will be responsible in maintaining high quality work in building and maintaining the capacities of VSL, POs, Franchisees and other partners in financial management, linkage and application of mobile technology under this programme.

The purpose of the Technical Officer- Linkage is to provide leadership and strategic direction to effectively introduce, implement and assess the formal bank linkage component of the program. He/she participates in the development of bank products and processes to ensure they are of high quality, tailored to the demands of VSLA clients and that they lead to the desired impact. He/she will work closely with the Program Coordinator and the Technical Officer – Financial Literacy on the program’s technical design, planning, budget preparation, reporting and learning. S/he is expected to maintain effective working relationships with other staff working with other CARE program initiatives and impact groups, key government partners and NGOs working in the same geographic areas.  In support of the CARE Tanzania program shift, he/she participates in the testing and adaptation of the program’s theory of change.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

Job Responsibility # 1:   Development and Roll-out of Bank Products	35% of time

·         Maintain thorough understanding of the technical aspects of the VSL methodology.

·         In consultation with Program Coordinator, advise and adjust, if required, the methodology to fit the particular operational context while ensuring high technical quality.

·         Support in the implementation of the financial linkages initiative of the programme and achieve the targets set.

·         Facilitate in reviewing created bank products and integration of content into the trainings

·         Coordinate, follow up and maintain effective communications including carrying out of monthly reviews and planning meetings, organising of linkage events with the relevant representatives of the FSP we are working in the geographical area.

Job Responsibility # 2:  Conduct Capacity Building and understanding of Linkage Methodology and Mobile Technology and to Franchisees and Village Agents. ·         Facilitate the trainings related to linkage, their translations and adaption for the program

30 % of time

·         Facilitate the identification of matured linkage-ready groups in the area of operation, carrying linkage readiness assessments and trainings of VSLAs and coordinating with financial institutions and supporting group linkages to the financial institution.

·         Conduct periodic linkage training to Franchisees and Village Agents and ensure understanding of the linkage methodology.

·         Support Franchisees and Village Agents in training groups on linkage and Mobile Technology

·          Conduct surprise, casual and informal checks to identify the gaps in implementing of financial, linkage trainings to ensure quality.

·         Plan for and implement training to fill the identified gaps in the implementation processes by Franchisees and Village Agents.

·         Organise linkage events for the between the FSP branches and the read to be linked VSLAs.

·         Keep in communication with other CARE programmes (e.g. Pesa Kwa Wote (PKW)) personnel for purpose of establishing and maintaining a network of Village Agents in the common geographical areas the programmes are carried out. 

Job Responsibility #3:  Learning, Monitoring and Reporting                                                                     20 % of time

·         Facilitate various learning activities in the operational area and document the results of the studies. ·         Support the VAs and Franchisees to monitor the performance of linked VSL groups on the ground and feed back to the Program management. ·         Ensure collection of monthly data and quarterly data by the VAs and Franchisees from the field and submission to the M,E&L Manager for consolidation in the MIS ·         Prepare all VSL implementation reports according to Program agreed formats and submit to the M, E&L Manager for compilation and submission on timely basis. ·         Follow data collected plans to the indicators identified in the monitoring and evaluation Linkage program document ·         Facilitate reflective learning forums (meetings, workshops, etc) with relevant key stakeholders and providing Link Up studies ·         Support the implementation of forward accountability mechanisms to monitor and assess program quality with the VAs and Franchisees ·         Prepare reports on program initiatives assigned, and document lessons and experience. ·         Prepare budgets for technical activities based on agreed upon work plans, and monitor expenditures to ensure proper utilization. ·         Keep up to date with developments in assigned technical/functional area, including best practice examples and ensure ongoing personal development and learning. Job Responsibility #4: Other Duties as assigned (including)                10% of time ·         Implement and ensure staff safety and security procedures are followed and provide guidance to staff as required. ·         When applicable, participate in emergency response and recovery efforts in the event of an emergency in his/her program area.
Job Responsibility #5:  Promote Gender Equality (including)	All the time

·         Practice a behaviour that is consistent with CARE’s core values and promotion of gender and diversity goals.

·         Plays a leadership role in identifying and implementing initiatives that enhance CARE’s commitment to gender and diversity.

The job incumbent needs to have high personal integrity and is required to take a high level of personal responsibility for their own work and that of the staff under his/her control. He/she must have sound judgement under pressure, be able to think laterally and creatively and have the intellectual capacity and strength of character to take and implement important, complex and difficult decisions.

Qualifications (Know-How)

Education/Experience and Technical Skills

Required

·         Bachelor degree in either/or Finance, Marketing, Business Administration and Economics.

·         At least 4 years experience in banking (product development) industry, telecommunications, marketing or private sector experience, out of which at least one year of supervisory responsibility.

·         Demonstrated strategic planning skills, organizational and management skills.

·         Strong team-building and team-work qualities.

·         Demonstrated ability in financial management.

·         Facilitation skills and capacity building skills particularly applied in community based settings.

·         A quick analytical mind with the ability to think critically and creatively to resolve problems.

·         Conversant in MS office Word and Excel.

Desired

·         Post Graduate degree / Masters in relevant field

·         Experienced in VSL Methodology and microenterprise development

·          Training  of local communities

·         Fundraising and facilitation skills

·         M & E skills with experience in monitoring and measuring impact

·         Partnerships building skills

Competencies

·         Excellence: Sets high standards of performance for self and/or others; successfully completes assignments; sets standards of excellence rather than having standards imposed; ensures interactions and transactions are ethical and convey integrity.

·         Integrity: Maintains social, ethical, and organizational norms; firmly adheres to codes of conduct and ethical principles inherent to CARE.

·         Respect: Behaves in a manner that reflects a true belief in and appreciation for the dignity and potential of all human beings. Gaining other people’s confidence and setting an environment of trust and openness.

·         Diversity: Promotes values and respects each individual’s unique qualities, background, race, culture, age, gender, disability, values, lifestyle, perspectives or interests; creates and maintains a work environment that promotes diversity.

·         Communicating with Impact: Diplomatically, logically and clearly conveying information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals or groups in a manner that engages the recipient / audience and helps them understand and retain their message.

·         Managing Performance: Establishes a culture which encourages CARE Tanzania employees and their units to take responsibility for achievement of high-level organizational performance by constant improvement in business processes, skills, behaviors and contributions; working with managers to set ‘smart’ objectives consisting of clear milestones; Identify development needs; Providing constructive and continuous feedback by managers.

·         Facilitating Change: Supports and manages the change process at CARE-Tanzania by developing a culture affirmative of change; encouraging others to seek and act upon opportunities for different and innovative approaches to addressing problems and opportunities; critically analyzing evolving and fluid situations; facilitating the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace; actively engaging with resistance to change.

·         Strengthening Partnership: Identifying and utilizing opportunities within and outside of CARE Tanzania to develop effective strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas/departments/units or external organizations to achieve CARE’s objectives.

·         Coaching: Sets challenging performance expectations while clearly communicating confidence in the individual's ability to excel; addresses performance gaps; rewards and celebrates accomplishments.

·         Management Excellence: Makes the connection between values and performance. Influences the performance of others, and ultimately, the performance of the organization. Sets direction, coaches & develops, promotes staff wellness & safety, practices & promotes compliance, models gender equity & diversity, communicates effectively.

·         Building Commitment: Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifies one’s own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations, and individuals involved.

·         Initiating Action: Takes prompt action to accomplish objectives; takes decisive action to achieve goals in times of uncertainty or in fluid contexts; is proactive.

  

Our diversity is our strength; we encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences, particularly women, to apply

MODE OF APPLICATION: Apply through hrm@co.care.org to Country Director by 07 October 2014 with a motivation letter, a detailed Curriculum Vitae and 3 Referees.