Kenya Financial Services Advisor – Yes Youth Can (217570-927)

The Yes Youth Can initiative is an upcoming USAID program that focuses on building youth-owned, youth-led and youth-managed institutional arrangements and capabilities at both national and county levels. The Yes Youth Can Program has five objectives: (1) increase economic prospects for youth through skills development and access to finance to create: economically viable microenterprises; self-reliant community level economic development projects, and; employment opportunities (2) improve youth voice in local, regional, and national policy dialogue through enhanced advocacy capabilities and inter-ethnic dialogue (3) expand youth access to essential services that are more youth-friendly (4) establish new institutional arrangements that can leverage public and private resources through youth-managed organizations; and (5) create a new approach to empower youth through youth-owned, youth-led and youth-managed actions.

Mercy Corps Kenya has been responding to the violence in Kenya following disputed presidential elections in December 2007 through the Local Empowerment for Peace (LEAP) program in Rift Valley province. LEAP is working with communities especially affected by the violence to build the capacity local level Peace Committees and stimulate dialogue on the underlying causes of conflict. The project has a strong Youth focus through cash-fork programming for at-risk beneficiaries and longer-term income generation activities for youth-led microenterprises. The sister program, LEAP Sport is supporting more than 3,000 inter-ethnic sports teams with training in teamwork, cooperation, reconciliation, and non-violent conflict resolution. Mercy Corps was also recently awarded Yes Youth Can projects for both Rift Valley and Central Provinces in Kenya, with the objectives of: 1) supporting youth to exercise a greater voice in local and national affairs; 2) increasing youth productivity, employment opportunities, and income; and 3) increasing young women’s access to social, political, and economic opportunities.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The Financial Services Advisor (FSA)- “Yes Youth Can” will work under the direction of the Chief of Party (CoP) and provide oversight to all activities concerning the provision of financial services, working under the following project objectives: (1) Increase economic prospects for youth through skills development and access to finance to create: economically viable microenterprises; self-reliant community level economic development projects, and; employment opportunities, (2) Expand youth access to essential services that are more youth-friendly; and (3) Establish new institutional arrangements that can leverage public and private resources through youth-managed organizations. More specially, the FSA will directly support the creation of a youth-owned, youth-led and youth-managed fund that can support local solutions for community economic development while it grows in value and will promote economically viable youth enterprises with new finance products and methodologies, as well as development of new skills to facilitate livelihood development and employment.

The FSA of Yes Youth Can will directly manage project staff and will work closely with them to ensure high quality and the timely implementation of activities. The level of oversight will require traveling to field sites, representation, and coordination with project partners and external stakeholders, such as local and international NGOs, CBOs, business groups, and local and central government authorities.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Advise on all fund creation activities including: providing comprehensive technical assistance to youth to access the Fund, establishing project approval mechanisms, leading the development of the Fund Operations Manual, establishing and managing disbursements from the Fund, auditing funded projects, applying a robust business model to expand the Fund’s resource base and identifying and applying an institutional framework for a youth-owned, youth-led and youth-managed institution with a viable business plan
Ensure that the “New Enterprise” outcomes of the project are met, including: youth enterprises are able to access credit and savings products tailored to their needs, youth are trained in new skills to facilitate livelihoods development and employment, and the Fund has brokered long-term deals with financial institutions to expand access for youth enterprises.
Advise on Global Development Alliances and Public-Private partnerships including GDA and partnership formation and achievement of concrete results.
Work with the CoP and Program Managers to develop future strategy for the program and ensure that it continues to meet USAID requirements and standards.
Ensure that project performance is evaluated effectively, including coordinating internal and external performance review;
Management and mentorship of local program staff and other partners, gradually transferring skills and capacities;
Representation and coordination with donor, local governance institutions, local partners, private sector, and other project stakeholders;
Regular reporting to the Chief of Party and donor on program progress, ensuring that required deliverables are met in a timely fashion;
Engage and develop joint initiatives with government, community leaders, NGOs, private sector and other stakeholders, providing heightened exposure and maximizing impact of the project;
Work with project staff on an ongoing basis to ensure smooth planning, preparation, implementation and joint monitoring and evaluation of program activities and achievements towards project goals.

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: Project staff working under the financial services objectives.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Yes Youth Can Chief of Party

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Chief of Party, Policy Advisor, Yes Youth Can CoP Rift Valley and Central Province (program I), Operations/Finance Staff

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

MA/S or equivalent in finance , business, or related field
Mid-level management experience in finance, as well as a strong affinity with institution-building required.
Successful record of accomplishments in involving key representatives of the financial sector in fund management processes and dialogue mechanisms; preferably in relation to youth accessing financial services such as youth enterprises seeking finance, and financial institutions interested in improving their outreach to youth
Experience with identifying and facilitating private sector businesspersons to provide mentorship to youth and youth enterprises
Experience with a range of financial products, such as mobile phone banking, mobile phone savings, and loans through commercial banks, micro-finance institutions, and credit unions in rural and peri-urban locations
Experience with managing/advising an investment fund that provides direct grants, loans through financial intermediaries, and technical assistance ranging from $5,000 to $100,000, preferably to youth groups and youth organizations.
Technical expertise in financial services development for youth enterprises and their development
Affinity with decentralized public administration and planning
Strong written and oral communication skills in English and Kiswahili (preferred)
Proven project leadership, management, project planning, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. History of working effectively and respectfully with government, contractors and other partners;
Ability to effectively convey project goals, enlist partnerships, and work with a range of project and external stakeholders;

SUCCESS FACTORS:

Innovative, decisive and inclusive leadership approach
Demonstrated commitment to working with the youth beneficiaries of the project beyond the completion date
Creative and insightful as regards programming for youth Excellent communication and team-building techniques
Proven experience managing and building capacity of diverse teams (expatriate and national)
Cultural knowledge, sensitivity and respect
Commitment to oversee project for its duration

LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi is an accompanied post for spouse and children. Nairobi is a major metropolitan center with world class healthcare and excellent education options. Mercy Corps provides expatriate staff with a housing allowance that covers rent, utilities, and security for comfortable accommodations in safe areas of the city. Telephone and internet access is available and there are dozens of excellent restaurants along with easy transport links to the rest of Africa and Europe.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Please apply directly at:

http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjo....

Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.