Financial Services Specialist MasterCard Foundation YETA Project Careers – National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA)
Job Title: Financial Services Specialist
Organisation: National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA)
Project Name: MasterCard Foundation Youth Empowerment Through Agriculture (YETA)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Chief of Party
About US:
The National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International (NCBA CLUSA) is the trade association for cooperative businesses in the United States and an international development organization. NCBA CLUSA provides cross-sector education, technical assistance, and advocacy that helps businesses thrive. For nearly 100 years, NCBA CLUSA has sought to advance and protect business enterprises, highlighting the impact that economic development has in bettering the lives of individuals and families. In the last 60 years, NCBA CLUSA has worked in over 100 countries in the areas of food security, agricultural development, strengthening of communities and farmer organizations, community-based health, natural resources management, and empowerment of smallholder farmers, women, and youth. We currently work in 17 countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
About MasterCard Foundation YETA Project:
NCBA CLUSA Uganda has received funding from MasterCard Foundation to reach young people in Northern and Mid – Western Uganda in the ages of 15-24 and support them to establish sustainable commercial enterprises. The project name is Youth Empowerment Through Agriculture (YETA).
Job Summary: The Financial Services Specialist will work closely with the Kampala technical team, Regional Coordinators, and Youth Entrepreneurship Advisors (YEA’s) to ensure that selected youth associations are able to access financial services.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide technical oversight for the implementation of the access to financial services component of the YETA project.
- Work in liaison with the Youth Associations’ to ensure that their needs are correctly assessed and identified and the appropriate technical assistance is developed to address youth specific needs
- Acquaint himself/herself with all existing training methodology and curricular for YETA to effectively support Training of Trainers, actual training as well as follow on strategies from training feedback
- Work with the YEAs to identify gaps for Youth Associations in accessing financing and design innovative solutions to solve the financial bottlenecks along the value chain.
- Conduct trainings on the YETA financial literacy training methodology for the business skills trainers as well as the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) training methodology
- Organize and coordinate field financial literacy trainings for Youth Associations
- Work and form partnerships with selected financial institutions, mobile money service providers and other relevant partner institutions to design financial products that will meet the needs of the youths in their areas of operation
- Work and form partnerships with the private sector to develop and implement value chain financing methodologies that can meet the needs of the youths
- Work with the technical team to incorporate financial inclusion activities for the youth associations in developed work plans
- Support creation of VSLAs at Youth Associations’ level where they do not exist and train youths on how to manage them.
- Promote other savings methodology among Youth Associations that can be easily sustained by both the Youth Associations and financial institutions
- Work with the field team to organize financial linkages between financial institutions and Youth Associations
- Maintain relationships created through linkages between Youth Associations, private sector, and financial institutions
- Follow up the performance of the loans accessed by the Youth Associations to ensure appropriate usage, provide additional support for repayment strategies, and discuss options in cases of default
- Keenly analyze and resolve problems and issues pertaining to financial services as well emerging trends and best practices that can be adopted for improved project implementation
- Ensure that financial services indicator performance documents are collected, reviewed and submitted to the M&E team for entry to the on line system, ensuring accuracy and authenticity prior to submission
- Work closely with selected financial institutions to roll out the Financial Service Providers (FSP) grants scheme and ensure that youth access appropriate financial products
- Regularly review performance of Financial services indicators and design strategies to meet them and/or take corrective action
- Perform any other duties as assigned.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
- The ideal candidate for the MasterCard Foundation YETA Project Financial Services Specialist job placement should preferably hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness, Business Administration and/or related field to financial and investment planning.
- At least six years’ experience especially in development work for nonprofit organizations’ and financial institutions is preferred.
- Extensive knowledge in setting up VSLAs/SACCOs in rural areas and local institutions that support SACCO growth.
- Previous experience in managing staff
- Experience assessing the financial needs of small businesses and/or farmer groups and working with them to create financial projections and plans to achieve long-term goals
- Experience working in agriculture and/or youth sectors is required Strong experience and knowledge in innovative financing for farmers
- Relevant experience working with the youth and establishing partnerships with financial institutions
- Knowledge of mobile finance
- Knowledge of banking systems, loan requirements and processes is a must.
- Willingness to travel and work in the field on a frequent basis a must.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their applicationletters and updated CVs with three professional referees including immediate supervisors should be sent to the YETA Chief of Party, NCBA CLUSA Uganda, via e-mail to inquiries@clusauganda.co.ug, with the position title clearly referenced in the subject line. The applications may also be hand delivered to our head office on Plot 19, Binayomba Road, Bugolobi, Kampala. Please provide daytime contact telephone number.
Deadline: 16th June 2017 by 5:00PM