Economic Recovery Officer – Financial Inclusion at Danish Refugee Council

Responsibilities:

R1. Project Management/Development, Monitoring & Evaluation:

• Plan, oversee and support the broad implementation of livelihoods activities in DRC urban Program (Financial inclusion activities within the project).
• Remain abreast of topical developments related to economic recovery and financial inclusion that will promote community participation in the financial sector hence improving their economic/livelihoods well-being. 
• Promote sector learning and knowledge management in the Livelihoods sector through: collating findings/ information collected from the field as well as routine monitoring to draw lessons.
• Lead in community mobilization, sensitization, formation of groups and training on VSLAs as well as FED (financial enterprise development) to promote financial inclusion amongst the vulnerable and unbanked communities.
• Develop and or adopt sector guidelines and tools in support of livelihoods implementation. 
• Submit timely and high-quality activity and donor and internal progress reports. 
• Work closely with the Protection, MEAL and Advocacy/Communication teams to enhance program integration through well-thought-out strategic strategies.  
• Ensure livelihoods sector growth in scope through fundraising – identification of sector gaps and root causes analysis, and take the lead in developing quality concept notes/proposals with corresponding activity budgets.
• Support the Economic Recovery team in project kick-off, review and project closure meetings including periodic program review and planning meetings and external meetings as often and as requested by the supervisor.
• Ensure project staff adhere to CHS Principles in project implementation; participate in CHS audits and support M&E plan.

R2. Coordination & Partnership:

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders, including urban refugee and host community members and leaders, NGOs, UN agencies, DRS (Department of Refugees Services), FSP (financial Service Providers) and other DRC team members including partners to enhance multi-agency and multi-sectoral cooperation and coordination on response activities.
• Promote collaboration and synergy between refugee-focused interventions and the host communities.
• Actively participate and engage in relevant coordination meetings and collaborate with other agencies of relevance/value add to DRC’s urban agenda. 

R3. Budget Management:

• Provide support to ensure sound budget expenditure, adherence to DRC financial procedures and donor requirements as related to the livelihoods sector. 
• Draft spending plans, procurement plans, and work plans based on livelihood activities and budgets.
• Participate in budget follow-up meetings to ensure the budget is tracked and over/under expenditures are addressed in time.

R4. Staff Supervision:

• Mentor, provide technical supervision and capacity building support, and facilitate the performance development of livelihoods project assistants and community engagement facilitators. 

R5. Technical Implementation:

• Implement technical activities related to financial inclusion including building the capacity of VSLAs as well as work with digital partners to digitize VSLAs.
• Provide technical leadership to project assistants and community engagement facilitators on best practice around financial inclusion and business practices, focusing on community engagement.
• Conduct training in financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills, working with micro-businesses to strengthen business plans and operations.

Experience and technical competencies: 

• Minimum of 3 years + of field experience in leading and managing economic recovery/livelihoods programming in an International NGO’ or other relevant agency and experience implementing Financial Inclusion interventions and models (VSLA/GS&L, Financial Education, savings groups-bank linkage) is an added advantage. 
• Technical experience in financial inclusion programming including working with VSLAs, developing the capacity of micro-enterprises, working with micro-loans and formal financial institutions, providing financial inclusion training. Experience working with sharia finance an advantage
• Experience in working with digital service providers and digital financial services including the implementation of digital solutions
• Strong project management skills, with experience managing multiple location, sector project budget. 
• Experience working in urban displacement responses and in multi-sectoral interventions.
• Experience in the digitization of savings groups project, enterprises, or social associations is an added advantage
• Strong planning, organization and problem-solving skills with ability to work both independently and within a team in a demanding working environment.
• Good analytical and strategic planning skills.
• A demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with host governments, donors, partners, local organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Good level of communication and interpersonal skills.

Education:

• A degree in relevant field (Business Management, Economics, Entrepreneurship or Community Development or its equivalent). 
• Fluency in written and spoken English essential  

Languages: 

• English 
• Swahili