Project Assistant - Financial Inclusion and Organizational Development at DanChurchAid (DCA)

DCA is seeking to recruit a dynamic and proactive Kenyan national for the position of Project Assistant - Financial Inclusion and Organizational Development for a 12-month period. Successful candidates will report to the Project Coordinator and be based in Nakuru with frequent visit to project areas.

The Project Assistant will support the implementation of programs and projects aimed at expanding access to financial services for smallholder farmers and producer groups. This individual will work closely with the Project Coordinator, Financial Inclusion Interns, Village savings & Loans Associations (VSLA) Monitors and external stakeholders to ensure that project activities are delivered in a timely and effective manner.

 Duties and Responsibilities:

• Facilitate and support the Project Coordinator in the day-to-day implementation of the DCA directly implemented components of the Daisy project, including annual workplan and monthly plans development.
• Provide leadership, mentorship and coaching to Financial Inclusion Interns and VSLA monitors on VSLA methodology roll out and expansion in the communities.
• Train farmer groups on; sound organizational development principles; group governance structures, leadership, and collective action initiatives, Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), deploy measures to enhance uptake of microinsurance, foster positive social capital for promotion of good practices among the members.
• Support and drive innovation in the sector of financial inclusion, including relevant digitisation of the VSLA cash box, records, and linkages to micro-finance institutions (MFIs).
• Lead in the routine day to day monitoring and data management actions including filing of project data, routine data collection, analysis and updating of relevant project statistics and databases.
• Proactively engage and coordinate with relevant County governments departments, commercial partners NGOs and other institutions in focus operation area and foster mutual beneficial partnerships.
• Review weekly activity plans and project progress reports from Financial Inclusion Interns and VSLA monitors; share arising highlights, opportunities and challenges with the Project Coordinator to agree relevant actions.
• Perform other related duties as may be required and assigned by the supervisor.

 Professional Qualifications:

• A degree in Social Work/Social Sciences/Counselling/psychology/ community Development or another related field preferred.
• Demonstratable technical skills and hands on experience in Village Savings and Loans schemes, and other Financial Inclusion innovations, including deployment of micro-insurance schemes.
• Proficiency in computer applications.
• Good interpersonal skills and a proven team player.
• Self-driven and results orientated in challenging rural working environments.
• Experience in training at field/community level and excellent reporting skills.
• Excellence in English and Kiswahili, oral and written.