Technical Officer - Financial Inclusion, Kenya at Blue Ventures

Summary job description

The Technical Officer - Financial Inclusion is responsible and accountable for the technical quality and management of financial inclusion projects, and for ensuring efficient and effective attainment of programme goals and objectives. The role is responsible for the implementation of financial inclusion activities in Kenya , from building the technical capacity of our partners to monitoring progress, and for assisting the Global Head - Financial Inclusion in overseeing the growth of financial inclusion activities. The role will build staff capacity through training, coaching and demonstration.

Responsibilities

Project management and development

• In collaboration with the Global Head - Financial Inclusion and other programme leads, planning, leading and coordinating implementation of VSLA methodology and principles, ensuring the partner staff, community-based trainers and volunteers adhere to agreed programme design.
• Developing plans to address programme quality issues and implementing them in cooperation with partner and Blue Ventures staff.
• In collaboration with the Global Head - Financial Inclusion, the Regional Director and Partner Network team, the Technical Specialist will assist in initiating, planning, and executing resource mobilisation activities for the programme, based on community needs assessments and the financial inclusion stage of the country programme.
• Mainstreaming gender activities in all aspects of training.

Technical support

• Defining and implementing a technical assistance strategy that provides support to country offices in the implementation of financial inclusion programmes and providing technical support to staff and partners to enable them to achieve their goals, objectives and targets.
• Building the technical capacity of country office teams in VSLA methodology, business management skills development, and financial education, and providing technical leadership to partners on ways of integrating VSLA programmes with other development initiatives, such as value chain activities.
• Building the capacity of the partners on the VSLA management information system (MIS), and ensuring that the groups are monitored as per VSLA phase requirement according to high-quality MIS.
• In collaboration with other project staff, Global Head - Financial Inclusion, developing and reviewing training materials and documenting lessons learned on financial inclusion.
• Ensuring that partner staff develop and apply effective participatory and adult training techniques for all modules.

Monitoring

• Developing systems to monitor the overall quality of the portfolio, and raising quality control issues with the Global Head - Financial Inclusion and Programme Management team.
• Monitoring VSLA projects activities, and reviewing the VSLA methodology for adoption in different countries and local environments to accelerate its growth and replication by the different communities.
• Monitoring and documenting progress and ensuring availability of accurate project data.

Qualifications

Required

• 3-5 years experience in microfinance or financial inclusion; experience in micro insurance will be an added advantage, and at least 3 years-experience working for international development organisations.
• Experience with VSLA or savings group methodologies, financial education, business management skills and linkage of mature VSLA groups to formal financial institutions.
• Experience in supporting country projects, preferably in East Africa.
• Experience with or understanding of the banking sector and partnership development in Africa.
• Proven track record in managing and successfully implementing large scale rural development projects.
• Strong organisational skills; keen attention to detail, ability to prioritise and meet deadlines, multi-task, and provide timely feedback on an as needed and/or urgent basis.
• High level of professionalism, including strict adherence to confidentiality.
• Results-oriented focus; keen drive and enthusiasm for delivering results.
• Strong customer service, negotiating, and conflict resolution skills; flair for creative problem solving with an ability to analyse, conceptualise and strategise individually as well as part of a team.
• Cultural sensitivity, empathy, ability to work under stress.
• Superior interpersonal skills, with a preference to work as part of a team with a diverse group of individuals.
• Strong computer skills in word processing and spreadsheet applications, including data manipulation; proficiency with Google Drive, as well as a willingness to learn computer software as required.
• Specific hands-on training, mentoring, or learning exchange programmes to enhance technical expertise and the skills that are relevant to fisheries
• Ability to make decisions.
• Strong relationship building skills.
• Effective communication skills.
• Strong leadership and team building skills.
• Excellent verbal communication skills in English and Swahili