VSLA, FFS & APFS Field Officer

CTG overview:

• CTG staff and support humanitarian projects in fragile and conflict-affected countries around the world, providing a rapid and cost-effective service for development and humanitarian missions. With past performance in 17 countries – from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia, we have placed more than 20,000 staff all over the world since operations began in 2006.
• CTG recruits, deploys and manages the right people with the right skills to implement humanitarian and development projects, from cleaners to obstetricians, and mechanics to infection specialists, we’re skilled in emergency response to crises such as the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Key to successful project delivery is the ability to mobilise at speed; CTG can source and deploy anyone, anywhere, in less than 2 weeks and have done so in 48 hours on a number of occasions.
• Through our efficient and agile HR, logistical and operational services, CTG saves multilateral organisations time and money. We handle all our clients’ HR related issues, so they are free to focus on their core services.
• Visit www.ctg.org to find out more

Overview of position:

• Our client has been added to KFW funded phase III of multiyear multistakeholder grant joint action for resilience building in Somalia along two other UN bodies UNICEF & WFP where our client implements food security & livelihood components under outcome 3: Households maintain & improve food security & livelihood status through improved & diversified agricultural production & income generation. This position is therefore required to manage KFW joint resilience project in Gedo region, Somalia. This is a USD 17 million USD resilience project that requires technical team on the ground for quality control & implementation.

Role objectives: To ensure the project is implemented in a timely & professional manner, according to objectives, goals & indicators, in line with donor requirement & based on beneficiary needs. The post holder, VSLA / APFS Field Officer under the overall supervision of our clients representative in Somalia & the direct supervision of the Resilience Field Project Manager, the Village Saving & Loan Associations (VSLA) / Agro Pastoral / Farmers Field Schools (APFS / FFS) Officer will be responsible for implementing KFW joint resilience action project on village savings & loans schemes, farmer field schools & agro pastoral field schools for target beneficiaries in Gedo region. S / he will lead in formation of VSLA, APFS, FFS groups, contribute & support fully in arranging VSLA, APFS, FFS training materials, mobilization & awareness raising with local leaders, training of Small business management, linking micro finance institution in graduation stage, monitor & report regularly on the capacity building provided to beneficiaries & our clients implementing partners in saving schemes & conveying more knowledge & skills. S / he will participate in the resilience sector coordination meeting levels at district & regional level & remains under the functional guidance of the Resilience Field Manager. Other key tasks s / he will undertake include:

• Facilitate community & local & regional authorities on VSLA, FFS & APFS concepts.
• Formation of various groups & provision of relevant trainings & small scale business management.
• Linking saving groups to the market system through training & market data dissemination.
• Support livelihood diversifications & value chains.
• Ensure quality of VSLA, FFS & APFS training & tool kits.
• Adopt FAO VSLA training materials (on VSLA) & train KFW beneficiaries & our clients implementing partners in Gedo region by adopting methodologies suitable for adult learning & using a mix of facilitation skills & tools suitable for the purpose of the training.
• In close coordination with the M&E team, adopt VSLA, FFS & APFS M&E tools to be used to assist the impact assessment & evaluation of the schemes.
• In close coordination with the M&E team, ensure capacity building of IPs in monitoring VSLA, FFS & APFS schemes & ensure effective use of monitoring & impact tools.
• Build the capacity of the implementing partners to train the beneficiaries on the procedures & regulations that must be upheld to result to successful saving schemes & loans associations.
• Build the capacity of the implementing partners to equip the beneficiaries with the various knowledge & skills in ensuring sustainable business initiatives.
• Assist in conducting the field training of beneficiaries for the initial phase of the project.
• Provide technical support in the assigned districts within Gedo region in collaboration with other livelihood teams.
• The incumbent will be answerable to Resilience Field Project Manager.

Expected output:

• Facilitate community & local & regional authority on VSLA, FFS & APFS concepts.
• Train VSLA, FFS, APFS & small scale business management with saving groups.
• # of VSLA, FFS & APFS groups graduated & joined micro finance institutions.
• # of VSLA groups invested in small businesses, value chains & livelihood diversification.
• VSLA, FFS & APFS implementation plan & learning manuals developed.
• # of VSLA, FFS & APFS monitoring progress reports submitted.
• Develop a link between VSLA & digital platforms such as mobile phones.
• A publication on VSLA, FFS & APFS success stories in KFW target locations.

Project reporting:

• This role reports to the Resilience Field Project Manager.

Key competencies:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Micro Finance, Agricultural Extension, Animal Husbandry, Rural Development, Community Development & other relevant fields from a recognized University or Institution.
• Minimum of 7 years of demonstrable relevant VSLA, APFS, FFS & business development field.
• Minimum of 4 year of experience in Gedo (desirable).
• Must have prior experience working as an food security & livelihood sector with a resilience project.
• Must have experience in ensuring projects follow agreed timelines, ability to evaluate completed works.
• Ability to effectively use standard office software, such as MS Office (Windows, Word, Outlook, Excel) etc.
• Ability to use software & other computer systems to prepare weekly progress reports in the appropriate format.
• ToT on VSLA, FFS or APFS Master Trainer certificates & business development trainings.
• Experience in livestock & agricultural market development systems.
• Experience in market data collection & dissemination.
• Experience in market development with climate smart adoptions, women & youth empowerment.
• Experience in VSLA graduation & market linkages.
• Experience in fodder production value chain.
• Experiences in market infrastructures innovation.
• Sound knowledge food security, livelihoods; particularly agriculture.
• Gedo region experience is highly preferred.
• Must be fluent in English & Somali.

Team management:

• This role has no team management responsibility.

Further information:

• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this role.