Mercy Corps Recruits OVC - Economic Strengthening Team Leader

Mercy Corps is an international development organization that helps people around the world survive and thrive during crisis and natural disaster. Mercy Corps works in more than 40 countries to alleviate suffering and poverty by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. Since 1979, mercy Corps has been helping people in the world's toughest places to turn crises into opportunities to thrive.

Mercy Corps is recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Position: OVC - Economic Strengthening Team Leader

Location: Abuja

Job Description

• The Economic Strengthening Team Leader will play an important role in the implementation of a proposed five-year
• program supporting the financial inclusion of vulnerable households.
• The program will increase both demand and supply leveraging mobile channels, cards, raise awareness among its project participants on the benefits and risks, associated with financial services.
• The Economic Strengthening Team Leader will lead the implementation of a participative labor market assessment during the first year of the program. Ensure that sensitization campaigns are carried out.
• Lead the financial education component building the capacity of women and girls in five main areas:

1) Building an understanding of basic principles of good money management;
2) Promoting awareness of personal financial issues and choices;
3) Developing knowledge, skills and behaviors to manage day-to-day expenses,
4) Preparing for life cycle events, setting financial goals, and developing strategies to achieve these; and
5) Introducing the concepts of assets, capital formation, and wealth creation. Copied: www.hotnigerianjobs.com

• Engage MIB partner to increase the financial literacy of target participants
• In coordination with the Microfinance Advisor:

a) Support MFIs and MFBs develop product adapted to the needs of youth and women;
b) Support MFBs extend their rural outreach through mobile technology; and
c) Support MFIs and/or communities develop micro-insurance schemes

• Emphasis will be placed on ensuring that targeted individuals have employment and financial options.
• The Economic Strengthening Team Leader will work closely with Catholic Relief Services, counterparts with other donor funded programs, and private sector actors in designing and implementing innovative economic strengthening approaches.

Essential Job Functions:

Program Management and Technical Oversight

• Work closely with counterparts in other NGOs, MFI, MFBs and other stakeholder groups to design, plan, and implement a comprehensive OVC program.
• Provide technical support in one or more of the following areas: market-driven economic development, private sector engagement, microfinance, youth-focused financial services, financial education, village savings and loan associations (VSLA), micro-insurance, entrepreneurship development, and value chain linkages.
• Manage implementation of program activities, developing work plans in collaboration with counterparts in other organizations, monitoring implementation, and evaluating impact. Copied: www.hotnigerianjobs.com

Operations and Management

• Oversee the smooth flow of routine project operations in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.
• Ensure effective and transparent use of financial resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies and procedures.

Representation and Coordination

• Liaise with private sector actors, local government officials, local NGOs and civil society organizations, local religious leaders and other notables to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps' programs.
• Maintain close working relationships with donors, other humanitarian and development organizations, and local partners (banks, training institutes, insurance companies, and microfinance institutions), including representing Mercy Corps at local coordination meetings as assigned.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned.

Security

• Work closely with the country team's security focal point to ensure that program is contributing to and responding to safety and security plans and procedures.
• Ensure that program is implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security management priorities.

Organizational Learning

• As part of Mercy Corps' agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

Accountability to Beneficiaries

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Qualifications and Skills

• MA/S in Business, finance, economics, agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural economics, or related field
• At least 8 years work experience with for profit organization, non-governmental organization (NGO) or for-profit
  agribusiness working with vulnerable, marginalized groups in West Africa, preferably Nigeria.
• Proven knowledge of international best practices of household economic strengthening for OVC and OVC caregivers.
• Proven experience in one or more of the following: market-driven economic development, private sector engagement, microfinance, village savings and loan associations (VSLA), micro-insurance, entrepreneurship development, and value chain linkages.
• Fluency in English required, including report development, writing and editing. Strong desire for applicants with
  fluency in Hausa.
• Strong management skills, with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues.
• Demonstrated experience in training, capacity building of partners and team members.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members required.
• Highly developed computers skills with strong familiarity with Microsoft Word and Excel are mandatory.
• Candidate must be willing to travel and work throughout Nigeria.

Application Closing Date
8th August, 2013

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should forward their cover letters and CV's to: [email protected]

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