Programme Officer-Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) at COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale

COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale is an Italian humanitarian non-governmental organization founded in Milan in 1965. COOPI aims to help the world’s poorest to improve their access to healthcare, food, and financial security, and to overcome their special vulnerability to wars, civil conflicts and natural disasters. For 50 years of long-term support and constant presence in the field, COOPI has been engaged in breaking the cycle of poverty and responding to specific emergencies in numerous sectors, including Food Security, Humanitarian Aid, Health, Socio-Economical Services, Water and Sanitation, Disaster Risk Reduction, Human Rights, Education and Training, Migrations and Sustainable Energy.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Programme Officer-Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA)

Location: Potiskum, Yobe

Job Description

• The Programme Officer-VSLA will facilitate the formation and strengthening of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) to enhance financial inclusion and livelihood resilience among project beneficiaries.

Key Responsibilities

• Train communities on VSLA methodologies and financial literacy.
• Establish VSLA groups and link to financial institutions/ revolving fund
• Monitor VSLA group performance and provide technical support.
• Link VSLAs to microfinance institutions and agricultural input suppliers.
• Document success stories and lessons learned.
• Identify viable addition opportunities along the agri-value chains
• Support youths and women access capital finance for commodity processing and packaging.
• Train the youths and women in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, marketing and government financial guarantees
• Registration of the VSLA groups as cooperatives and linking them to NDE for government financial guarantees

Monitoring and Reporting:

• Track VSLA group performance, savings, and loan repayment rates.
• Document success stories and challenges.
• Submit regular reports to the VSLA Officer.

Livelihoods and Economic Recovery:

• Link VSLAs to income-generating activities and market opportunities.
• Facilitate small business development among group members.
• Facilitate financial literacy training and linkages to financial institutions of VSLA members
• Promote digitalization of the VSLA groups in partnership with Airtel

Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding:

• Promote inclusive participation (women, youth, marginalized groups) in VSLAs.
• Integrate peace-building dialogues within VSLA meetings.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years experience in VSLA, microfinance, or community-based savings programs.
• Strong facilitation and training skills.
• Knowledge of local languages (Hausa/Kanuri) is an advantage.

General Conditions for this position:

• Willingness to travel frequently to rural communities.
• Adherence to project policies on gender equality and conflict sensitivity.
• Collaborate with other project teams (peacebuilding, Forestry and Natural Resources Management, Nutrition etc.).

Application Closing Date
24th December, 2025.