ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

CARE is a leading humanitarian organization dedicated to fighting poverty and social injustice with a special emphasis on women and girls. CARE Tanzania is part of CARE International, with the vision to seek a world of hope, tolerance, and social justice, where poverty has been overcome and people live in dignity and security. CARE International is a global force and a partner of choice within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty. We are known everywhere for our unshakable commitment to the dignity of people. CARE Tanzania and partners contribute to the empowerment of the most marginalized and vulnerable rural women and girls to exercise their rights.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Her Resilience, Our Planet project funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) aims to increase the socio-economic empowerment of women and female youth in gender responsive and ecosystem-sensitive agricultural sectors in five districts of two SAGCOT’s geographic priority clusters: Ihemi cluster (Iringa, Kilolo, Mufindi and Wanging’ombe districts) and Mbarali cluster (Mbarali district).

The 6-year Her Resilience, Our Planet (HROP) project will enhance the adoption of gender-responsive Climate-Smart Agriculture systems, biodiversity protective food systems for nature, and positive climate change adaptation by food insecure communities, especially women and youth. The project strives to increase the utilization of gender-responsive, Climate-Smart, and nature-positive agricultural business development resources and services by food insecure communities and enhance leadership and participation of women and female youth in the processes leading to gender-responsive, climate and nature informed policies, strategies, plans, and budgets in SAGCOT area.

The project will be implemented by a consortium of six organizations: CARE, WWF and four local implementing partners: SAGCOT Centre Ltd (SCL), Tanzania Gender Networking Program (TGNP), Shahidi Wa Maji (SwM) and Conservation Farming Unit Tanzania (CFU-Tanzania) offering decades of experience in women’s leadership, climate change adaptation and ecosystem conservation. This project will also harness learning from 15 years of joint programming by the CARE-WWF Alliance.

CARE Tanzania seeks to recruit dynamic qualified Tanzanians to fill five (9) positions for the anticipated Her Resilience, Our Planet project funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) based in Iringa.

POSITION TITLE: VSLA Coordinator

REPORTS TO: Senior Project Manager

LOCATION: Iringa

JOB SUMMARY

VSLA coordinator is responsible to lead CARE’s VSLA model, support linkage to access to financial services to VSLA members. He is responsible for providing holistic support services to Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA), supporting the project team and the organization scale-up strategy development. Review and adapt basic financial and relevant technical training material. Conduct VSLA training for the partners, VSLA Facilitators and monitor step down training. Facilitate peer-to-peer support and ensure social cohesion within VSLA. In consultation with the Supervisor, the VSLA Coordinator for HER RESILIENCE, OUR PLANET project will ensure that compliance is maintained as per CARE Tanzania policies.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Prepare a detailed VSLA implementation plan and ensure the partners understand well and properly implement VSLA methodology. Ensure physical target achievements are as agreed; and review regularly the progress and maintain regular update of the workplan and track outputs.
Facilitate and ensure establishment of VSLAs, strengthening of existence VSLA in the target communities.
Lead and provide technical guidance on financial inclusion interventions and strengthen the engagements between the VSLAs and the private sector players.
Identify technical capacity and challenges for the project participants and VSLA facilitators (CBTs), and staff’s skills /knowledge on VSLAs, Business Management, etc. and plan for the relevant capacity trainings.
Oversee and regularly monitor as well as provide technical support when the VSLAs are conducting the share purchase, social contributions and borrowing and repayment of loans to ensure proper documentation.
Facilitate stakeholders, traders, and financial services providers engagements as part of establishing strategic linkages for VSLAs.
Document lessons learned and capture stories of change on VSLAs. Consolidate/compile monthly, quarterly, and annual activity reports and special events showing achievements, lessons, constraints, and recommendations and submit to supervisor on agreed time. Maintain VSLA data base through CARE information systems in collaboration with Monitoring and Evaluation unit
Review and adapt basic business, financial and relevant technical training material.
Conduct VSLA training for the partners, VSLA Facilitators and monitor step down training.
Facilitate peer-to-peer support and ensure social cohesion within VSLA.
Participate in CARE Community on Financial Inclusion activities.
Represent CARE on coordination meetings at LGA, community and wards.
Contribute to CARE’s resource mobilization efforts.
Plan and conduct awareness creation meetings that will involve small-scale farmer production groups, VSLA group members, VEO, potential people and community at large in the operating area to let them understand on what HROP project is doing under program.
Mobilize Saving and Credit groups or similar groups into Investment groups, build their financial skills and capacities and facilitate transformation of the Saving and Credit into business.
Train VSLA or similar groups on Inclusive financial and business models that promote sustainable economic development and incomes of the SSPPs particularly women.
Facilitate the rollout adoption of Intra and Inter collective investment model by VSLA or similar saving groups.
Facilitate the identification of “ready to use” Saving Groups, assist in coordinating and supporting CBTs in reaching these groups and providing appropriate support.
Maintain thorough understanding of the technical aspects of digital technology and provide linkage support to VSLAs.
Identify priorities for advocacy and policy actions to be implemented by the Project throughout its implementation stages with close collaboration with other stakeholders in microfinance sector.
Support Program Quality and MEAL unit in monitoring and measurement of progress.
Learn CARE gender monitoring tools to smoothly documentation of behavior changes and support advocacy agenda.
Organize, assist with management of project resources and ensure efficient utilization of funds for maximum impact.
In collaboration with finance staff contributes to preparation of activity implementation budgets based on project initiative’s proposal and ensures compliance with donor requirements.
Ensure adherence to CARE’s financial and administration (including property and procurement) policies and procedures.
Create understanding among Project partners on the financial and procurement procedures, regulations and the respective donor requirements, and monitor compliance.
Manage project’s funds and ensures efficient utilization of funds for maximum impact.
Create an enabling environment for smooth Internal and External Audit(s) and monitor and facilitate responsiveness to audit findings and recommendations.
In support from MEEL and Program Quality unit, develop and implement the project’s progress monitoring protocols for tracking project performance and decision making.
Support in developing MEEL system to measure achievement relevant project indicators.
In collaboration with MEEL unit, coordinates the implementation of project baseline and final evaluation including collection of baseline and periodic data for tracking project performance and decision making.
Ensuring the provision of quality data on a timely basis for internal project management and external reporting purposes.
Contribute to dissemination of good practice and lessons from the organization’s work and promote experience sharing and learning in the organization and among stakeholders in collaboration with Communication Team.
Organise and conduct reflective learning forums (meetings, workshops, etc).
Establishes and maintain communication mechanisms with government, partners, and other stakeholders to enhance project achievement.
Maintains ongoing communication with project’s stakeholders regarding project progress and challenges under supervision of Project Supervisor.
Strengthening and maintaining relations with relevant government line ministries and other Stakeholders
Shares good practices with other actors in country and internationally.
Participate in mainstreaming gender in project activities to ensure women among the target beneficiaries of the project.
Promote and enhance the Do no harm principle with beneficiaries and staff.
Empower women, girls on gender equality.
Practice behaviour that is consistent with CARE’s core values and promotion of gender and diversity goals. • Be proactive in ensuring that CARE’s core values, code of conduct, and principles of Reflection on Equality, diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) are upheld by the project team.
Support project initiatives within CARE Tanzania to develop gender plans, ensuring policy agenda are known and coordinated in collaboration with senior project manager.
Assist on information coordination, sharing and learning and in ensuring synergies between programs initiatives.
Perform any other duties as assigned by his/her supervisor.

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS

BSc/BA in business administration, agribusiness, agriculture extension or relevant field from an accredited university.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Minimum of 3 years’ field experience in related saving and credit groups and or sustainable investment or related activities.
Post Graduate degree / Masters in relevant field.
Experience in training communities and other stakeholders, particularly women.
Good financial and organization skills
Experience in developing or implementing business or investment models.
Proven experience in VSLA or other Savings Groups methodology is mandatory.
Proven experience working with Digital Applications is helpful, but not necessarily mandatory.
Good computer skills (MS Office) such MS word and Excel.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

Financial skills particularly rural financing
Good organization and coordination skills
Demonstrated strategic planning skills, organizational and management skills.
Good written and oral communication skills, with a good knowledge and practical use of both English and Kiswahili
Demonstrated ability in financial management.
Facilitation skills and capacity building skills particularly applied in community-based Settings.
Training of local communities especially adult learning training
Partnerships building skills

MODE OF APPLICATIONS:

Only a letter of application and updated CV including names of at least 3 reputable referees from previous jobs (preferable line Managers) with reliable contacts should be sent by email to Human Resources Department TZAHumanResourcesDepartment@care.org by CoB, 25th June 2024 at 1700hrs. The applicants should clearly state the Job title applied for in the subject line of the email. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

CARE is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and diversity. Female and people with disability candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children and vulnerable adults from abuse.

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