Financial Inclusion Assistant

The Financial Inclusion Assistant will be responsible for the implementation of a Market Systems based pro-poor economic initiatives program that is primarily focusing on strengthening service and product delivery across all the Purpose 4 sectors of financial inclusion, business enabling environment, livestock inputs and marketing, and ag-input and commodity marketing. The Financial Inclusion Assistant will implement and support access to improved financial services (SILC) layering while ensuring that the program deliverables are achieved. The other specific activities will include building positive relationships with local authorities, field agents/private service providers and financial institutions, ensure routine monitoring of activities, layering and integration of SILC to existing Apolou program structures, work planning and compiling activity reports and after-action-reviews to inform decision making processes. S/he will be a creative, action-oriented, with strong experience in graduation approaches and partnership management

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Microfinance, social sciences, development studies, Business Administration, Commerce, Economics and Agri business.
• Experience of at least one year working with communities to improve their livelihoods through savings and loan associations, micro enterprise grants, business linkages, market systems development etc. is desirable.
• The candidate must possess good mobilization skills, excellent teamwork abilities and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated strong theoretical and applied knowledge of livelihood, Financial Inclusion, and market systems development programming
• Experience working with financial institutions such as MFIs and banks is an added advantage.
• Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player
• Experience of working effectively with private and public sectors, INGO, and NGO partners.
• The candidate must possess verbal and written communication skills with good command of the Nga’karimojong and English language.
• Computer literacy with knowledge of Microsoft office applications.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm as well as a willingness to learn and to be continually adaptive within a dynamic and often self-directed working environment mandatory.
• Proactive, problem-solving action orientation is essential.
• Possession of a valid driving permit class A and willingness to ride is a must.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Support the creation and registration of the private service provider network at the district and field agent certification/ graduation to scale up SILC in the program area as guided by the supervisor.
• Prepare and submit timely weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports that will be indicative of program progress during implementation.
• Directly provide onsite support supervision and monitor closely the additional Field Agents and private service providers within Apolou focus villages to inform the SILC strategy.
• Under the guidance of the supervisor, work closely with the bank and MFIs to strengthen PSP linkages.
• Administer SILC monitoring checklists monthly to ascertain the functionality of the groups and productivity.
• Respond to queries, when necessary, by ensuring that the community accountability response mechanism (CARM) is functional and individual complaints are addressed.
• In liaison with the Financial Inclusion officer, organize and support follow up meetings with key stakeholders in the program intervention areas.
• Ensure Financial Inclusion activities are gender and youth sensitive with a focus on building resilience in vulnerable populations

 Monitoring and Evaluation

• Under guidance of the Financial Inclusion Officer and MEL Officer, participate in data collection, assessments, monitoring of activities and reporting.
• Participate in routine data collection and updating in AIMS/Commcare data base to track progress of financial inclusion initiatives within the program areas.
• Maintain proper filing system with activity reports, attendance lists, pictures, and success stories.

Influence and representation

• Represent Mercy Corps’ approach at key government, coordination, and advocacy platforms.
• 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
• Collaborate with all potential financial inclusion partners towards enhancing sustainability and self-reliance of participants through linkages.

Collaboration/Networking

• Strengthen the capacity of the district implementation team members on sector deliverables through orientations, one on one discussions and field activity follow ups.
• Establish and maintain good coordination and working relationships with local government authorities and local leaders
• Ensure close coordination and sharing of information with relevant stakeholders such as government authorities, local authorities and implementing partners including NGOs, CSOs and FSPs as appropriate and advised by the Team Lead.
• Work closely with the consortium partners, share and request for relevant information on the program.

 Security

• Ensure participants’ protection policies are adhered to and implement evaluation system to measure intended and unintended impacts, including monitoring of gender-based violence
• Ensure data protection policies are adhered to, establishing security controls for software, hardware, and archive participants’ databases.