Vacancy: Project Lead, Digital Savings Groups

Company Profile

Grameen Foundation is a global nonprofit whose mission is to enable the poor, especially women, to end poverty and hunger. It uses digital technology and local partner networks to create breakthrough solutions – spanning financial, agricultural, and community agent service delivery – that bring people the tools and opportunities they need to help themselves. For more information, visit www.grameenfoundation.org. Learn more about our rich, innovative organizational culture here; learn about our Mission, Work, and Impact here.

Job Description

• Location: Tamale, Northern Region-Ghana


• Work status: Full Time

JOB SUMMARY & KEY PRIORITIES:

Grameen Foundation Ghana in partnership with its local partner(s) based in the northern region is seeking an experienced and field-based Project Lead to manage digital financial inclusion projects digitizing and linking informal saving groups in northern Ghana to formal financial services.

The Project Lead will provide overall leadership and day-to-day management of project activities. This includes managing relationships with local partners, day to day project coordination, and leading or co-facilitating project digital literacy savings group methodology and financial linkages trainings, project monitoring and reporting. Also, the Project Lead will support WE GAIN activities and liaise with WE GAIN local partners in Upper East and Northern regions for successful project implementation.

The Project Lead’s core responsibilities will include but not limited to the following:

Work Planning

• Develop work plans (Weekly, Monthly and Quarterly) to ensure effective implementation of VSLA related activities as outlined in the detailed implementation plan.


• Facilitate comprehensive mobilization of local structures such as financial institutions and marketing groups in the villages and district.

Program Quality and Technical Leadership

• Monitor and facilitate use of digital savings group platform and linkages to formal financial services by program savings groups.


• Provide training, orientation and technical support to local partner staff on savings group methodology, Grameen’s Ledgerlink digital savings group platform, and financial linkages.


• Coach, supervise and mentor the partner field officers for effective facilitation and support of program activities.


• Conduct regular support supervision visits to project savings groups to assess uptake of project interventions, challenges, and provide technical assistance.


• Provide overall oversight and technical support to Community Agents supporting the project.


• Ensure timely procurement of and delivery of goods and services to the project staff and ensure these are used appropriately.


• Work with Grameen Country and HQ staff and local partners to identify formal financial service provider partners.


• Work with the Regional Director and Senior Technical Advisor, Financial Services to identify challenges to project implementation early and develop solutions.


• Support and work closely with the Program Manager of the WE GAIN Project for field level activities related to WE GAIN project implementation and research.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

• Track progress of the savings groups and VSLA activities to see if targets set in the annual work plan are achieved.


• Ensure regular monitoring and evaluation data collection from savings groups and manage/supervise the information flow.


• Support the preparation of monitoring plans for the savings groups and ensure that implementing partners are involved in their own monitoring and evaluation of VSLAs activities.


• Prepare evidence-based quarterly and annual activity reports describing the achievements, progress against targets, and lessons learned of the project


• Lead weekly team meetings and quarterly/annual review meetings to assess performance of activities against set targets at the community and program level.

Representation and Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain a close relationship with local NGO and FSP partners and develop the relationships required to ensure the smooth running of the project


• Introduce the project to local communities and local leaders.


• Represent Grameen Foundation in the field meeting relevant to VSLA including meetings with implementing partners, government, INGOs, Local NGOs and other players in northern Ghana.


• Maintain positive relationships and regularly coordinate with local government stakeholders (local leaders, district authorities, relevant Ministries).

RELATIONSHIPS AND COLLABORATION

The selected candidate will report to the Regional Director for Africa and work closely with the Senior Technical Advisor-Financial Services and Project Manager for Grameen Foundation’s WE GAIN Project.

Required Skills or Experience

The following may be acquired through a combination of formal or self-education, prior experience or on-the-job training:

• A bachelor degree in development studies, marketing, economics, business or related fields.


• At least 5 years-experience implementing community-based development or market systems programs in rural communities, and at least one year of experience managing development projects at the area or regional level.


• Experience implementing financial inclusion programs for rural, last-mile communities and a deep understanding of the challenges, needs and situations of rural households related to financial services.


• Expertise in Village Savings and Loan Association/savings group methodology and digital financial services.


• Excellent planning and organization skills, including previous experience developing workplans and budgets.


• Strong training and facilitation skills.


• Experience developing and managing program budgets.


• Good oral & written communication skills of both English and local languages (Dagbani, Hausa) in the northern region.

PERSONAL SKILLS:

• Committed to the goals of the project and the mission of Grameen Foundation


• Hard-working, proactive and results-oriented


• Independent and able to work with minimal supervision


• Honest, transparent


• Team player