The purpose of the Financial Service Officer is to ensure the implementation of RFSAs strategies, approaches, tools the areas of microfinance, financial services, resilience, food security and income and net asset building activities of the project. The Financial Service Officer will primarily work with MFIs, cooperative banks, RuSACCOs, Cooperative Agencies, and government units to ensure access to financial services and expand financial marketing opportunities. It is also expected that S/he will work closely with a wide range of business associations, woreda government partners, service providers, private sector, and CBOs to facilitate financial market strengthening.  S/he will also be responsible for providing relevant technical assistance to pertinent offices working in the program intervention area. S/he will be directly working in the coordination and facilitation of financial services as related to VSLAs, VESAs, RUSACCOs, MFIs, and other financial service providers at each zonal level.

In addition, S/he is responsible for leading the implementation of the RFSA off/non-farm livelihood activities. The position holder will conduct feasibility analysis of various off-farm livelihood activities in targeted woredas and analyses the profitability and share the result. S/he will act as the key technical support person supporting the implementation and accomplishment of all Off farm/Non-farm income generating activities to the RFSA program in the RFSA Zone and woredas with supervision and direction from the Project Manager and Advisor. The position holder will also be responsible for capacity-building of field staff and government partners using relevant tools and technical approach. 

S/he will be responsible for internalizing and applying the guidance, approaches, strategies and tools established by the technical leadership team in relation to financial service linkages and off/non-farm livelihood activities. S/he will be required to work alongside other team members to implement established tools and approaches in order to assist households to access financial services and expand marketing opportunities. S/he will ensure that the RFSA financial related interventions and off and non-farm livelihood interventions are performed as planned and to bring about the desired impact through monitoring, evaluation, research and documenting lessons learnt. S/he establishes and maintains effective working relationships with key government partners and NGOs working in the same geographic areas. S/he will work closely with and support the woreda team leaders, as well as other field-based technical advisors, to ensure financial linkages and Off farm/Non-farm income generating activities are implemented in a coordinated and harmonized manner.

ROLES and RESPONSIBILITIES 

Job Responsibility #1 Targeting, Training and Implementation 

• Leads the implementation of approaches, systems and products/services to ensure the access of financial services to PSNP program participants and other rural households.
• Works closely with regional MFIs and RuSACCOs Union in RFSA geographical zones to create better functioning and sustainable institutional linkages between VESA & PMGs, and MFIs, RuSACCOs, and banks.
• Strategically utilizes RFSA human and financial resources to build a more competitive financial services sector in RFSA geographic target areas.
• Develops capacity of RFSA implementing partner staff on supporting increasing and sustainable linkages between program participants (VESA groups and PMG) and local financial institutions (MFIs, RuSACCOs, and banks).
• Ensure the implementation of VESA methodology among all VESAs, train and coach the CFs and animators on VESA methodology and documentation. 
• Defines and executes VESA monitoring systems, MIS SAVIX, and monthly reports, and strengthens them.
• Identify the potential income generating activities that are visible for local context and share the list by preparing pamphlets 
• Ensures that implementation of Off Farm/Non-Farm IGA field activities proceed according to approved plans and that immediate corrective actions are taken when required;
• Provides oversight and guidance to all Off-Farm/Non-Farm IGA activities designed to enhance livelihoods; 
• Work with government partners, private sector actors and all other relevant stakeholders to promote Off-Farm/Non-Farm IGAs;
• Provide training and technical knowledge to households to ensure success of IGA interventions.

Job Responsibility #2: Learning, linkage and Networking:

• Ensures the communication and application of concepts and approaches of RFSA in financial service provision within the organization, with partners and other stakeholders.
• Works with microfinance institutions to create institutional linkages between VESA, PMGs, MFIs, and RuSACCOs,
• Coordinate and create linkages among finance service providers and support of sound implementation of the market strengthening facilitation approach;
• Participates and represent CARE in working groups dedicated to promote community based savings and lending modalities such as VESAs;
• Participates in Technical Working Group meetings under the Project, and share experiences and learnings 
• Lead regional financial forums and ensure the participation of key government stakeholders. 
• Design specific action plans for the implementation of the IGA strategy; 
• Document and share existing experiences, practices and lessons of CARE Ethiopia and other partner programs in relation to the promotion of IGAs;
• Ensures the collection of accurate information on field activities. 

Job Responsibility #3: Capacity Building:

• Develops capacity of implementing partner’s staff on micro-finance including the operations of VESA;
• Organizes and delivers training courses and/or arranges for the delivery of training programs aimed at RFSA staff, partner staff including government and NGO staff, and project beneficiaries.  
• Conduct capacity gap assessment and facilitate different capacity building activities at woreda and zonal level
• Organizes and facilitates presentations, reports and other documentation on related training events and field program operations.

Job Responsibility #4: Monitoring and Evaluation 

• Designs and develops work plans for field office operations in the micro finance and other sectors in association with field office staff;
• Working with MFI partners develops and executes electronic and paper based reporting systems including formats , particularly portfolio reports, and systematizes information flows;
• Ensures that implementation of field programs proceeds according to approved plans and that immediate corrective actions are taken when required;
• Supports external and internal project reviews for higher-level reflective practices;
• Works with MFI partners to systematize information flows and share reporting and portfolio effectiveness as it relates to RFSA support on PSNP clients.
• Works with Project M&E Officer to reviews project MIS SAVIX report, compiles and shares lessons for future project design considerations;
• Regularly maintains project information.

Job Responsibility #5: Other

• Perform other duties as assigned

Job Requirements

Education

Required:

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Agricultural Development, Financial Services, rural development, Economics and Marketing or related field.  

Experience:

Required:

• 3 years of work experience for BA and 2 years’ experience for MA in agricultural marketing and/or value chain development, financial linkage/livelihood diversification and promotion, entrepreneurship development.

Desired:

• Experience in private and NGO sector.

Technical Skills 

Required:

• Ability to lead implementation of production and market linkage activities in the field
• Proficiency in computer (Word processing, Excel; database management)
• Ability to facilitate and encourage collaborative teamwork, experience sharing, effective problem solving and conflict resolution
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English Language
• Ability to identify and propose solutions and innovative strategies
• Firm belief in teamwork, gender equality, and participatory approach and sustainable development

Desired:

• Knowledge of Agricultural Marketing practices,
• Training/experience on production and market linkages
• Competencies: Respect, accountability, courage, excellence, building partnership, building commitment, contributing to team success, innovation, pro-active problem solving, analytical ability. 
• Problem Solving (Thinking Environment): All the three levels of problem solving apply to the incumbent. But category numbers one, three and four are most applicable to this position because, the incumbent must use interpolative skills to pick and choose the right strategy to address a given problem and also has to deal with variable situations, which need analysis, problem definition and development of alternative solutions.  

Contacts/Key Relationships  

The incumbent is expected to establish and maintain good relations with all staff, stakeholders and partners at all levels. S/he will also be expected to have productive and professional relations with various technical and operation staff in the organization. 

How to Apply

CARE Ethiopia is committed to preventing all unwanted behavior at work. This includes sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, and child abuse. We expect everyone who works for us to share this commitment by understanding and working within the CARE Safeguarding Policy and related framework. CARE Ethiopia has a zero-tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or child by any of our staff, representatives or partners. 

CARE Ethiopia reserves the right to seek information from job applicants’ current and/or previous employers about incidents of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment the applicant may have been found guilty to have committed or about which an investigation was in the process of being carried out at the time of the termination of the applicant’s employment with that employer. 

By submitting the application, the job applicant confirms that s/he has no objection to CARE Ethiopia requesting the information specified above. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.

If you are interested to be part of our dynamic team, exciting work environment and contribute to CARE Ethiopia’s mission and vision, please send your CV (not more than 3 pages) and cover letter (not more than one page) through CLICK HERE

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Passionate and dedicated candidates who meet the requirement are strongly encouraged to apply, especially women!

CARE seeks to improve the lives of the most marginalized, particularly women and girls. Our diversity is our strength. We encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply.