Winrock International is a non-profit organization that works with people around the world to increase economic opportunity, sustain natural resources, and protect the environment. Winrock International is currently recruiting for the position of full-time Nutrition Specialist in its Tamale office to support the five-year, USAID-funded Feed the Future Ghana Agriculture and Natural Resources Management Project (USAID AgNRM).

AgNRM seeks to provide a scalable, integrated landscapes approach to support sustainable economic development and rural livelihoods, improve nutritional outcomes, expand climate change related risk management options, and strengthen northern Ghana’s natural resource base. As part of this, AgNRM is supporting community-based natural resource management in the Black Volta Basin and in the Western and Eastern Biodiversity Corridors.

The project activities are being implemented within the Forestry Commission’s Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) framework under four project outcomes: 1) Increased Incomes from Natural Resource Products; 2) Improved Food and Nutritional Security; 3) Increased Farmer and Community Security/Access to Land and Natural Resources; and 4) Strengthened Environmental Stewardship.

Winrock International is seeking applicants for the position of Village Savings and Loan Association Facilitator as part of USAID-funded Feed the Future Ghana Agriculture and Natural Resources Management project.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

• LOCATION: Several positions – Bolgatanga, Sandema, and Wa, Ghana
• UNIT: Forestry and Natural Resource Management Group
• POSITION TITLE: Village Savings and Loan Association Facilitator
• STATUS: Full time
• REPORTS TO:Food Security and Nutrition Specialist

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Village Savings and Loan Association Facilitator will work with the Food Security and Nutrition Specialist, technical staff, field teams, and partners to identify, develop and/or strengthen Village Savings and Loan Associations in AgNRM’s Zone of Influence.
Enterprise development, access to labor saving technologies, and household resilience will be enhanced through improved functioning of Village Savings and Loan Associations.

INCLUDED RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Take a lead in the establishment, monitoring, and strengthening of village savings and loan associations (VSLAs) in AgNRM’s Zone of Influence;
• Assess capacity of existing VSLAs, including training needs and propose actions to build their management capacities;
• Assist the Outcome 2 Lead and other team members in planning and implementation of financial access components of the project;
• Provide on-going support and oversight of the local financial institutions identified by the project;
• Prepare and/or streamline and present training programs as part of a AgNRM’s VSLA program, or as and when required;
• Meet regularly (quarterly) with each VSLA to assess progress towards objectives;
• Lead VSLA data collection, collation, and analysis;
• Contribute to effectively linking and integrating activities with the other AgNRM components, including agriculture, value chain activities, natural resource management and improving CREMA governance capacities.
• Liaise with Communications Team to develop a variety of communications materials and knowledge resources to provide up-to-date success stories and evidence of program results and impacts;
• Provide bi-weekly and quarterly report inputs, and participate in annual reporting and planning processes;
• Performs other duties that may be required from time to time as may be directed by the Outcome Two (2) Lead and/ the AgNRM management;
• Reports to the Lead for Outcome 2 on the AgNRM project.

SALARY & BENEFITS

• The annual salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Excellent benefits include life, disability, and medical insurance, retirement, and other normal Winrock benefits.

Qualification Required & Experience

Education

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance and administration, agriculture economics, development studies, or relevant financial field.

Work Experience

• Minimum three years of relevant experience in implementing community development activities.
• Experience with VSLAs and/or utilization of simple business management tools.
• Experience in managing and mentoring formal and informal business groups/enterprises.
• Extensive experience in markets and/or rural development, and access to finance.
• Experience organizing and managing community forums, such as trainings, workshops, and meetings.
• Demonstrated and proven record to work in a multidisciplinary team under changeable and complex circumstances.
• Previous work experience and knowledge of USAID or other donor projects.

Skills

• Excellent data collection, collation and reporting skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and facilitation skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Fluency in English required.
• Fluency in at least one of the local languages spoken in AgNRM’s Zone of Influence: Wale, Kasem, Buli, Mampruli, Frafra, Kusaal, or Talene.
• Computer literacy, specifically in Microsoft Word and Excel, is required.

Location: Bolgatanga, Sandema, and Wa

How To Apply For The Job

All interested candidates shall submit their applications (maximum 5 pages including resume, two references and one-page cover letter) in English to:

Ghana.Recruitment@winrock.org indicating “Village Savings and Loan Association Facilitator” in the subject line.

Closing Date: 16 March, 2018

Qualified applicants will be invited for an in-person interview.

Winrock would like to graciously thank all applicants for their interest but only candidates who meet all requisite criteria and are short listed will be contacted. EEOE/AA.