Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) Specialist at Helen Keller International

Program description 

Advancing Nutrition in Nigeria is a 5-year, USAID-funded multisectoral nutrition activity implemented by Helen Keller Intl and a diverse group of experienced local partners. The goal of the activity is to improve the diets, nutritional status, and resilience of vulnerable populations, especially women, adolescents, and children aged 0–59 months in selected states. The project incorporates the village savings loan association (VSLA) which will aim to alleviate poverty by improving the livelihood of households vulnerable and marginalized groups in Akwa Ibom State. 

Duration: Full-time, 1-year contract (with possibility of extension based on performance and funding)

Job Summary

• The VSLA specialist will provide support to map out existing women groups and build their capacity on: Leadership, Economic Empowerment, Gender and Nutrition and MNCH issues using existing VSLA guidelines and manual in the development and implementation of the project’s strategy to ensure Gender mainstreaming and positive behavioral change for improved demand and utilization of nutrition and MNCH services within a cluster of Local Government Areas. The VSLA specialist will be responsible for establishing, strengthening and coordination of Village Savings and Loans Associations in the Advancing Nutrition in Nigeria intervention Communities.
• The VSLA specialist will work with the GESI advisor, to ensure gender equality is mainstreamed at the local level and project outputs are adequately documented to feed into Performance management framework. The VSLA officer will ensure compliance with all donor programs and operational requirements.
• The Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLA) specialist will facilitate and implement all VSLA and related activities, including micro, small and medium enterprises and vocational skills.
• She/He will ensure that all proposed objectives and targets are achieved concerning VSLA activities including guidance to successful formation of VSLAs, Rapid appraisal of IGA, and beneficiary training on business/entrepreneurial skills through the Nutrition project in Akwa Ibom.

Main Responsibilities

• Coordinate and implement community components of VSLA strategies.
• Identify capacity gaps of VSLAs, design and implement most feasible capacity building activities based on identified gaps
• Facilitate community mobilization, meetings and training during community-led activities.
• Work closely with community structures to follow up on the implementation of income-generation activity plans
• Gather information and data on Income Generation Activities at the site level through surveys, assessments, regular post-distribution monitoring, and field supervision and monitoring visits to beneficiary households.
• Train and mentor, the programme participants on VSLA and its benefits
• Ensure timely procurement of and delivery of the right quality and quantity of VSLA kits/tools required by the beneficiaries and ensure they are appropriately used.
• Train and continue sensitization of beneficiaries on the importance of record keeping and re-investment plan.
• Develop and ensure a clear sustainability plan is followed from the beginning of project VSLA activities
• Supervise and monitor the capacity building of stakeholders on VSLA and other activities of project partners at community and household levels, in line with project standards.
• Participate in program research processes in the project.
• Work with Social Protection Officer, GESI Advisor, SBCC Advisor and Nutrition advisor to strengthen linkages and ensure alignment of demand and supply side interventions, including addressing demand/supply side issues.
• Work with and support community resource groups and other stakeholders to ensure safe spaces for greater participation of women and adolescent in decision making around Nutrition and other MNCH issues, including the development and implementation of advocacy and community mobilization packages and plans and sustainability of community interventions. 
• Regularly support the documentation and review community level data, including collection processes.
• Responsible for regular and timely updates and reports, including success stories, best practices on demand side activities.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of other social protection initiatives, ensuring regular communication to identified stakeholders, on nutrition events, issues and activities.
• Work with Gender Advisor in identifying gender barriers to positive MNCH outcomes and addressing them, including supporting the gender responsive referral process.
• Assume any other responsibility as assigned by the Supervisor or the Chief of Party.
• Mobilize and raise awareness about Helen Keller Intl, program objectives and activities to local authorities and the population, and act as a link between Helen Keller and the beneficiaries at the program site and LGA level.

Key Deliverables:

• Produce VSLA and other Livelihood updates that include in-field visit reports
• Develop a VSLA tracker to monitor VSLA activities on a weekly basis to include share purchase, social fund contribution, loan taking and loan repayment. 
• Support the M&E team in the collation and analysis of programme participants data.
• Support assessment teams during thematic surveys, needs assessment and data collection for research.
• Contribute to the development of systems, procedures, tools, and associated methodologies for the implementation of VSLA activities.
• Monitor, supervise and report day-to-day VSLA/IGA-related activities in Akwa Ibom
• Prepare weekly and monthly plans and facilitation of community awareness sessions on VSLA and other Livelihood activities and their management,
• Support and coordinate with M&E Officer and enumerators, data clerks for surveys, post-distribution, and other program monitoring activities.
• Support program teams to ensure M&E aspects of the VSLA and other Livelihood activities and learning experiences are captured and appropriately shared 

Qualifications and Experience

• A First Degree in social sciences/arts or communication from a recognized higher institution.
• At least 6 years’ experience in mobilisation and organisation of savings and loans groups
• At least 7 years’ practical work experience in social and behaviour change communication and public relations of public health programs especially MNCH programs.
• Experience working with PHC workers, local communities, Ward development communities and social groups.
• Experience facilitating focus group discussions and other community participatory processes, including trainings.
• Knowledge and experience with some donor program frameworks and approaches will be an added advantage.
• The position will require 80% of time spent in the Local Government Areas and communities.
• Very good interpersonal skills, particularly in networking, and working with communities, local civil society and authorities.
• Previous experience in using and adapting community-led approaches
• Proven analytical skills
• Understanding of monitoring processes, learning, adaptation and evaluation
• Excellent computer knowledge and skills of using Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel

Skills & Knowledge               

• Ability to contribute to research processes and analyse and interpret both quantitative and qualitative data. 
• Strong interpersonal, Cultural and Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural team
• Ability to work under pressure and unsupervised
• Possession of good report writing skills
• Good computer literacy skills 
• Good working knowledge of local cultural norms is a MUST.