VSLA Assistant at Sahei Gender Development

Job Summary

The VSLA assistant is responsible for the formation of income-generating and VSLA groups, training, mentoring and monitoring of these groups in the Nutrition, Livelihoods and Resilience project in the implementation locations

Main Responsibilities

• Technically lead in mobilization and establishment of VSLA  groups in the selected communities
• Facilitate training on core VSLA modules for established VSLA groups
• Facilitate literacy and numeracy classes for the VSLA groups
• Facilitate business skills training for the VSLA groups.
• Conduct awareness /sensitization on VSLA activities among communities and local leaders.
• Facilitate beneficiary identification in consultation with communities and local leaders using set criteria.
• Provide mentorship for the groups.
• Conduct regular monitoring, collect relevant data for reporting the project progress and provide updates on VSLA group activities to the Project Officer.
• Participate in beneficiary selection with other project staff and relevant stakeholders
• Follow up on the day-to-day progress of VSLA groups and make recommendations for improving the project according to activity results
• Write project activity reports and submit them to the Project Manager as required.

Coordination:

• Work closely with community structures to follow up on the implementation of livelihood activities and support in the implementation of capacity building training for the VSLA livelihood beneficiaries at the level
• Supervise the implementation of sensitization activities for targeted communities about strengthening livelihood restoration activities whilst collaborating with key stakeholders in feasible livelihood restoration activities at the LGA level
• Represent  in LGA-level coordination meetings and conferences as necessary when requested

Reporting:

• Support to track the progress of activities, challenges encountered, lessons learned and good practices and Compile collected data, pictures and other information from the field
• Pass on any information or problems to his/her direct and/or indirect supervisor concerning his/her task, or safety aspects
• Compile information to ensure that the surveillance of the livelihood situation in the area of implementation of the program is achieving the expected result when required
• Provide feedback to the programme team based on the field monitoring visits
• Support the project team in developing high-quality project/programme reports
• Liaise with M&E Team to ensure timely submission of contributions. Support the M&E team in the analysis of beneficiary data collection through the various tools.

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse:

• Actively promote PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) standards within SGDI and amongst beneficiaries.

Compliance & Ethics:

• Promotes and encourages a culture of compliance and ethics throughout SGDI. As applicable to the position, maintains a clear understanding of SGDI and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Conducts work with the highest level of integrity.

Qualifications and Experience

• At least a Degree in FSL related studies like Agriculture / Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Economics, Natural Resource Management, Anthropology, Disaster Risk Management or a closely related field.
• A minimum of 2 year of work experience.
• Previous experience in implementing Food Security and Livelihoods interventions (i.e., cash-based transfer, VSLA, agriculture/livelihoods)
• Capacity and willingness to regularly travel to IMC field locations
• Previous experience in using and adapting community-led participatory approaches
• Strong group facilitation and training skills
• Fluent in English, Hausa and other local languages
• Experience in working in northwest Nigeria, preferably in katsina and Sokoto State

Key Competencies:

• Strong communication skills: oral, written and presentation skills
• Should be a team player and culturally sensitive
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, email and utilization of the internet
• Strong leadership, team building, conflict resolution
• Extremely flexible, and have the ability to cope with stressful situations
• Excellent computer knowledge and skills in using Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel.