The Financial and Vocational Training Advisor will be directly responsible for facilitating, implementing and monitoring STEM II activities, in close coordination with project partners. Whilst existing STEM II Project Officers work directly with schools in designated areas and cover all outputs of the programme, the incumbent of this position will focus largely on the main aspects of two outputs (the Girls Transition Fund and the STEP Programme), though girls involved in these outputs will come from all 30 of STEM’s II school catchment areas. S/he will also provide backstopping and support to colleagues on broader STEM II activities across the other outputs as required. Deliverables include: monitoring and oversight of the Girls’ Transition Fund (GTF), coordinating and liaising with the cooperatives in Kailali district chosen by the project and monitoring for the same, working closely with the project’s IS (in school) and OOS (out-of-school) girls, linking interested girls to vocational training /employment opportunities, facilitating STEM girls in accessing the GTF loans and assisting Project Officers in rolling out a major girls education campaign, delivering training to school management personnel and parents as well as support of the same, identifying school infrastructure needs, liaising with private sectors and vocational training institutes, and forming and supporting both in-school and out-of school girls clubs in their designated areas.

S/he will work under the supervision of the Deputy Program Manager, and will work closely with the rest of the STEM II team and the different partners involved in the implementation of the program and provide feedback on the progress of the program while facilitating appropriate support and technical assistance for program participants. S/he will conduct research and collect primary and secondary data as required, providing this to programme management to ensure programme responsiveness to need and appropriate design/ strategy. S/he will be responsible for producing documentation of all programme activities, meeting reporting requirements and adhering to deadlines. S/he will serve as Mercy Corps’ primary liaison with beneficiary communities at the district level.

The PM and DPM will provide backstopping and guidance to the incumbent of this position, seeking advice and inputs from the implementing partner and Mercy Corps’ Financial Services programme team where required, to ensure programme quality and adherence to STEM’s II work plan, values and strategy in relation to financial and vocational training opportunities.

As gender and social inclusion (GESI), governance and M&E are cross-cutting components of all Mercy Corps program(s), the Financial and Vocational Training Advisor is required to own these components and ensure GESI sensitivity and integration, governance practices and M&E systems are integrated into his/her work area.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The specific duties and responsibilities of the Financial and Vocational Training Advisor includes, but are not limited to, the following:

Program Implementation:

• Work in close coordination with the STEM II project team, providing support and necessary guidance on project activities, collaboratively reviewing the same after completion and providing documentation of activities for Programme Management review.
• Provide the necessary logistical support for the smooth implementation of the outputs related to GTF and STEP of the programme working closely with the STEM PO to ensure appropriateness of plans, activities, and fit with the rest of the programme, and to draw upon key resource persons to assist in implementation of the same.
• Conduct monitoring and support activities pertaining to GTF and STEP, working closely with the STEM SM&E Officer to ensure appropriateness of methods and approaches and streamlining with broader programme objectives.
• Assist Partner Social Mobilisers and team in selecting girls for the Step Programme and support in the delivery of all Step activities, working closely with the STEM II PO to ensure quality of training and integration of child safeguarding into all activities.
• Liaise closely with the other STEM II POs to ensure interested girls from each PO’s designated schools are directed into the GTF and all STEM II related vocational training opportunities, including the Step Programme.
• Support and assist other Program Officers in all aspects of STEM II delivery as required.
• Maintain strong relationships with beneficiaries and stakeholders and work with a collaborative spirit with other Project Officers and STEM II staff to ensure integrated efforts for the effective execution of the programme.

Financial Service activities:

• Closely coordinate and liaise with selected cooperatives for the effective management of the GTF.
• Support girls in applying for GTF loans and maintain strong oversight of girls accessing the GTF from within the STEM II POs’ designated areas, tracking their use of loans and successes achieved or challenges faced in the process, and regularly reporting upwards to Programme Management.
• Support SACCOs in drafting and revising the bylaws for GTF cooperatives.
• Facilitate and support GTF cooperatives in establishing GTF sub-committees to operate under the GTF and conduct frequent monitoring visits to the cooperatives, following up on progress, including monitoring the loan profiles of the cooperatives.

Technical and Vocational Training activities:

• Support girls in obtaining vocational training/employment opportunities and monitor/ document their progress, regularly reporting upwards to Programme Management.
• Provide training and mentoring to partner staffs to build their capacity in delivering training and orientation program in business development plan for the girls applying for GTF.

Others:

• Ensure proper integration of GESI aspects into sector specific program planning and implementation.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not to jeopardize its humanitarian mission.
• Other duties as assigned by his/her supervisor and or Country Director.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNINGS: As part of Mercy Corps’ agency-wide Organizational Learning Initiative, all team members are responsible for spending 5% of their work time in formal and/or non-formal professional learning activities.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: N/A

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Deputy Program Manager

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Program Manager, M&E Manager, Project Officers, Data Management Officer, Senior M&E Officer, Mercy Corps Support Functions Team and partners (local NGOs, private sector, government bodies).

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Deputy Program Manager, Position Description; National Staff Policy Handbook; Code of conduct and Mercy Corps policy and procedures.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Studies, Business Administration, Economics, or any other relevant fields.
• Minimum 5 years’ relevant professional experience in community mobilization, development and rural development.
• Experience in budget management and or reporting required.
• Should have previous experience working with financial institutions (Cooperatives/ Micro-Finance Institutions).
• Should have previous experience working with vocational training institutes and have sound knowledge in the vocational training components.
• Strong Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) skills.
• Strong preference for candidates with previous experience of working with youth and girls in Far West Nepal.
• Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player.
• Excellent negotiation, representation, skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff in a very sensitive environment.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment

SUCCESS FACTORS:

A successful Financial and Vocational Training Advisor would be able to work with the team to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of Girls Transition Fund and STEP program. S/he should also be able to manage budget, conduct necessary researches, and produce efficient report. The Financial and Vocational Training Advisor will have proven experience with cross-cultural team and capacity building, individual staff development and strong mentoring skills with exceptional diplomatic skills. Multi-tasking, prioritizing, problem solving and simultaneous attention to detail as well as strategic vision are essential. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

“Fostering a diverse and open workplace is an important part of Mercy Corps’ vision, and we encourage people from all backgrounds, especially women and members of disadvantaged groups to apply. Mercy Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer”.

Interested candidates are requested to submit cover letter and Mercy Corps Application Form available at http://nepal.mercycorps.org by COB May 14, 2017 to the address below:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further selection process. Telephone enquiries will not be entertained.
Attn: Human Resources Department
[Please mention the title of the Position on the subject line of the e-mail while applying]
Email to: [email protected]