Functional Title: Program Officer- Livelihoods, Microfinance and Private Sector Partnership
Supervisor: Executive President
Time Frame: 6 months (renewable based on the performance and availability of funds)
Location: Kathmandu with frequent field visits in project districts
Experience: 3+ Years
Openings: 1 (Female candidates only)

Key Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Executive President, Program Officer- Livelihoods, Microfinance and Private Sector Partnership is responsible for effective management, coordination with concerned stakeholders and successful implementation of Women Act’s Livelihoods, Microfinance and Private Sector Partnership projects in various districts. She will be responsible for delivering key tasks under three major areas as follows:

Livelihoods

• Take lead in the management and implementation of livelihoods related projects
  
• Identify earthquake affected women headed households, prioritize and develop tailored livelihood activities
  
• Coordinate the implementation of field activities related to livelihoods according to the agreed program framework and budget and in consultation with senior management of Women Act and program partners
  
• Facilitate capacity-building activities for project beneficiaries and partner CBOs on livelihoods, poverty reduction, income generating as well as institutional development

Microfinance:

• Responsible for the overall coordination, management & implementation of the microfinance related project activities that targets most vulnerable people of the rural communities
  
• Support the area-based development and usage of microfinance services in the pilot areas identified for the project
  
• Design, develop and provide necessary trainings for beneficiaries to develop skills and capacities for microfinance strategies, and income generating initiatives (related to agriculture and livestock, small business development, cash grants/micro-finance/saving credit cooperatives)
  
• Maintain and develop effective monitoring procedures and build the capacity of the local groups in microfinance and cooperative development
  
• Supervise and monitor cooperative development & microfinance training on regular basis to ensure that activities are conducted as planned
  
• Facilitate the development of linkages and networks with sectoral institutions such as banks and other financial institutions
  

Private Sector Partnership:

• Take lead in the overall management of private sector partnerships initiatives from identification of opportunities to developing long-term partnerships at both district, regional, and national levels
  
• Provide leadership and strategic vision of implementation, development and management of shared value partnerships with private sector actors, 
  
• Coordinate with private sector to generate new programs in the areas of microfinance 
  
• Establish and maintain productive relationships with private sector actors, corporate partners, universities and academic institutions 
  

To complement activities under above three key areas, Program Officer will:

• Actively work with the GESI team of Women Act to ensure mainstreaming of GESI in all aspects of livelihoods and microfinance activities
  
• Maintain close coordination and cooperation with donors, private sector actors, district and municipal line agencies and authorities, between project beneficiaries and other stakeholders for effective delivery of project activities at local level
  
• Ensure update-to-date data/records (create disaggregated database by gender/age/diversity) are maintained for all beneficiaries of livelihoods and microfinance assistance
  
• Assist communities on value chain mapping, cooperative management and market networking and management
  

Monitoring, Documentation and Reporting

• Monitor livelihoods and microfinance activities and provide inputs to timely preparation and submission of funds requests, budget revisions and financial reports
  
• Supervise staff and local facilitators involved in implementation of livelihoods and microfinance activities
  
• Produce materials such as presentations, annual reports, training materials etc
  
• Prepare high quality materials such as project templates, flyers, brochures, leaflet etc
  
• Develop livelihoods and microfinance project operational guidelines and agreement templates to ensure effective implementation of the field activities
  
• Lead the process of developing high quality project proposals from identification of opportunity to the award phase assuring that the process is effectively documented
  
• Prepare high quality (both English and Nepali) monthly/quarterly/annual progress reports of projects and activities
  

Required Core Competencies, Qualifications & Experiences:

Education

• University degree in enterprise management, agro-enterprise development, economic development, law, business management or related studies
  

Work Experience

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience implementing livelihoods, micro finance and private sector involvement projects
  
• Experience in project management including project planning and monitoring 
  
• Experience with budget planning and expenditures monitoring 
  
• Experience working with private sector and on private sector related issues. 
  
• Experience in the field of value-chain development, multi-stakeholder approach (blended approach) and donor funded projects
  

Skills, Knowledge and Competencies:

• Thorough understanding of livelihoods and microfinance, approaches and different types of financial institutions and their services
  
• Knowledge and operational competencies in terms of private sector actors, situation and networks in Nepal
  
• Demonstrated technical skills in coordination and development of activities related to cash transferring programming, agriculture, livestock, vocational trainings, micro-finance, and small business development
  
• Comprehensive knowledge of self-help or community groups, best practices, especially with regard to the provision of financial services in rural areas for agricultural and non-agricultural activities
  
• Thorough understanding of GESI mainstreaming in project design and implementation
  
• Ability to develop capacity building frameworks, training manuals and work plans
  
• In-depth knowledge of word, advanced excel skills, power point, adobe applications, database applications, email/internet)
  
• Language Skills
  
• Fluency in both spoken and written Nepali and English languages is required
  
• Good typing skills in both English and Nepali
  
• Must be a Nepali Citizen
  

Duration

The initial contract will be for six months, with the possibility of extension based on the satisfactory performance and availability of fund.