POSITION TITLE: TVET/MFI Project Director
DEPARTMENT: International Programs
RESPONSIBLE TO: ARC Somalia Country Director
STATUS: Full Time
SUPERVISORY CAPACITY: TVET and MFI Program Coordinators, Financial Manager and Grant Manager
DEPARTMENT/COUNTRY PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/MISSION
The American Refugee Committee (ARC) is an entrepreneurial humanitarian organization that assists displaced people to move from vulnerability to resilience, from impoverishment to a basic level of well-being, and from exclusion to inclusion.
ARC, in partnership with FAO, DFID, relevant Somalia ministries, and existing financial institutions and microfinance providers, intends to initiate a vocational training and market-driven microfinance program. The overarching goal is to increase technical education, entrepreneurial and employment opportunities for Somali youth through the provision of market driven sustainable capacity building and microfinance program, by strengthening strategic linkages between education, public and private sectors. The TVET program objectives include 400 graduates from institutional and entrepreneurial vocational training, capacity building for 30 Business Development Service (BDS) providers, and provision of tools and techniques for enhanced life skills and conflict resolution. The Microfinance program will be linked with and built on the achievements of the SEED program, which has two major components: (i) market development, covering the productive sectors of: agriculture, livestock, and fisheries (ii) investment climate enhancement including a challenge fund and business reforms.This program will add value to productive sectors and result in significant returns to youth, women, industry and the wider economy of Somalia.
PRIMARY PURPOSE OF POSITION
Under the direct supervision of the Country Director of ARC for Somalia, and in consultation with FAO-Somalia SEED Program Manager, the TVET/MFI Project Director will oversee the implementation of an innovative and complex program in Somaliland and Puntland regions of Somalia. He/she will provide managerial oversight, technical expertise and strategic guidance to program staff, as well as leadership in coordination efforts with a number of implementing partner organizations.
The TVET component of the program has the goal of increasing job placements and self-employment opportunities for Somali youth through the provision of market-driven skills training and strengthening strategic linkages among business education providers with public and private sector actors. The TVET program will be linked with and built on the achievements of the SEED programs two major components: (i) market development in: agriculture, livestock, and fisheries (ii) investment climate enhancement including a challenge fund. This program will add value to productive sectors and result in significant returns to the youth, women, industry and the wider economy of Somalia. It encompasses both the provision of Business Development Services (BDS) and TVET types of skills training to meet market requirements and complement SEED activities.The TVET component of the program will establish an inclusive and market-driven work placement program that compliments both components to make the private sector portfolio of DFID Somalia more effective.
The overarching goal of the MFI component of the program is to increase private businesses and employment opportunities for Somali youth. The Microfinance program will be linked with and built on the achievements of the SEED program.The objective of this component is to develop an innovative microfinance structure. FAO/DFID structured an approach that requires synergy with the Challenge Fund component of SEED program Phase II (the Investment Climate) that is implemented by the World Bank.
MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Program start-up:
DEPARTMENT: International Programs
RESPONSIBLE TO: ARC Somalia Country Director
STATUS: Full Time
SUPERVISORY CAPACITY: TVET and MFI Program Coordinators, Financial Manager and Grant Manager
DEPARTMENT/COUNTRY PROGRAM DESCRIPTION/MISSION
The American Refugee Committee (ARC) is an entrepreneurial humanitarian organization that assists displaced people to move from vulnerability to resilience, from impoverishment to a basic level of well-being, and from exclusion to inclusion.
ARC, in partnership with FAO, DFID, relevant Somalia ministries, and existing financial institutions and microfinance providers, intends to initiate a vocational training and market-driven microfinance program. The overarching goal is to increase technical education, entrepreneurial and employment opportunities for Somali youth through the provision of market driven sustainable capacity building and microfinance program, by strengthening strategic linkages between education, public and private sectors. The TVET program objectives include 400 graduates from institutional and entrepreneurial vocational training, capacity building for 30 Business Development Service (BDS) providers, and provision of tools and techniques for enhanced life skills and conflict resolution. The Microfinance program will be linked with and built on the achievements of the SEED program, which has two major components: (i) market development, covering the productive sectors of: agriculture, livestock, and fisheries (ii) investment climate enhancement including a challenge fund and business reforms.This program will add value to productive sectors and result in significant returns to youth, women, industry and the wider economy of Somalia.
PRIMARY PURPOSE OF POSITION
Under the direct supervision of the Country Director of ARC for Somalia, and in consultation with FAO-Somalia SEED Program Manager, the TVET/MFI Project Director will oversee the implementation of an innovative and complex program in Somaliland and Puntland regions of Somalia. He/she will provide managerial oversight, technical expertise and strategic guidance to program staff, as well as leadership in coordination efforts with a number of implementing partner organizations.
The TVET component of the program has the goal of increasing job placements and self-employment opportunities for Somali youth through the provision of market-driven skills training and strengthening strategic linkages among business education providers with public and private sector actors. The TVET program will be linked with and built on the achievements of the SEED programs two major components: (i) market development in: agriculture, livestock, and fisheries (ii) investment climate enhancement including a challenge fund. This program will add value to productive sectors and result in significant returns to the youth, women, industry and the wider economy of Somalia. It encompasses both the provision of Business Development Services (BDS) and TVET types of skills training to meet market requirements and complement SEED activities.The TVET component of the program will establish an inclusive and market-driven work placement program that compliments both components to make the private sector portfolio of DFID Somalia more effective.
The overarching goal of the MFI component of the program is to increase private businesses and employment opportunities for Somali youth. The Microfinance program will be linked with and built on the achievements of the SEED program.The objective of this component is to develop an innovative microfinance structure. FAO/DFID structured an approach that requires synergy with the Challenge Fund component of SEED program Phase II (the Investment Climate) that is implemented by the World Bank.
MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
PRIMARY DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Program start-up:
- Manage process of hiring, orienting and monitoring staff.
- Refine and implement financial and administrative procedures and policies as necessary.
- Review effectiveness of current computerized portfolio, tracking and accounting systems, and suggest improvements as required.
- Set-up the management structure of the program.
- Set-up of the micro-financing program and training of MFI.
- Engage micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME), business associations and cooperatives in selected sectors.
- Ensure completion of a gap analysis between academic curriculum and market requirements to identify the training for the graduates to meet market requirements and self-employment opportunities.
- Select Micro-Finance Institution(s), developing and implement a conflict-sensitive microfinance program / modus-operandi, set up of offices, and mobilization of stakeholders.
- Identify and select institutional and entrepreneurial vocational training partners, development or localization of appropriate curricula, and selection of candidates for vocational training.
- Identify and select 30 Business Development Service providers for capacity building programming.
Oversee the implementation of:
- Development of staff capacity, especially managerial staff, to manage the institution effectively
- Capacity building of local micro-financial institutions in Somaliland and Puntland.
- Mass-market outreach and awareness-raising component of the relevance of microfinance as a poverty alleviation and economic development tool.
- Creation of a dedicated Youth and Women’s Fund managed by ARC, by pooling resources from the global Somali diaspora, donors, and social investors.
- Launch and implement Micro-Finance Institution(s) services.
- Establish representative, multi-stakeholder oversight committees for TVET programming
- Work with business, value chain and education stakeholders to develop relevant curricula, pre and post testing materials.
- ITVET and ETVET programmes, including identification of cost-recovery models and apprenticeship/entrepreneurial opportunities.
- Adaptation of business skill and financial literacy modules for 30 BDS providers, including .supervision of training for basic business skills, personal marketing, life skill and conflict resolution techniques for TVET graduates and mentorship opportunities.
- TVET sub-component activities that seek to create linkages to the private sector.
- Facilitation of program coordination workshops and technical and operational training as needed.
- Development of narrative, statistical and financial reports for the country director, and ARCHQ as well as donors on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
- Meeting program goals for loan disbursal, repayment, arrears and portfolio-at-risk targets as per the Finance Sudan business plan.
- Managing the program budget and track institutional cost-recovery.
- Adhering to donor, ARC and government requirements and regulations in implementation and documentation of program activities and expenditures.
- Attending all governance structure meetings (steering committee, board, shareholder meetings) to provide operational and financial reports on program/institutional performance.
Monitoring and progress controls:
- Development and adaption of participatory M&E.
- Regular site visits to monitor implementation of the program.
- Conduct a quarterly review of subcomponent progress against indicators and targets with updates shared with M&E Officer of SEED II.
- Oversee the semiannual progress reporting.
- Oversee the mid-term review as part of the larger SEED II Program.
- Oversee the revision of Logical Framework, detailed implementation plan and M&E tools in alignment with SEED II as necessary.
- Oversee the end of project evaluation as part of broader SEED II reporting.
EDUCATION, TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED
- Master’s Degree in Microfinance, Finance, Economics, or related area.
- Significant experience in agriculture or agronomy.
- Minimum of 12 years of progressive professional experience in development work in conflict affected settings.
- Minimum of 8 years managing microfinance projects.
- Experience and knowledge in microfinance program managements, administration, operations management, risk management, internal auditing, and financial management.
- Strong communication, public relations, organization and leadership skills.
- Mature, energetic and dynamic.
- Strong expertise in areas such as value chains projects, livelihoods, agriculture and livestock, community work, capacity building, and project management with UN or international NGOs.
- Strong interpersonal and team building skills; and ability to work collaboratively with other staff, strategic partners, local, national, and civil society stakeholders.
- Monitoring and evaluation skills experience.
- Demonstrated ability to supervise staff in a productive, collaborative team.
- Proven skills in proposal budget review, tracking, financial and grant management.
- PC experience: Microsoft Office, Excel, Internet, E-mail systems.
KEY BEHAVIORS & ABILITIES
- Understanding of international global humanitarian, political and cultural issues, particularly in post-conflict and fast paced environments
- Ability to address challenging situations and issues in a diplomatic manner
- Ability to work cross-functionally to ensure a sense of cooperation and foster a positive team approach
- Ability to work independently
- Commitment to ARC’s mandate and objectives
- Highly developed organizational, liaison and communication skills
- Ability to multi-task and work under pressure
