Job Description

About ZOA

ZOA works with committed and motivated staff in serving millions of people affected by poverty, disaster, injustice and conflicts. Through the efforts of our dedicated staff, we are able to bring Signs of Hope and to support people who suffer due to armed conflict or natural disasters by helping them to rebuild their livelihoods.

We value our employees and offer a wide range of benefits to meet the specific needs of our staff and their families.

Project Background 

The Inclusive Digital Economies Action in Ethiopia: Refugee Response is a one-year project funded by the UNCDF and implemented by a consortium led by ZOA Ethiopia in partnership with a local NGO Wa-PYDO and a tech company Jamii.one. The action aim to ensure that refugees and host communities in Ethiopia of the project/ are included in digital economies by promoting savings-for-investment culture among refugees and host communities in cooperatives and 600 savings groups, enabling access to finance for at least 10 cooperatives and enhancing a community of practice and cooperation through eco-system level debates.

 Purpose

The Financial Inclusion Advisor works closely with the Consortium Manager to lead the financial literacy activities for cooperatives saving and link savings groups with Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) to access finance.  

Typical Responsibilities - Key end Results of the Position:*

• Oversees preparation and implementation of financial literacy activity work plans and budgets in close coordination with the Consortium Manager
• Provides specific technical support in financial inclusion planning and implementation of activities.
• Assesses financial institution partners and provides an evaluation of institutional strengths and weaknesses that would support or hinder linkages with cooperatives and/or project progress.
• Provides technical assistance to financial service providers based on identified gaps and weaknesses, to allow them to effectively link with project partners (that will reaches coops/savings groups).
• Builds and maintains effective working relationships with government, non –government organizations and donors, and local collaborating partners for effective financial inclusion program development and implementation.
• Conduct periodical visits & discussions among the project supported cooperatives and saving groups to provide technical supports on their performance together with partners program staff
• Supervises and maintains strong liaison among the regional project offices in the overall functioning of the financial literacy activity.
• Works closely with the Consortium Manager to ensure that quality quarter and annual reports are met the deadlines to submit with its requirement.
• Assist in timely and accurate documentation, publication and dissemination of the financial literacy activities for further programing and expansion. This includes success stories, lessons learned, etc.
• Leads the  negotiations with MFIs on behalf of partners for access to finance
• Establishes standing and transparent communication channels and builds the culture of team efforts among the various project staff and between the field office staff and the country office staff.
• Represents the project at technical meetings as requested by the Consortium Manager.
• Carry out other duties as delegated by Consortium Manager.

Job Requirements

Educational Qualification and Experience

• Master’s degree in finance, with a minimum of 8 years working experience in or with financial service providers
• Experience with designing and managing financial products and services for cooperatives and/or low-income clients.
• Extensive knowledge of MFI operations and regulations is essential.
• Experience working with low-income clients and/or savings groups is highly desirable.
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills and ability to work cooperatively with multiple partners.
• Demonstrated leadership in team building and managing a diverse, multicultural staff.
• Willingness to travel extensively in the Somali region of Ethiopia and within refugee camps in Ethiopia.

Skills Specific to the Post

• Commitment to the vision and mission of ZOA 
• Excellent understanding of local context preferred
• Demonstrated ability to meet strict deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members in a cross-cultural environment
• Computer literacy skills with standard business software (including Word, Excel and Power Point
• Good Communications Skill both English and local language

Leadership Attitudes & Behaviours

• The incumbent should possess higher degree of integrity and able to lead a team in a disciplined manner

How to Apply

If you are interested in this position, please apply via ethiojobs.net by sending your CV and a motivation letter indicating your suitability for this position to before the due date

Please provide at least 3 references related to your previous employment listed in your CV or motivation letter. 

Applicants should submit their up to date CV, and a cover letter of no more than one page in which they outline why they are applying and why they believe that they are the best candidate for the position of Financial Inclusion Advisor in Addis Ababa with reference to the job description. Applicants who send a generic cover letter will not be considered for short listing.

Only selected candidates will be contacted and invited to participate in the process of recruitment. It is our aim to inform candidates of their status in the recruitment process within 4 weeks after the vacancy has closed. A written test will be part of the recruitment procedure. Documents that do not match the profile above will not be considered. Internal candidates will have priority, in case of similar results