The Ministry of Education (MoE) envisions a sustainable education system that guarantees quality and equitable education for all. Teachers are key to realizing this vision, as they play a central role in shaping the future of students. However, in Ethiopia, teachers face significant financial challenges. To address this bottleneck, the MoE, along with its partners, is considering developing and launching a project focused on establishing a teacher’s cooperative bank. 

Teachers' cooperative banks play a crucial role in enhancing the financial well-being of educators by offering favorable loans, savings programs, and financial guidance. These banks are designed to meet the unique financial needs of teachers, fostering resilience and contributing to the development of their communities. By promoting financial inclusion, they provide access to credit, encourage savings, and create an environment that supports financial literacy, ultimately helping members achieve better financial health. Among others, the key objectives of Teachers Cooperative Bank are to:

• Promote Financial Empowerment: Ensure educators have access to affordable banking services tailored to their specific financial needs.

• Foster Financial Inclusion: Increase access to banking services for underbanked and unbanked individuals in the community.

• Enhance Community Development: Reinvest profits into educational and small business initiatives that benefit the local community.

• Increase Financial Literacy: Offer programs to boost financial knowledge among members, empowering them to make informed financial decisions.

• Support Sustainable Growth: Design financial products and services that evolve to meet the changing needs of teachers, ensuring long-term viability.

• Ensure Financial Stability: Establish sound risk management practices and adequate capital reserves to safeguard the bank’s financial health.

The e-Learning for Strengthening Higher Education is a project led by MoE in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University, and Shayashone PLC. It is one of the transformative projects under the ministry with the primary mission of supporting Ethiopian higher education institutes to realize digital education. Along this trajectory, the e-SHE addresses critical ecosystem-level issues that undermine the teaching and learning process and quality of education, as well as tries to address barriers to the transformational aspirations of the education sector. Financial inclusion of teachers at every level is deemed as one of these critical underlying bottlenecks that need to be resolved for sustainable, quality, and inclusive education delivery by serving as an important instrument to attract, retain, and motivate in-service teachers and those aspiring to pursue a career in teaching.  To this end, Shayashone PLC is organizing the recruitment process for the position highlighted below on behalf of the e-SHE partnership in general and the MoE in particular. 

Short Description of Position

The Project Manager will be responsible for overseeing the project of ‘’Establishment of Teachers Cooperative Bank’’ from initiation, inception to realization phases, with key roles spanning from developing a comprehensive business and project plan, establishing committees, mobilizing and managing resources, and ensuring the timely execution of each phase. The role will involve managing all aspects of the project, ensuring alignment with the overarching goal of promoting financial empowerment for educators, and ensuring that all deliverables are met efficiently and effectively.

Roles and Responsibilities 

• Project Planning

  • Undertake a rapid assessment of the financial sector landscape relevant to the establishment of the envisaged financial institution.

  • Revisit and develop a comprehensive teacher’s cooperative bank formation and realization plan with clear indications of policy, regulatory, and other formalities needed. 

  • Develop a comprehensive project plan with clear scope, objectives, and milestones, including timelines, budgets, and deliverables, which shall be approved by the project steering group.

  • In consultation with relevant parties, establish a national project taskforce and steering group comprising key stakeholders and develop appropriate governance and working protocols for the establishment of the teachers’ cooperative bank.

• Project Implementation and Monitoring

  • Responsible for leading the timely implementation of the approved project plan 

  • Regularly track and report the progress of the implementation process to the steering group.

  • Incorporate learnings and amend the project plans accordingly

  • Report progress to the steering group as per the agreed timeline and milestones. 

• Business Plan Development

  • Responsible for a comprehensive business plan document with a clear highlight of the technical, financial, social, organizational, and legal viability metrics 

  • Responsible for the development of an appropriate business model for the realization and functioning of the envisaged institution

  • Ensure the business plan and the business models are inclusive and sustainable to address the current and future needs of educators at different levels. 

• Leadership and Oversight:

  • Lead the team through the various stages of the project.

  • Oversee the coordination between different teams, ensuring alignment with project goals.

  • Ensure that all tasks are completed on schedule and within budget.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:

  • Maintain regular communication with key stakeholders, including government bodies, educational institutions, financial partners, and community leaders.

  • Organize meetings and updates with stakeholders to track progress and manage expectations.

  • Develop and implement a phased rollout plan.

• Risk Management and Compliance:

  • Develop a holistic risk matrix that will have political, legal, social, and market indices early in the project with appropriate mitigation strategies.

  • Ensure project plans and implementation are compliant with legal, regulatory, and financial requirements.

• Reporting and Monitoring:

  • Provide regular progress reports to senior leadership, stakeholders, and funding agencies.

  • Track performance indicators and adjust project strategies as needed to ensure success.

Job Requirements

Education, Experience, and Skills 

• Master's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, and Project Management. 

• At least 10 years of progressively increasing experience in managing large-scale projects related to banking, capital markets, micro-finance, digital finance, and related sectors.

• Mastery-level skills in Microsoft Office applications and Project management tools 

Functional/Sector Competencies 

•  Comprehensive understanding of the financial sector, supported by broad knowledge and practical experience in financial systems, operations, and governance.

• Experience in banking and capital market establishment and familiarity with banking and capital market dynamics, investment directives and regulations, and financial inclusion strategies.

• Solid understanding of financial sector customer value proposition, product development, business model design, and market dynamics.

• Experience in investor and shareholder mobilization, strategic partnerships, and multi-stakeholder engagement at national and institutional levels.

• Deep knowledge of Ethiopia’s financial sector policies, regulatory frameworks, and licensing processes.

Leadership Competencies 

• Proven leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the capacity to engage senior officials and technical experts.

• Knowledge and first-hand experience of the Ethiopian education sector and its key stakeholders is preferable.

• Ability to work under pressure and deliver results on time.

Ethical Considerations and Confidentiality

• The Project Manager is required to adhere to ethical standards and confidentiality agreements, ensuring sensitive project data, financial information, and personal details are protected throughout the project.

How To Apply

Competent applicants can apply through THIS LINK