Democratic Republic of the Congo: Temporary Financial Inclusion Specialist

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

About Mercy Corps in the DRC

Mercy Corps is an international humanitarian and development Non-Governmental Organization which has been operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since August 2007, with a staff of about 300 people. Mercy Corps' country office is located in Goma with field offices in Kitchanga, Kiwanja, (North Kivu) and Bukavu (South Kivu), and a representative office in Kinshasa.

Current Mercy Corps DRC activities in DRC focus on humanitarian and stabilization programming, in sectors of; WaSH and emergency cash-based assistance, food security, good governance and economic recovery programs, with an increasing shift towards transitional and integrated development programming.

Program Summary

A Consortium composed of Mercy Corps (MC) and Search for Common Ground (SFCG), in cooperation with multiple local and international partners, are implementing the integrated Food Security and Inclusive Access to Resources for Conflict-Sensitive Market Development (FARM) program, which seeks to improve stability for men, women, boys and girls through improved land governance and access to land, as well as the development of a more efficient and inclusive market environment for over 250,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries, in the chiefdoms of Bashali (Masisi) and Bwisha (Rutshuru). FARM is a four years program funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kigali, Rwanda, aligned with the International Stabilization Support Strategy (I4S), which paves the way for the stabilization of Eastern DRC.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

The temporary Financial Inclusion Manager is a short-term position that will be stationed in our Goma office for up to 3 months. This manager will have responsibility for:

• Finalization of FARM financial inclusion strategy,
• Finalizing a clear “road map” for implementation of activities regarding financial inclusion,
• Start the product development of some agriculture related financial product such as agriculture production finance and/or warehouse receipt lending credit.
• Managing 1 Private Sector Specialist, 2 VSLA Assistants and 1 Youth Employment Senior Officer
• Maintaining partner relationship with Fair & Sustainable Consulting (the program's international consultant for Value Chains and Market Systems development, concerning the link with financial inclusion in relevant FARM activities).

The successful candidate will have a strong background in financial service development, institutional capacity building and strengthening, and implementation of activities, ideally in fragile and difficult contexts. Additionally, preferred skills from a successful candidate would include a background in supporting entrepreneurship and private enterprise development, and the ability to support the execution of quality entrepreneurship training and support services across the portfolio. The Temporary Financial Inclusion Manager will supervise key staff and ensure accountability to Mercy Corps policies and donor rules and regulations, while working closely with Mercy Corps team members to build capacity and ensure achievement of program results.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Implementation

• Provide leadership and oversight in all aspects of implementation, management and evaluation within FARM financial inclusion and private sector development component.
• Liaise with Fair & Sustainable Consulting (FARM main partner on MSD component) and Mercy Corps Financial Inclusion Adviser to ensure implementation is in line with FARM financial inclusion strategy.
• Ensure program implementation of this component is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impact.
• Ensure adherence to Mercy Corps Program Management Initiative's (PMI) minimum standards.
• Oversee program staff performance and quality of program implementation (2 local staff).
• Support all of FARM financial services development activities (including but not limited to, financial product development or adaptation, savings groups development, integration with relevant key activities including Producer Organzation development and youth inclusion, and implementation of activities), including supporting the development of relevant training, monitoring and implementation tools, identifying and engaging relevant private sector support services, and ensuring that Mercy Corps staff are effective in supporting enterprise development activities.
• Implement and model Mercy Corps' philosophy of social entrepreneurship and leverage Mercy Corps' best practices.

Vision, Leadership and Strategy

• Ensure that FARM revised financial inclusion strategy is clear and communicated to team members, local beneficiaries, donors, Government of DRC and other partners.
• Ensure that program implementation is responsive to communities and partners and aligned with Mercy Corps' principles and values (Vision for Change).
• Collaborate with other related Mercy Corps programs to create synergies wherever possible.

Team Management

• Create a work atmosphere that promotes professional development of personnel at all levels.
• Establish performance expectations and regularly provide constructive feedback to staff.
• Contribute to team-building efforts across the Mercy Corps' market programs and encourage the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
• Facilitate training and management of staff, particularly national team members.

Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support effective program monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems for both internal and external use and ensure high quality input is obtained from team members.
• Use reporting results to monitor program success, measure impact, and calibrate program strategy accordingly.
• Ensure documentation of achievements and lessons learned and ensure best practices are captured and disseminated in quarterly and final program reports, and shared with internal and external stakeholders as appropriate.

Representation and Coordination

• Liaise with relevant stakeholders including government ministries and local extension agents, donor organizations, humanitarian clusters, local NGOs, project partners, private sector partners and community members to ensure support for and acceptance of Mercy Corps' projects in relevant technical sectors.

Fiscal, Compliance Management and Accountability

• Collaborate with program, finance and administrative staff to ensure systems are in compliance with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• As appropriate, coordinate and manage relevant program budget lines within approved spending levels and ensure compliance with all donor and Mercy Corps' rules and regulations.
• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.
• Ensure adherence to Mercy Corps policies as per internal/ external audit requirements.
• Ensure accurate and timely program financial reporting to donors and Mercy Corps' headquarters.

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.

Organizational Learning: 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.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: FARM's Financial service and Private Sector Specialist (who himself supervises 2 VSLA Assistants and 1 Youth Employment Officer)

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: FARM Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: FARM Managers, Administration, Finance and Logistics departments. Also works directly with local national staff and relevant Mercy Corps headquarters units as necessary, including Mercy Corps'.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

• Masters degree in economics, business, international development, social sciences, international relations or other relevant field preferred.
• Minimum 5 years' relevant professional experience implementing financial inclusion programs, private sector development programs, market development activities, or livelihoods programs, preferably in insecure or transitional environments.
• Strong facilitation and consensus-building skills.
• Experience managing national staff.
• Experience working with and building the capacity of national partner organizations.
• Experience working with the private sector and building shared value partnerships.
• Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

A successful Financial Inclusion Manager will have strong practical experience in implementing financial inclusion programming in difficult contexts. A central tenet to success will also be fundamental understanding of the MSD approach, and the capacity to manage relationships with different levels of value chain actors, supporters and influencers including farmer organizations, inputs providers, banks (including commercial banks and microfinance institutions), traders, parastatal and civil society organizations as well as government ministries and institutions on a local level. The position requires an ability to think creatively about improving opportunities for financial inclusion in a rural setting to promote sustainable practices to achieve food security, contributing to increased stability. A successful Financial Inclusion Manager will complete activities in a timely manner in accordance with Mercy Corps and donor procedures and guidelines. The successful Financial Inclusion Manager will have the ability to multi-task, set priorities, and work under tight deadlines within a complex team. S/he will demonstrate strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills and be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps. S/he will take initiative and contribute to team efforts, as well as demonstrate an ability to communicate, assume leadership, and make solid decisions.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions:

This position will be based in Goma (DRC). Accommodation will be provided in Goma within group housing. Goma is a provincial capital of over 700,000 inhabitants. Living in Goma is comfortable, although water and electricity can be unstable. There are different restaurants and leisure activities available.

While conditions in the country are improving, there are still pockets of violence and insecurity. Mercy Corps' sub-offices experience variable levels of insecurity, with the situation closely monitored by UN peacekeepers. Air travel is necessary to get from one end of the country to the other. Mobile phones and cellular service are widely available. Internet is available in all Mercy Corps offices. There are a number of health services available with evacuation options for serious illnesses. There's reasonable access to most consumer goods, although they can be expensive.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Diversity is powerful. To achieve transformational change, we seek out team members with different origins, beliefs, backgrounds and ways of thinking. Diversity helps us unlock complexity.

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