VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

KISAN project II

The USAID/Nepal-funded Knowledge-based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture in Nepal (KISAN) II project is improving food security in twenty Hill and Terai districts in the West, Mid-West and Far-West regions, and four districts in the Central region of the country. The purpose of KISAN II is to increase the resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability of income growth in the Feed the Future Zones of Influence. KISAN II will help lead firms, input suppliers, and private sector change agents catalyze agricultural productivity, competitive market systems, a stronger enabling environment, and business and literacy skills for households in two Zones of Influence. We are recruiting for the following positions:

 

Financial Services Advisor- 1 (Kathmandu based)

Financial Services Advisor (FSA) will serve as the focal point on all access to finance activities, including SME finance, mobile and digital finance, microfinance, and small scale rural finance. The FSA will work closely and advise to component directors on integration of appropriate access to finance interventions on how financial services activities should be differentiated across competitive lead firms, developing SMEs, farmer cooperatives or associations, and individual farmers. S/he will design approaches and interventions that are tailored to the growth needs and financial profiles of beneficiary groups by identifying capacity gaps and barriers that prevent them from increasing their agriculture lending portfolios. S/he will also identify opportunities to coordinate with and leverage donor-funded access to finance projects and activities and also identify new financial products, technologies, and innovations that can be applied under the project. S/he will guide Financial Services Officers for field-level trainings to financial institutions, businesses and households.

Eligibility:

• Advanced degree in MBA, agriculture or banking,
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in banking industry, preferably in microfinance, rural finance and/or SME finance,
• Track record in designing and rolling out training programs to groups, cooperatives and MFIs so as to increase the access to finance of project beneficiaries,
• Demonstrated track record of working with bank and financial institutions, investors, and private sector actors. A Kathmandu based position with frequent field visits.

Curriculum Development Manager- 1 (Kathmandu based)

 

Curriculum Development Manager (CDM) will work closely with Literacy and Business Skills Director to draft and develop literacy training materials for literacy trainings on following themes: Literacy, Nutrition, Life Skills, Entrepreneurship Skills, Access to Finance and Business Development. S/he will also develop manuals for trainers, test questions and other materials required for training. CDM will review available literature in literacy training, consult relevant stakeholders and incorporate their feedback while developing these materials.

Eligibility

• Advanced degree in agriculture, business development, MBA, education, social sciences
• 7 years of experience working in publication, training materials development, manuals and module development, including 4 years’ experience in project implementation,
• With good written skills in both English and Nepali including good computer skills,
• Has meeting conduction and facilitation skills.
• A candidate with exposure in outreach and communication activities including digitized training materials may be preferred. A Kathmandu based position.

Regional Financial Services Coordinator- 1 (Nepalgunj based)

Regional Financial Services Coordinator (RFSC) will work under the leadership of Financial Services Advisor to manage regional level implementation of financial services sector. S/he is responsible for the implementation of regional, provincial, and district based activities and track project outcomes and outputs. S/he will draft training modules, monitor activities, survey questions, compile data and generate report of this sector. In addition, s/he will coordinate and facilitate with a range of different level stakeholders related to this sector so as to increase the financial access of KISAN II beneficiaries.
Regional Financial Services Coordinator mobilizes the field network of Financial Services Officers to increase competitiveness and inclusiveness in selected market systems. RFSC will often interact with firms and farmers and ensures that the segment is moving as plan.

Eligibility:

• Degree (preferably master’s) in management, finance, banking, economics or similar field,
• Minimum of five years’ experience in implementing similar programs for master degree candidates and seven years of experience for bachelor’s degree candidates,
• Should be able to conduct trainings at various level and travel extensively, has manual development skills in the sector, with good communication and social mobilization skills,
• Experience in USAID funded project is desired.

Regional Literacy and Business Skills Coordinator-1 (Nepalgunj based)

Regional Literacy and Business Skills Coordinator will work under the leadership of Literacy and Business Skills Director to manage regional level implementation of literacy and business skills component. S/he is responsible for the implementation of regional, provincial, and district based activities and track project outcomes and outputs by mobilizing component 4 staffs. Some key roles s/he will play are: effective conduction of literacy centers, MTOT management, overseeing logistics and finance, monitoring CTOT, overseeing tests, database management, generation of reports, coordination with relevant stakeholders and timely inputs to Component 4 Director.

Eligibility:

• Degree (preferably master’s) in education, management, agriculture, economics, social sciences or similar field,
• Minimum of five years’ experience in implementing similar programs for master degree candidates and seven years of experience for bachelor’s degree candidates,
• Should be able to manage trainings over a thousand locations at a time including supervision of logistics, finance and monitoring,
• Has database management, reporting, communication and social mobilization skills
• Experience in USAID funded project is desired.

Training Manager-1 (Nepalgunj based)

Training Manager (TM) will work closely with Regional Literacy and Business Skills Coordinator to conduct Training to Master Trainers (MTOT)with frequent field visit. The MTOT will enhance the training skills of several Master Trainers so that they are able to train numerous community trainers. S/he will also assist in developing manuals for trainers, CTOT manuals and other literacy materials. The TM will review TOT approaches used by earlier similar programs, observe CTOTs and monitor few literacy classes to assess the effectiveness of MTOT.

Eligibility:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, management, social sciences, agriculture, but a Master’s degree preferred,
• 5 years of experience in training, facilitation, training materials development with 3 years’ experience in project implementation,
• Has good social mobilization skills, team playing skills,
• With good facilitation, organizing and cognitive skills.

Regional Finance/Logistics Officer-1 (Nepalgunj based)

Regional Finance/Logistics Officer will work under Finance and Operations Manager. S/he will be responsible for planning, execution and reporting of overall financial and logistics matters envisaged for effective implementation of KISAN II in the field. Key tasks will include: orientation to staff in finance and logistics, account keeping, regional level procurement, logistics, warehouse management, payment, staff payroll & record keeping, fund flow, compliance etc.

Eligibility:

• Degree (preferably master’s) in management, finance or similar field,
• Minimum of three years’ experience in implementing similar programs,
• Able to manage different tasks simultaneously without stress,
• Experience in USAID funded project is desired.
 

Financial Services Officer- Few (Cluster based)

Financial Services Officer (FSO) will be based in provincial offices of KISAN II and work under Regional Financial Services Coordinator. S/he will be responsible for frequent interactions with financial institutions, firms and farmers to contribute in the increase of access to finance and business growth of KISAN II beneficiaries. In addition, FSO will be managing capacity building activities for KISAN II groups, cooperatives; local chapters of MFIs and will be working for expansion of mobile banking, digitized financing, use of ICTs, linkages with remit companies.
*Candidates for this position are requested to specify their location preference (Kathmandu, Banke, Surkhet, Dang, Dadeldhura, Kailali or Palpa) in their cover letter

Eligibility:

• Degree (preferably master’s) management, banking, economics or agriculture,
• Minimum of three years’ experience in implementing similar programs for master degree candidates and five years of experience for bachelor’s degree candidates,
• Should be able to conduct trainings independently at beneficiary, group, cooperative and staff level,
• Has good idea on how groups and cooperatives function and how financial institutes provide loans to producers, small traders and SMEs,
• Has good computer, reporting and social mobilization skills,
• Can travel frequently and extensively.
• Should have motorbike/scooter driving license.

Literacy Program Officer- Few (Cluster based)

Literacy Program Officer (LPO) will be based in provincial offices of KISAN II and work under Regional Literacy and Business Skills Coordinator. S/he will be responsible for managing all aspects of business literacy training in the given cluster. Key tasks will be conducting and monitoring literacy centers, managing Training for Community Trainers (CTOT), facilitation for logistics, mobilization of Master Trainers cum Supervisors, database, supervision of tests, coordination with local stakeholders, etc.
** Candidates for this position are requested to specify their location preference (Kathmandu, Banke, Surkhet, Dang, Dadeldhura, Kailali or Palpa) in their cover letter

Eligibility:

• Degree (preferably master’s) in education, management, economics, agriculture or similar field,
• Minimum of three years’ experience in implementing similar programs for master degree candidates and five years of experience for bachelor’s degree candidates,
• Should be able to facilitate trainings,
• Coaching abilities to MTs and CTs,
• Has knowledge on adult learning theories,
• Has good computer, reporting, social mobilization and leadership skills,
• Can travel frequently and extensively.
• Should have motorbike/scooter driving license.

Admin /HR Officer-1 (Kathmandu based)

Admin/HR Officer will be based in Kathmandu and work under Finance and Operations Manager. S/he will be responsible for recruitment, procurement, logistics, warehouse management, HR administration, financial record keeping and organizational compliance.

Eligibility:

• Degree (preferably master’s) in management, finance or similar field,
• Minimum of three years’ experience in implementing similar programs,
• Has experience in HR administration, recruitment, procurement and logistics,
• Has good computer skills and administrative writing skills in English and Nepali.

Last date to apply: 24 November 2017

HOW TO APPLY

All candidates will have to make extensive travel to the field, particularly to mid and far west regions. If you find yourself suitable, please apply along with a covering letter, curriculum vitae with two referees, and academic credentials. You can drop your application to [email protected] or DEPROSC Nepal, P.O. Box 10953, Kathmandu within 24 November 2017. Canvassing or influencing will automatically cancels your application.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further selection process. The organization reserves the right to reject any/all applications without assigning any reason whatsoever. Women and candidates from disadvantaged communities are highly encouraged to apply.