National Saving and Credit Schemes Management Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO Myanmar is implementing a project under a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) entitled “Empowering rural women through community-based saving and credit schemes in central dry zone” to empower women through improved access to resources, skills and services for the sustainable income generating opportunities. The proposed TCP project is designed to provide assistance to rural community (especially targeting rural women) for establishing saving and credit schemes to benefit their livelihood options. As saving and credit initiative is considered to integrate in livelihood and income generation in sustainable manner, the activities under the TCP project will build synergies (especially on the component of off-farm livelihoods) with FAO GAFSP project GCP/MYA/027/GAF: “FAO support to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) in Myanmar” implemented in the central dry zone (Mandalay, Magway and Sagaing region) of Myanmar. The Project activities will be implemented by the FAO Representation Office in Myanmar with the support of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok and in collaboration with implementing partner in Myanmar.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Myanmar and under the technical guidance of the Agricultural Officer RAP (Lead Technical Officer), direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), in close collaboration and coordination with the Technical Officer in the Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESPDD), Senior Agronomist/Team leader of FAO GAFSP project and National Programme Specialist

Technical Focus

The incumbent will assist in the development and day-to-day operation of the project in operations of saving and credit schemes and will perform the following tasks

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Provide technical support and contribution to the national inception and validation workshops in close collaboration with the implementing partner and relevant stakeholders. • Provide necessary assistance and technical inputs to the assessments required for the project under the implementation. • Assist in reviewing the assessment reports, mapping, stocktaking and identification of the existing and potential saving and credit systems/schemes in Myanmar. • Provide necessary support for establishing saving groups, operations of saving and credit schemes and development of schemes sustainability and scalability plans. • Provide strategic input to technical, financial and managerial aspects of the project to ensure that activities are in accordance with the Project Document and implementation modalities. • Carry out the development of project M&E plan, human resource, budget and procurement plans in consultation with FAO senior management and program officers. • Conduct training needs assessment of women groups, develop capacity-building plan and plan execution. • Design, and customize training materials/curriculum for the capacity-building component of the project and coordinate with relevant service providers and implementing partners for support and service provision. • Identify, analyze, document and communicate case studies, success stories, best practices of project and lesson learned for wider dissemination and sharing with communication unit for their proper reflection. • Provide technical assistance and capacity development support in saving and credit schemes. • Ensure follow-up and coordination related to the implementation of work plan for assessment, saving and credit schemes implementation and cooperate, and coordinate with other FAO projects for promoting synergies and complementarities in project implementation. • Participate in relevant meetings and trainings as required. • Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced degree in agriculture, rural development, rural sociology, development studies, economy, finance, or other relevant field. • Minimum 5 years’ relevant experience. • Working knowledge of English. • Myanmar National or a Resident with valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in saving and credit systems with focus on the following aspects • Proven experience in developing sustainability and exit strategies for credit and saving schemes/systems. • Technical skills in microbusiness/microenterprises, entrepreneurships and business management planning and implementation. • Skills and experience in management of community based and community led leadership and skills management capacity building trainings and exposures. • Experience of developing backward and forward linkages and productive networking for women saving schemes/groups. • Technical knowledge of innovation in social enterprise development for women empowerment, income generating activities, investments, income enhancement and income diversification.

Selection Criteria

• Experience in writing and publishing technical reports for the government, international developmental agency or international NGO. • Previous working experience in another low and medium country is desirable. • Excellent communication in both oral and written English • Experience in working with a UN agency or international NGO is desirable.