TITLE: Project Coordinator, Kumwe Hub
TEAM/PROGRAMME: Kumwe Hub
LOCATION: Liberia, Monrovia
GRADE: 3
CONTRACT LENGTH: 1 Year, Renewable
CHILD SAFEGUARDING:
Level 3: The post holder will have contact with children and/or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; or because they are responsible for implementing the police checking/vetting process staff.
ROLE PURPOSE:
Kumwe (Kinyarwanda for ‘together’) Hub is a social enterprise established and supported by Save the Children. Our aim is to help children live happy lives. We do this by promoting inclusive investment and innovation.
Kumwe exists to support the growth, success and sustainability of child-focused entrepreneurial companies through an array of business and technical support, resources and services. This includes piloting new approaches within Save the Children’s existing programmes, provision of capital through grants, loans and investments, and building of technical expertise through coaching, mentoring, and networking through our global partnerships. Save the Children Liberia is implementing the Kumwe Hub impact linked loans project through its Breakthrough Fund as seed capital, to empower and uplift members of cooperatives and/or community savings and loans associations (CSLAs) to better respond to the needs of the most vulnerable children, youth, and families, ultimately contributing to global vison through collaboration with a financial institution. Not only does this approach empower locally-led solutions, but our focus on investment and returns means that it is also more sustainable than traditional aid programming.
The Project Coordinator will play a crucial role in ensuring that Kumwe Hub achieves its vision of helping children in Liberia live happy lives through inclusive investment and innovation. The role holder will coordinate, manage, and monitor Kumwe Hub’s project. They will ensure that Kumwe Hub understands business partners’ progress and needs, management of relationship with financial institution. Additionally, he or she will be in charge of implementing SC's policies and standards.
SCOPE OF ROLE:
Reports to: Program and Operations
ROLE SCOPE AND PURPOSE:
Project Coordinator will have responsibility for delivering on the following:
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Coordination
Ensure the timely delivery of agreed outputs of the project and ensuring quality program
implementation in line with the agreed strategy and approaches
Lead workplan process and ensure effective implementation of project activities.
Supervise and coordinate the implementation of project sub-grant/partner), disbursement of loan, account opening, delivery of business support services.
Maintain regular interaction with businesses supported by Kumwe Hub and keep up to date on their progress, innovations, achievements, and challenges as well as gather feedback on the financial and non-financial services.
Conduct training activities with selected businesses on business development and associated responsabilities.
Provide updates during various meetings such as advisor’s and management, or any other ad hoc meetings.
Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures. Ensure that patners and businesses comply to it.
Management of Business & Partner Relation:
Serve as primary representative to partners and other stakeholders in adressing project matters
Engaging and building good relations with businesses, partner and potential funders/investors. This includes maintaining communication/interaction, preparing monthly updates, consulting donors on changes in the project context, and proactively addressing issues that could affect achievement of project goals.
Organize and facilitate business events including workshops, training, meetings and visits to businesses that are supported by Kumwe Hub.
Impact Measurement:
Support in implementing the project monitoring and evaluation plan, and timely submission of reports and other document requirements.
Support the teams in undertaking regular participatory monitoring and verification visits to ensure adequate progress against action plans, outputs and ensuring that quality elements are signed off. Provide advice on any corrective action necessary.
Coordinate with partner in information gathering on businesses progress
Work with the MEAL manager to conduct baseline, mid-term and endline surveys; tracking progress of supported businesses, focused on impact on children, youth and families.
Management of Reports and Budget:
Ensure the Project Reporting, Information Management and Evidence System (PRIME) is duly populated and regularly updated.
Ensure accurate and timely reporting of activities according to applicable timeframes and formats. This includes monitoring and gathering information on business performance, tracking the evolution of businesses, and developing short case studies.
Preparing and managing project budgets is a key part of the role, ensuring budget utilisation and financial reporting are accurate. Supported by a finance team, the role holder will stay close to budgets and ensure budget vs actual analysis (BvA) is accurate.
Ensure that project is following donor contractual obligations and that all reporting (financial/narrative) is of good quality and is done in a timely manner.
BEHAVIOURS (Values in Practice)
Accountability:
Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values.
Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.
Ambition:
Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves and their team, takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages their team to do the same.
Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others.
Future orientated, thinks strategically and on a global scale.
Collaboration:
Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, Members and external partners and supporters.
Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength.
Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to.
Creativity:
Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions.
Dilling to take disciplined risks.
Develops practical guidelines and tools in areas where there are none.
Integrity:
Honest, encourages openness and transparency; demonstrates highest levels of integrity
QUALIFICATIONS AND ELIGIBILITY
Degree in finance, business management, international development or other related field, or equivalent experience.
We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, caring or parental responsibilities, age, or beliefs and religion. Qualified women who originate and reside in the African continent are particularly encouraged to apply.
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential
Previous experience of managing a team and managing projects
Experience of training and capacity building of businesses and partners
Strong understanding of group lending products and loan management.
Experience in microfinance, capital leases, and coperative/VSLA finance preferred.
Ability to handle difficult situations and assertively communicate with debtors.
Ability to write clear and well-argued assessment and project reports.
Comfort with legal processes and litigation preferred.
Excellent attention to detail, follow-through, and critical thinking skills.
Fluency in English
Minimum 4 years of relevant work experience.
Excellent communication and influencing skills.
Desirable
A conceptual and theoretical understanding of innovation and impact investing particularly with a focus on helping children achieve their rights.
An existing network of contacts and connections to relevant groups, forums and businesses operating in eco-system in Liberia.
Additional job responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.
Equal Opportunities
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.
Child Safeguarding:
We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse
Safeguarding our Staff:
The post holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI anti-harassment policy
Health and Safety:
The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.