About US:
Seeds NGO was created in Switzerland in 2013 with the aim of supporting development projects in poor countries. The targeted projects are individual initiatives, of small size, linked to microfinance, social business and education. All projects supported are well-known by Seeds’ team and are visited on a regular basis. Seeds supports these projects through financial help and technical support. Seeds’ aim is also to raise the awareness of the wider public of their capacity to contribute to solidary initiatives.
Job Summary: The Project Coordinator works in conjunction with N.E.W. Foundation and a Micro finance institution, Seeds’ two project partners in Uganda. The incumbent will be responsible for supporting the partners in the development of their project/business, training partners in business best practices and technology utilization, managing aspects of the projects related to financial records and reporting, and researching partnership expansion possibilities. This position offers the opportunity to develop project management, field research, and training skills, and it requires a highly motivated, flexible self-starter who can successfully work cross-culturally.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Project Management and Training:
N.E.W Foundation, first project: development of an income-generating activity (a tailoring business) with a women’s community group, thanks to a microfinance loan:
Support the project development: coordinating/supervising the tailoring space construction works, the tailoring training and, most importantly, the set-up of the tailoring business
Provide capacity building on business management, provide advice on the organization of the production and other services and on the repayment of the micro-finance loan that they will use to purchase the sewing machines and other materials
N.E.W Foundation, second project: development of Village Savings and Loans Association groups (community based micro-finance approach):
Support the project development: supervise the quality of the local coordinator’s work, measure the social impact of the developed microfinance groups, evaluate options of program’s growth
Offer capacity building on records keeping and financial management of the project
Microfinance Institution, third project: support of (a) Microfinance institution(s) (Credit Cooperative):
The Project Coordinator will provide capacity building for the MFI staff (financial management, clients’ protection principles, loan recovery management, IT tools development, etc)
Carry out an informal audit related to all departments/sections of the MFI
Conduct a study on the social impact of the work of the MFI and support the MFI in the implementation of best practices in that field
Other needs depending on the MFI needs of the moment and the availability and background of the volunteer
2. Research:
Project expansion: Explore feasibility of new business possibilities, growing existing tailoring business, expanding projects to surrounding villages
Potential new partnerships: explore and identify new potential partners within the microfinance local organizations
Demographic and geographic data: Collect data about the region such as population, district map, and other useful indicators
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
The ideal candidate for the Seeds NGO Project Coordinator should have education in and/or experience with project management
Ability to work independently and to be proactive
Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
Ability to identify needs and priorities and respond accordingly
Capacity to work successfully across cultures
Willingness to live in basic living conditions
Fluency in both written and spoken English
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested candidates who wish to join the Seeds NGO as volunteers for this vacancy should hold send an updated CV and letter of motivation to: hr@seeds-ngo.org
Deadline: 1st August 2015