VSLA Training Facilitator – Jowhar and Baladweyne, Somalia

SARIIRAALE FARMERS` COOPERATIVE SOCIETY

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Position Title: VSLA Training Facilitator

Location:  Jowhar and Baladweyne

Contract Type: Short-term consultancy

Duration: 1 Month

Start Date: 15/11/2024

Project Title: Scaling up market-based agricultural productivity and income enhancement in Hirshabelle.

1. Background

The Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) program aims to empower local communities, particularly farmers’ cooperatives, by providing them with financial literacy, savings culture, and access to microfinance through group savings and loans. The project supports the livelihoods of farmers in Jowhar and baladweyna enhancing their resilience to shocks, improving income, and strengthening economic capacity through sustainable financial practices. The program’s primary focus is on marginalized groups, including women and youth.

To achieve these objectives, Sariiraale Farmers’ cooperative Society is seeking a qualified and experienced VSLA Training Facilitator to lead training sessions and provide ongoing support to VSLA groups across several cooperatives.

2. Purpose of the Role

The VSLA Training Facilitator will be responsible for designing, organizing, and delivering capacity-building training for Village Savings and Loan Associations in the target area. The facilitator will ensure that the members understand the concepts of savings, loans, group dynamics, record-keeping, and conflict resolution within the VSLA. The role also includes monitoring the VSLAs and providing technical support after training to ensure the groups’ sustainability.

3. Key Responsibilities
4. Training Development and Preparation
   • Develop training materials, guides, and curriculum for VSLA members based on their needs and capacities.
   • Tailor training modules to address gender, youth participation, and inclusivity issues.
   • Prepare a comprehensive training work plan, including session timelines and objectives.
5. Training Facilitation
   • Facilitate VSLA training sessions for cooperative members, focusing on savings, loans, record-keeping, and group management.
   • Provide guidance on forming and managing VSLA groups, including leadership selection, constitution development, and conflict resolution.
   • Conduct practical sessions to ensure participants understand group dynamics, savings and loans management, and proper documentation.
6. Post-training Support and Monitoring
   • Conduct regular follow-ups with VSLA groups to assess their progress and provide technical support where necessary.
   • Facilitate peer-to-peer learning between different VSLA groups to exchange best practices.
   • Assist VSLA groups in setting realistic savings goals and monitoring loan repayments.
   • Provide ongoing mentorship to group leaders and troubleshoot challenges encountered by the VSLAs.
7. Documentation and Reporting
   • Maintain records of training sessions, including attendance, topics covered, and feedback from participants.
   • Compile detailed reports after each training, outlining successes, challenges, and recommendations for improvement.
   • Document success stories and lessons learned from VSLA groups and share with the project team.
8. Coordination and Collaboration
   • Work closely with the project team, local community leaders, and cooperatives to coordinate the delivery of training.
   • Participate in meetings with project stakeholders, including donors, local authorities, and other NGOs, to discuss project progress and outcomes.

4. Qualifications and Experience 

Educational Background: A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Community Development, Microfinance, Business Administration, or a related field.

Experience: At least 3 years of proven experience in facilitating VSLA or similar group-based financial models, with experience in working with rural communities.

Technical Skills:

• Strong understanding of VSLA methodologies, financial literacy, and group savings models.
• Experience in participatory training techniques and adult learning methodologies.
• Good knowledge of income-generating activities, rural financial systems, and microenterprise development.

Communication Skills:

• Fluency in Somali and English is required
• Excellent facilitation and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with community members from different backgrounds.

Additional Skills:

• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Proficiency in basic computer applications (MS Office suite, Excel for record-keeping).

5. Deliverables

• Completed VSLA training for 43 groups within the agreed timeline.
• Post-training follow-up reports and monitoring documents.
• Final training report including feedback from participants, success stories, and recommendations for future training. 

6. Duration and Work Plan

The training will take place over 1 month with 15 days of actual training sessions and additional days allocated for preparation, monitoring, and reporting.

7. How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit:

• A detailed CV outlining their qualifications and relevant experience.
• A cover letter explaining their approach to VSLA facilitation and why they are suited for the role.
• Three references from previous work related to community training or VSLA facilitation.
• Applications should be sent via email; Sariiraaleprocurement@gmail.com, with the subject line “VSLA Training Facilitator Jowhar and Beledweyne”
• The application will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the deadline is 15^th November 2024.

8. Terms of Payment

Payment will be made upon the successful completion of the training and submission of all deliverables, including training and monitoring reports. The agreed-upon fee will be paid in at the end of the agreed time.

9. Confidentiality and Ethical Standards

The VSLA Training Facilitator is expected to maintain confidentiality regarding all project-related information and uphold the ethical standards of the organization, especially regarding working with vulnerable groups.

 

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