NEW Village Saving Loans Association Assistant Level not specified – Level not specified IRC – International Rescue Committee Deir ez-Zur

Background/IRC Summary:

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria – more than half of the country’s population – are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

The IRC is seeking a highly motivated VSLA assistant to play a pivotal role in the successful implementation of our VSLA project. The ideal candidate will be responsible for a diverse range of tasks, including field assessments, beneficiary selection, training facilitation, and project monitoring. This role requires strong organizational, communication, and agriculture expertise to ensure the project’s success.

The VSLA assistant will have overall responsibility in the facilitating and implementation of all VSLA and pre-urban-related early recovery and livelihood activities.

The VSLA assistant will lead the field visits to monitor activities, facilitate training, target the beneficiaries, and conduct timely weekly and monthly reporting.

Responsibilities:

Core Responsibilities:

• Identify community members eligible for VSLA and other financial support activities, aligning with project documents, and ensure continuous monitoring throughout the project.
• Develop pertinent training manuals and methodologies for target beneficiaries, taking a lead role in facilitating training sessions.
• Collaborate with the VSLA Field Officer to prepare group formations and provide a clear understanding of VSLA concepts to beneficiaries.
• Ensure proper mentoring and support for all VSLA beneficiaries throughout the project duration.
• Ensure the completeness and accuracy of all project documentation.
• Actively participate in periodic project review, planning meetings, and external meetings as requested.
• Coordinate field reporting, preparing technical internal and external reports.
• Engage in mobilization and awareness-raising activities with local leadership and community groups.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Control:

• Coordinate and assist VSLA officers in data collection, ensuring the reliability of indicators.
• Conduct regular follow-up visits to VSLAs to assess the application of technologies/practices and provide technical assistance where needed.
• Monitor and supervise the performance of Village Agents in the villages.
• Participate in field-level assessments and evaluations of project performance.
• Monitor the work of VSLA incentive workers, trainers, and service contractors through periodic field visits and progress reviews.
• Provide data and information for the assigned project in line with the jointly designed Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) plans with the MEAL department.

Coordination:

• Coordinate with Agriculture, Cash for Work (CFW), and livelihoods staff to effectively engage participants.
• Establish connections with other financial institutions to strengthen access to finance.
• Ensure training and capacity building for staff to enhance their ability to implement and monitor VSLA activities effectively.
• Mobilize and raise awareness among community leaders or Civil Society members on the savings group process.
• Build relationships and coordinate with stakeholders such as local leaders, district authorities, the Humanitarian Affairs Office, microfinance institutions, etc.
• Actively participate in field-level coordination meetings with self-administration and other relevant agencies.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies.
• Develop and implement remote management capacity-building approaches to build the strengths the teams teams in Syria.
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Approve and manage time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally on a monthly basis.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 2  years of progressively responsible professional experience working with INGOs or local NGOs.
• Diploma/Degree in Business Administration, Community Development, sociology, and any other relevant experience in microfinance, livelihoods, and VSLA methodology.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values, and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop and a sense of humor is a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

• Arabic is required, while English and Kurdish are desired.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to:  VSLA Officer.
  Position directly supervises: None
• Indirect Reporting (If applicable): ER manager.
  Key Internal Contacts: ERD team (livelihood, CFW and Basic need team).
• Key External Contacts: Community leaders, agriculture council and HAO.

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.

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