Job: Technical Advisor II - Microfinance and Livelihoods

Requisition Number: D1370
Area of Interest: Microfinance
Location: United States/Baltimore

Description:Primary Functions:

The PIQA Technical Advisor (TA) for Microfinance and Livelihoods will serve as an active member of the MF unit and the global MF team to promote technical excellence through contributions made to proposals, publications, strategic plan development, trainings, development of guidelines and tools, and support of strategic initiatives. The TA will provide strategic leadership in promoting the use of innovative financial and non-financial services to support youth, household livelihoods, and value chain initiatives, particularly those integrated with the CRS agriculture, health, and emergency programming. The TA will ensure that organizational know-how, information, and experience in microfinance is shared within and outside the Agency; e.g., with program participants, partners, and other relevant stakeholders.

Job Responsibilities: Proposal Development

• Work with BDT team, other sector leads, and country offices to strategically respond to RFAs/RFPs;

• Lead the MF unit's response in identifying innovative solutions to support access to financial and non-financial services for vulnerable households;

• Conducts light due-diligence on potential partners and supports the negotiation process, as requested, in finalizing teaming and partnership agreements; and

• Provide strategic support to country offices, as requested, for the development and/or technical review of proposals.

Facilitating Integration with other Sectors

• Develop strategic linkages and integration with other CRS programmatic sectors, under the framework of Integral Human Development, including collaboration with PIQA's MEAL Advisors;

• Provide strategic technical support, as required, to develop integrated proposals and programming related to MF and other signature program areas, and other sectors; e.g., agriculture and livelihoods; health and social services, including OVC and access to healthcare; peacebuilding, and water and sanitation;

• Identify and encourage the application of financial services to support value chain initiatives, within the agriculture and livelihoods unit, in response to growing demand for new and appropriate products and services in proposals and projects;

• Support and facilitate workshops for the purpose of improving the knowledge and understanding of practitioners and stakeholders on the role of financial services for their specific sectors;

• Serve as lead facilitator within the MF unit in identifying appropriate financial and non-financial models that are appropriate for youth in strengthening links to employment or entrepreneurship opportunities;

• Lead the development of promising practice manuals, case studies, and learning papers that document the effectiveness of these cross-sectoral linkages (e.g., complementary modules for the 5 skills sets);

• Contributes to the development and dissemination of emerging MF program standards and guidance.

Promoting Sound Practices & Evidence-Based Research

• Keep abreast of programming and technical requirements for MF interventions to ensure that CRS activities are informed by current best and promising practices;

• Contribute to the identification, collection and dissemination of MF program approaches and technical information, tools, resources and training materials for the field; and

• Liaise with appropriate country offices to identify innovations that require further research to validate the effectiveness of the technical approaches.

Fundraising and External Representation

• Work with the Foundations and Corporate Engagement team and Major Gift Officers in responding to funding opportunities from major donors and/or private foundations;

• Support country offices in developing concept notes for donors and stakeholders to attract funding;

• Assists field offices in the development of strategic proposals and funding requests;

• Facilitate the development of publications on best practices, innovations and lessons learned to be shared with internal and external stakeholders, and to influence industry thinking;

• Pursue opportunities whereby CRS' work can be featured in workshops and conferences through written publications and/or presentations. Represents CRS, when appropriate, at various forums or identifies staff with the necessary experience and skill sets to do so; and

• Provide content to CRS' creative services team, Fundraising and U.S. Operations to promote CRS work in microfinance to the domestic constituency and donor community by packaging and marketing organizational expertise, products and resources.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and to achieve the desired results.

• Serves with Integrity

• Models Stewardship

• Cultivates Constructive Relationships

• Promotes Learning

Key Working Relationships:

PIQA staff, RTA for MF, other field-based MF technical staff, field-based Senior Technical Advisors, Regional staff, and CRS HQ departments (e.g., Human Resources, U.S. Operations, GKIM, MPI, Communications, Fundraising, BDT, Foundations and Corporate Engagement, etc.).

Qualifications:

• M.A. in social sciences or relevant development related field;
• Minimum of five to seven years of experience in microfinance, and 3 years overseas field experience ;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills ;
• Excellent computer skills, specifically in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to complete tasks in a timely manner ;
• Excellent organizational skills ;
• Ability to prioritize and respond to multiple demands ;
• Responsive and able to draw from diverse resources available;
• Excellent teamwork abilities and interpersonal skills ;
• Knowledgeable of MF contacts and resources both within and outside CRS;
• Strong experience in proposal development;
• Familiarity with M&E, information, communications and knowledge sharing technologies and practices;
• Experience with publications (e.g., case studies, technical papers, journal articles, etc.);
• Ability to build strong working relationships with field staff and colleagues at headquarters; and
• Ability to travel occasionally oversees; and
• Fluency in English and professional proficiency in French.

Physical Requirements/Environment:

• Normal conditions for an office environment

• Willingness and ability to travel overseas

This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, efforts, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

NOTE: All interested applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at the time of application.

EOE/M/F/D/V