Economic Recovery Assistant– VSLA

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for motivated Economic Recovery Assistant– VSLA for our operations in Aba’ala, Afar, Ethiopia.

(This is a re-advertisement. Applicants from previous rounds do not need to re-apply. Your application will be reviewed.)

We strongly encourage female candidates to apply for the position!

About the job

The Economic Recovery Assistant plays a key role in facilitating field-level implementation of livelihood and financial inclusion activities under the Food Security and Climate Resiliency project. The position is responsible for conducting community awareness sessions, trainings, assessments, beneficiary targeting, and building strong partnerships with key kebele-level stakeholders, including local administrators, elders, clan leaders, women’s and youth representatives, and other community groups.

The role involves active participation in data collection, community mobilization, beneficiary profiling, and technical support for project implementation. The Economic Recovery Assistant will provide close, regular follow-up and door-to-door support to targeted beneficiaries, ensuring proper tracking of inputs, outputs, and outcomes, while inspiring beneficiaries to strengthen and sustain their business activities.

The post holder is expected to maintain accurate documentation of all targeted beneficiaries, follow up on activity implementation at field level, and provide timely and comprehensive weekly updates to the Economic Recovery Officer or Manager. The role also includes ensuring compliance and timely resolution of issues at kebele level, with transparent reporting mechanisms.

A key responsibility is to ensure the sustainability and functionality of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) through regular coaching, facilitation of meetings, monitoring of savings and loan activities, business management support, and oversight of recordkeeping and group bylaws. The position will also organize awareness-raising and refresher trainings to strengthen members’ business development and group management capacity.

The Economic Recovery Assistant will further support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by providing business coaching, identifying challenges, monitoring progress, and coordinating with the Economic Recovery Officer to address emerging gaps.

In addition, the post holder will provide technical support and closely monitor early recovery and livelihood interventions, covering both on-farm activities (e.g., vegetable, crop, root and tuber production, livestock and poultry rearing, and fattening) and off-farm activities (e.g., petty trade and service-based enterprises), applying project frameworks such as Resilience Building, Market System Development, Climate-Smart and Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture, Livelihood Diversification, Natural Resource Management (NRM), Social and Behavior Change, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) to enhance income generation, strengthen resilience, and improve the overall well-being of target households.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

R1: Project implementation, Monitoring and Documentation

The position holder will play a key role in implementing field-level activities of the project, ensuring that all interventions align with DRC standards and contribute to the sustainability and development of target beneficiaries. Responsibilities include:

Key Responsibilities:

• Implement field-level project activities, ensuring adherence to project guidelines and objectives.
• Facilitate beneficiary orientation, targeting, and documentation of selection/minutes as per standard procedures.
• Organize and facilitate kebele-level trainings, awareness sessions, monitoring, and assessments.
• Provide close follow-up and technical support to VSLA groups to ensure sustainability through:
• Coaching on savings, regularity of meetings, business diversification, record-keeping, and adherence to bylaws.
• Ensuring functional management committees.
• Monitor and support the progress of SMEs, including daily operations, transactions, and linkages with financial service providers to ensure timely loan repayments.
• Facilitate and document field visits, best practices, and other community events.
• Track and report on early recovery interventions and share regular updates with the Economic Recovery Manager.
• Ensure proper targeting of beneficiaries according to DRC procedures.

Core Activities:

VSLA Formation and Capacity Building:

• Conduct community awareness campaigns to educate potential members about the benefits of VSLAs.
• Establish, organize, and train VSLA groups on basic principles to ensure functional operation.
• Support new VSLAs with seed money to strengthen their capacity.
• Provide tailored support based on the VSLA maturity stage (start-up funding, coaching, training, and market linkages for established VSLAs).

Skills Development and Market Linkages:

• Train VSLA members in marketable skills, including technical, entrepreneurship, job-seeking, and non-cognitive skills.
• Conduct trainings on simple bookkeeping, digital literacy, financial management, and entrepreneurship.
• Facilitate linkages with formal financial institutions (MFIs, banks) and provide hands-on mentorship and coaching.
• Conduct market assessments for wage labor, entrepreneurship pathways, and financial feasibility to design market systems development (MSD) interventions.

Digital and Financial Inclusion:

• Provide access to digital financial enablers (software, devices) based on identified gaps.
• Provide basic numeracy training for VSLA members.
• Offer additional support based on other VSLA assistance standards, ensuring comprehensive development of group capacities.

R3: Coordination & Partnership

The Economic Recovery Assistant will ensure effective coordination, collaboration, and partnership building between DRC and relevant government and community stakeholders.

Responsibilities include:

• Facilitate overall partnership and synergy between DRC and government offices, including Labour, Skill and Job Creation, Women Affairs, Agriculture and Livestock, Justice, and kebele-level stakeholders.
• Promote and advocate DRC’s mission and vision within the community.
• Work closely with influential community members such as kebele administrators, youth and women representatives, and elders, showcasing the project’s achievements.
• Lead community mobilization, coordination, and facilitation of operational activities within the communities.
• Serve as a key liaison to exchange information between government structures and DRC, providing timely inputs to the Economic Recovery Manager.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum of 1-year professional experience in Agriculture, Livelihood Development, alternative financing (e.g., VSLAs), financial inclusion, Micro and Small Enterprise (MSE) development, and business development.
• Practical experience and deep understanding of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), private sector engagement, and/or implementing livelihoods/self-reliance, gender mainstreaming, peacebuilding/social cohesion, protection, or advocacy interventions within a financial inclusion programming context.
• Experience in early recovery projects, particularly in conflict- and climate-affected areas.
• Proven experience in team leadership, coordination, integration, and technical implementation of economic recovery interventions.
• Experience supporting displacement-affected entrepreneurs to maintain and grow their businesses, with familiarity in the Afar region.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both spoken and written.
• Demonstrates cultural awareness, sensitivity, and respect for diversity.
• Strong organizational skills, team spirit, and ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.

EDUCATION: (include certificates, licenses, etc.)

• Minimum of a Diploma or bachelor’s degree in development economics, Development Management, Accounting and Finance, Agriculture, Rural Development, Entrepreneurship, Business Administration, Cooperative and SME Development, or other relevant fields.
• Candidates with a bachelor’s degree and relevant work experience in the field will also be considered.

LANGUAGE: (indicate fluency level)

• English (fluent, spoken and written)
• Knowledge local Knowledge is mandatory (Afar and Amharic)

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: Six Months

Contract Type: National Contract

Band: I2 – Non-Management

Designation of Duty Station: Aba’ala, Afar

Start date: ASAP

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National employees

Skills Required:

• Accounting / Finance
• Agricultural / Studies
• Economics / Statistics
• Sales / Marketing / Business / Management
• Social / Science / Project / Management / Development