Consultant: Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA)Methodology Facilitator – Finn Church Aid (FCA)

Finn Church Aid (FCA) is Finland’s biggest development cooperation organization and the second biggest organization in Finland working in humanitarian aid. FCA is a member of the ACT Alliance (ACT), an alliance of faith-based development and humanitarian aid organizations forming one of the world’s largest aid organizations. FCA established presence in Kenya in 2010, working in three thematic areas: Right to Quality Education, Right to Livelihoods, and Right to Peace.

Background information on FCA Country Office requesting the services

FCA Kenya, partnering with TakaTaka Solutions Limited (TTS), is currently implementing the project titled Circular Economy: Business from Waste for Women in Nairobi funded by Women’s Bank, Finland. TTS is an already established private entity in Nairobi that deals with waste management through recycling and re-use of waste and waste products. TTS has created employment opportunities for women living in the informal settlements of Nairobi; Dandora, Kitengela dumpsites and Mwakirunge dumpsite in Mombasa aiming at improvement of living standards of their households.

Women waste pickers who often work in the informal sector face limited access to financial services. To promote financial inclusion, the project facilitated women waste pickers to come together and register a group. Women in these groups were trained on the VSLA concept and now can save and loan each other from the kitty at a small interest.

Description of the requested services

One of the project key performance indicators for the project is to facilitate financial services linkages through savings and loans associations training to help women access essential funds to start businesses and productive assets. FCA would like to engage a local facilitator / consultant to conduct TOT training review on VSLA methodology to 25 participants for a period of 1 day. The aim of the review sessions is to respond to various gaps identified during the implementation of the VSLA model. Emphasis is on developing and applying active learning methodologies such as exercises and simulations to reinforce learning. The training will be highly participatory and practical, focusing on techniques, tools and tips of group management. The training will be co-facilitated by FCA technical staff.

The consultant’s tasks include but not limited to the following activities:

1. Conduct a 1 day visit to the VSLA group in Kitengela to understand the gaps and design the facilitation materials to respond to the needs.

2. Conduct a 1-day review session on VSLA methodology to group members

3. Sensitize the group on available Chama Apps for saving and loaning.

Skills and qualifications required

Essential

• Extensive experience in delivering VSLA TOT trainings and directly training women beneficiaries on VSLA methodology, with a focus on gender empowerment and value-chain projects.
• Excellent community facilitation and communication skills
• Excellent reporting and presentation skills
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Kiswahili
• Good knowledge and understanding of gender equality issues, financial inclusion, particularly in the context of waste management value chain or women living in the informal settlements.
• A bachelor’s degree in project management, Gender Development, Social Services or related field

Desirable

• Understanding of the Waste Management value chain