Overseas Volunteer Opportunity: Kenya

Regulation and Compliance Advisor

Contribute. Discover. Grow. Volunteer with CDF Canada.

Eligibility criteria:   Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada 

Location:   Makueni, Kajiado, Narok, Nairobi, Kilifi, Kwale, Kakamega, Kericho and Homabay

Start Date:   Exact timing will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Duration:   3-6 months, in-country and online support

Language Requirement:   English (Mandatory)

Reporting to:   Country Program Officer

The Project – VOICE for Women and Girls

The VOICE for Women and Girls project is a seven-year initiative (2020 – 2027) aimed at strengthening the performance of developing country partner (DCP) organizations to advance gender equality and economic empowerment of 50,000 women and men from marginalised communities, in particular young women (target: 60% women and girls), in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and Malawi with a focus on action areas of the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), namely:

• Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls, and
• Growth that Works for Everyone.

The Project responds to the needs identified by women and men of cooperatives and the entire members in the countries of operation and is designed to increase the capacities of individual producers and primary co-operatives to support more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth. Supporting institutions, including apex co-operatives, co-operative colleges, and government/regulatory institutions will also be engaged to increase the capacity and prioritization of vulnerable groups.

The Partners you will work with

The African Confederation of Co-operative Savings and Credit Association (ACCOSCA)
The African Confederation of Co-operative Savings and Credit Association (ACCOSCA) is a Pan-African confederation of national associations of savings and credit cooperatives societies. Having been established in Kenya by Co-operative leaders from across the continent in 1968, ACCOSCA has worked with various stakeholders in promoting the usage of the Co-operative Business model in a manner that would organically contribute towards the stimulating economic growth and development of a Country. Since its revitalization program at the Malawi General assembly in 2007, ACCOSCA has been leading the continent toward promoting financial inclusion in the local communities.
Currently, ACCOSCA has developed programs aimed at empowering and promoting cooperatives in Africa and is collaborating with various government bodies, development agencies and research institution in her service delivery to promote financial inclusion in Africa. Overall ACCOSCA aims at: Promoting the establishment of an institutional framework for mobilizing personal saving and credit cooperatives, Capacity Building, Technical Assistance, Information exchange, and Research on topical issues and addressing them amicably.

Cooperative University of Kenya (CUK)
Cooperative University of Kenya (CUK) is a public institution that provides education and training with an emphasis on Cooperative development. The mission of the college was defined and stated as, a national training institute involved in the training personnel of co-operative societies and unions as well as middle cadre government officers who help in the supervision of activities of the movement on behalf of the Ministry in charge of Co-operative Development (COCK Annual Report, 1983). CUK also works with small and medium entrepreneurs Co-operative Enterprises in Kenya to build their capacities and enhance their sustainability.

What you will do – Activities and deliverables

The Regulation and Compliance Advisor will be reporting directly to the Country Program Officer, who is coordinating all project activities at the country level. He/She is also expected to work hand in hand with the local partners ACCOSCA and CUK, the BOD and management of SACCOs and Cooperatives on a regular basis.

The Volunteer will be working with Cooperatives to support them to stay updated on relevant laws, regulations, and compliance requirements that pertain to the cooperatives’ activities. This will involve conducting research, reviewing legal documents, and analyzing their implications.  He/she will be expected to analyse local regulations pertaining to cooperatives, provide guidance on compliance, support in policy development or improvement, provide guidance in collaboration with relevant bodies, monitor and report progress of compliance by cooperatives. The volunteer is also expected to train cooperative leadership and management to promote high level of compliance to regulations.  

Objectives

The aim of this role is to support cooperatives and the local partner to ensure that target cooperatives BOD, managers and staff comply with all relevant regulations and specifications. The role will support building the capacity of cooperatives management to make informed decisions regarding compliance to cooperatives regulations. Furthermore, the role will capacitate the cooperatives to develop compliance policies, update existing procedures and ensure adherence to regulatory standards. VOICE project will benefit from Regulation and Compliance Advisor expertise to develop tailor-made trainings, targeting specific needs of cooperatives to ensure they stay updated on relevant laws, regulations, and compliance requirements that pertain to the cooperatives’ operations.

Deliverables

• The volunteer will be responsible for providing guidance and support to the cooperatives and partners regarding compliance with relevant regulations. This may involve interpreting regulatory requirements, identifying potential compliance gaps, and advising on appropriate actions to ensure compliance.
• Support in the development and implementation of policies and procedures that align with cooperatives regulatory requirements.
• Conduct risk assessments to identify potential compliance risks and vulnerabilities within the cooperatives’ operations.
• Develop training materials and conduct training sessions to educate cooperative managers and BOD on compliance obligations and best practices.
• Monitor the cooperatives’ activities to ensure ongoing compliance with relevant regulations.
• Advise on collaboration with internal teams, stakeholders, and external regulatory bodies to ensure effective communication and coordination on compliance matters.

Your qualifications

Education:

• Degree in Economics, Finance, Business Administration and/or other business-related field.

Experience:

• Experience in compliance department
• Knowledge of Cooperatives standards and regulations.
• Work experience within co-operatives will be an asset.
• Experience with a variety of reporting operations and procedures 
• Well-developed presentation, proposal, and report writing, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to carry out training and capacity building sessions at the community level.
• Commitment to upholding the organization’s values and principles of CDF, ACCOSCA and CUK.

Support package

This is a voluntary assignment. CDF Canada supports volunteers through the provision of a comprehensive package designed to cover a modest and healthy lifestyle, while allowing for effectiveness in the placement:

• Monthly allowance.
• Return-trip international and/or domestic airfare.
• Visa-related costs (if needed).
• International health insurance.
• Vaccination and health-related costs (if needed).
• Interpreter and/or translator (if needed and depending on the position and duration of the assignment).
• Pre-departure support and orientation.
• Support and orientation during the assignment.
• Debriefing upon completion of the assignment.

E-volunteering

Depending on the nature of the placement, volunteers are encouraged to provide e-volunteering support to our local partners before or after their placement.

Engaging Canadians

CDF Canada provides technical and logistical support to young and experienced professionals through volunteer assignments to apply and acquire new skills and knowledge in international co-operative development. We ask each volunteer, regardless of the duration of their mandate, to share their experience during and/or at the end of their assignment either in the country of assignment or in Canada. The experience can be shared by providing stories of human interest and photographs that can be used for social media outreach; Participate in events/conferences or other public engagement activities to share their experience to motivate others.

Application Process

Please submit a cover letter and CV/resume, by applying directly on our recruitment webpage. You must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Successful candidates will be required to obtain a police-check from their local police or RCMP detachment. All applicants are thanked for their interest in CDF Canada; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.