Overseas Volunteer Opportunity: Malawi

Financial Literacy and Recordkeeping Advisor

Contribute. Discover. Grow. Volunteer with CDF Canada.

Eligibility criteria:   Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada 

Location:   Lilongwe, Zomba

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 Partner you will work with

Cooperative Development Foundation of Canada is working with Malawi Federations of Cooperatives (MAFECO) the national apex body for co-operatives. MAFECO aims to be a vibrant and sustainable national cooperative organization capable of providing quality leadership and services to the cooperative movement in Malawi. The organization has a vision to facilitate and coordinate promotion, development, and growth of sustainable, independent, and autonomous cooperatives in a competitive environment.

What you will do – Activities and deliverables

The Volunteer will be reporting directly to the Country Program Officer, who is coordinating all project activities at the country level. To ensure the sustainability of project activities, the volunteer will work hand in hand with its local partner (MAFECO) to groom them on financial literacy and record keeping. On a regular basis the volunteer is expected to travel to the project sites to train, mentor/coach cooperatives and to monitor progress. For efficient and effective delivery, the volunteer is also expected to work in coordination with other volunteers on the project. This mandate is open to Canadian volunteers only.

The volunteer will work directly with the local partner MAFECO in developing/revising training materials, and developing a delivery plan.

Objectives

The Volunteer is expected to support build the capacity of the local partner and targeted credit unions to provide innovative services that responds to the need of their members and primary co-operatives to support more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth. Furthermore, the role will support the project overall communications as well as support other volunteers to capture and tell their volunteer journey during their mandate in Malawi to contribute towards increasing awareness of the volunteer program and international development among Canadian population.

Deliverables

• Develop training, coaching materials to be used for the cooperatives based on their needs.
• Conduct financial coaching to cooperatives through one-on-one, or small-group sessions.
• Competently assess cooperative’s current financial situations through review of their tax returns, accounts, credit reports, etc. and provide advise.
• Support in ascertaining cooperative’s income, assets, debt, and credit scores by reviewing their financial records.
• Mentor cooperatives to document results, conduct accurate measurements, and generate outcome reports.
• Coaching cooperative on how to document and file both financial and assert records.
• Empathize with cooperatives about their financial situations, while also providing motivation, and moving them toward positive action.
• Teach financial education materials to individuals and groups in alignment with financial coaching standards.

Your qualifications

Education:

• Degree in Business, Finance, Education, Social Sciences, or related field. Relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing financial education and instruction for community-based organizations is required.
• Experience working with cooperatives is an asset.
• Knowledge of financial literacy and counseling issues; and budgeting/debt reduction, problem-solving and intervention strategies.
• Skill in interpreting and effectively communicating rules and regulations to a diverse audience, both in one-on-one sessions and group presentations.
• Skill in developing and presenting credible money management education to a diverse audience.
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal; and excellent writing skills.
• Ability to work with people from diverse academic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive data.

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.