Overseas Volunteer Opportunity: GHANA

Technical specialist Advisor (credit union)

Contribute. Discover. Grow. Volunteer with CDF Canada.

Eligibility criteria:   Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada

Location:   This position is in the field (Bimbila, Kpandai and Salaga)

Start Date:   As soon as possible.

Duration:   3 months

Language Requirement:   English (Mandatory)

Reporting to:   Country Program Officer

The Program – VOICE for Women and Girls

VOICE for Women and Girls, funded by the government of Canada, is a volunteer cooperation program (2020 – 2027) that aims to strengthen the performance of country partner organizations to advance gender equality and economic empowerment of 50,000 co-operative and credit union members from marginalized communities in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi.

The program, supported by volunteers, strives to address the challenges and barriers that adversely affect the economic and social well-being of vulnerable groups, with particular emphasis on women and girls. VOICE aims to respond to the needs identified by these groups and to increase the capacities of individual producers and primary co-operatives, to support more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient growth. Supporting institutions such as apex co-operatives, co-operative colleges, and government/regulatory bodies will also be engaged to increase the capacity and prioritization of vulnerable groups.

The Partner you will work with

SEND Ghana has previously implemented the ACCESS and Fostering project and in some initiatives including 4R-NSP in partnership with CDF with funding from GAC. SEND Ghana focuses on research and advocacy to increase good governance practices of accountability, transparency, equity and participation in pro-poor policies and social services as well as empowers resource poor women and men to expand their small enterprises to improve income and farmers to increase food and nutrition security

What you will do – Activities and deliverables

Your assignment

VOICE for women and girls have selected 4 credit union coops through which the project aims to support women to have access and control over productive resources. These 4 coops operate at various levels of ability, liquidity, infrastructure, managerial and operational capacities. The 4 credit unions are in 5 districts with membership of over 10,366. Three of the credit unions (Salaga, Bimbila and Kpandai community credit unions are in dire situation and need a thorough assessment to understand the situation and support them develop rescue models to save the investment and savings of members. In the northern chapter of the Cooperative Credit Union Associations (CCUA) there are about 22 independent coops within this umbrella body.

Most of the credit unions are struggling due to technical, financial, administrative, and managerial challenges. VOICE for women and girls aims to support these coops to be able to develop innovative products and services to support their various member needs and demands. But the coops will first have to have a solid foundation backed by strong management and BOD.

The VOICE project will benefit from the expertise of a strategist. The coops are looking for ways to get out of their current financial and operational predicament. They are looking for a strategist who understands community-based credit union operations, grant proposal development specialist, credit union financing and management. This role is expected to support a thorough assessment of the operations and identify key challenges and provide an analysis of viable solutions to curb the situation. The volunteer will also assess their assets and liabilities and determine the recovery path.

The credit union advisor will be based in Bimbila and the role is to work with the cooperatives to identify the challenges that is stifling growth and developed strategies with the coops to develop and facilitate recovery plans. You will conduct an assessment and analysis to identify the operational challenges of the co-ops in the board and advise on the best way forward. Develop a road map that determines targets and timelines as a growth strategy. Training the cooperatives to have the skills to review the strategy and make changes when its necessary. Develop tools and templates for assessing progress towards the attainment of the recovery plan.

Deliverables

The desired cooperative development advisor (credit union) is expected to carry out the following key duties and responsibilities.

i.             Conduct assessment of the business operations and use the information to advise on maximizing their balance sheet returns, reducing losses and delinquency.

ii.            Develop some financial scenarios showing options for the way forward towards recovery

iii.           Support the development of a recovery plan based on the information obtained from the financial and business operations assessment 

iv.          Advise on ways to refinance their liabilities and indebtedness with their creditors to reposition the credit union on the path to growth

v.            Assess the human resource capacity and the organizational structure and Provide advice for effective management. Observe daily operations and provide tools to ensure efficiency.

vi.          Keep the BOD of the credit union informed of the findings and lead discussions to determine ways to respond to the issues identified

Your qualifications

Experience:

The successful applicant must possess the following skills, experiences, and personal characteristics: 

·        A minimum of a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in business, and strategic plans development programing

·        Experience and knowledge in developing session plans in business and strategic plans development.

·        Excellent background in cooperative financing and cooperative business and operations

·        Previous experience or ability to train and transform coop mangers knowledge in coop financing and business proposal development to improve coop growth

·    2-3 years' experience and knowledge of credit unions, proven experience in supporting crumbling credit unions through recovery program. Experience working with community-based credit unions African context will be an added advantage

·        Excellent analysis, to develop recommendations and document lessons learned and best practices

·        Ability to travel to and live in remote locations where services (internet) are minimal 

·        Ability to work autonomously, be flexible and analytical

·        Knowledge in community participation methodologies. 

·        Experience facilitating group learning/training sessions or focus groups.

·        Ability to transform complex concepts and information into plain simple language reports

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:

·        Return-trip international and/or domestic airfare.

·        Visa-related costs (if needed).

·        Police record check.

·        International health insurance.

·        Vaccination and health-related costs (covered by the insurance if needed).

·        Interpreter and/or translator (if needed and depending on the assignment).

·        Modest monthly living allowance.

·        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 assignment, volunteers are encouraged to provide e-volunteering support to our local partners before or after their assignment.

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 assignment, to share their experience during and upon return to 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 other Canadians to volunteer.