Consultant for Village Savings and Loans Associations

Consultancy objectives

As part of the SEED project, ACTED will pilot implementation of Village Savings and Loans Associations (or similar community-based savings and loans groups). While VSLA-type programmes have been rolled out with success across the world – Africa, Latin America, South-East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia – attempts to implement such programmes in Ukraine have been limited. Eastern Ukraine faces challenges but also presents opportunities for VSLA to succeed: structural poverty, conflict, low access to financial capital, dependency on social benefits vs. high education/literacy levels, near-universal basic financial literacy, community cohesion/trust, and high prevalence of home-based agriculture and other subsistence activities.

The consultancy’s objective is to adapt existing VSLA/community-based savings and loans methodologies to the context of Eastern Ukraine and to support its roll out under the SEED project. 

Therefore, ACTED invites individual consultants to submit applications for:

• Adapting/developing a VSLA/Community-Based savings and loans methodology to the context in Eastern Ukraine in Russian language.
• Developing/adapting appropriate training, M&E and project implementation materials.
• Leading and implementing the first training of trainers (ACTED Staff)
• Overseeing VSLA pilot implementation

Deliverables

• Fact-finding mission Terms of Reference, prior to deployment.
• VSLA/Community-based savings and loans methodological overview document (handbook) in Russian (max. 30 pages).
• VSLA/Community-based savings and loans Training of Trainers Manual (in Russian).
• VSLA/Community-based savings and loans Trainers’/facilitators Manual/Guide (in Russian)
• VSLA/Community-based savings and loans M&E and project implementation toolkit (in Russian)
• Training of 2 Master Trainers and 5 Trainers (in Russian)

Location

Preference would be given to consultants able to deploy to Ukraine for the full duration of the consultation. However, the consultancy can be implemented through a mix of remote and in country work, though in-country work, despite the COVID19 pandemic, is considering essential to the project especially for points 1 and 6 above.

All movements and field visits will take place in Government-controlled areas of Ukraine, only. 

Timeframe:

The deliverables should be completed within 3 months of contract signature. ACTED reserves the right prioritize consultants who are able to engage a higher level of effort over a shorter period of time.

Specific conditions: 

• Accommodation and transportation within Ukraine will be covered by ACTED in Ukraine.
• All other costs – flights to/from Ukraine, consultants’ fees, food etc – should be included in the consultant’s offer.
• The consultant will be subject to ACTED’s security policy while in country.
• The consultant shall subscribe a professional civil liability insurance valid in Ukraine, a health insurance including COVID19 coverage, as well as a repatriation insurance.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in social work, international development or other relevant field;
• At least 5 years’ experience in micro-finance and/or community savings and loans, particularly in former Soviet Republics, Eastern/Central Europe or the Balkans.
• Significant training experience.
• Excellent communication skills;
• Fluency in English and Russian (written and spoken)
• Ability to work within the international and multicultural environments.

Application requirements

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter – not exceeding 1 page
• Narrative proposal - not exceeding 3 pages.
• Financial Proposal
• 3 References in related field.

 Applications only in English should be submitted with the title or reference of the position CV withoutmentioned position will not be considered till 22 March 2021. Only short-listed candidates will be contactedfor an interview. ACTED and IMPACT are equal opportunity employers.