Technical Advisor (Credit Union) - Ghana

Eligibility criteria: Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada

Location: Salaga, Bimbilla, Kpandai, Kpalbe, Wulensi

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 marginalized 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.

What you will do – Activities and deliverables

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 curbing the situation. The volunteer will also assess their assets and liabilities and determine the recovery path.

Objectives

Your 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 coops in the board and management 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 it’s necessary. Develop tools and templates for assessing progress towards the attainment of the recovery plan.

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).
• 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.

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.

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.