WFP Consultant - Village Savings and Loan Associations

Job Posting Organization:
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, established to save lives in emergencies and to use food assistance as a means to build pathways to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impacts of extreme weather. WFP operates in numerous countries around the globe, employing thousands of individuals dedicated to humanitarian efforts. The organization is committed to diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging qualified candidates from various backgrounds to apply. WFP has received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020, highlighting its significant contributions to global peace and humanitarian efforts. The organization emphasizes a healthy and inclusive work environment, aligning with its core values of Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion. WFP invests in the personal and professional development of its employees through various training and mentorship programs, offering opportunities for career advancement across its global offices.

Job Overview:
The consultancy role focuses on mapping, assessing, and comparing community-based savings and financial inclusion models, particularly Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), to enhance household resilience and economic empowerment among social protection beneficiaries in Zambia. The consultant will work closely with the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) and other partners to identify effective VSLA models that can improve access to economic opportunities for vulnerable households. The consultancy aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of existing community savings structures, examining their effectiveness, sustainability, and inclusiveness, while also identifying opportunities for integrating financial services and resilience-building interventions. The consultant will be responsible for conducting stakeholder engagement, data collection, and analysis to generate evidence-based recommendations for the integration of community savings models into social protection programs.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake several key activities, including:

• Conducting a desk review of existing documentation and studies on savings groups and financial inclusion in Zambia.
• Mapping and engaging with key stakeholders involved in implementing VSLAs and related methodologies.
• Documenting the various VSLA models used by different organizations, including their target groups, governance practices, and linkages to financial services.
• Performing a gap analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities within existing community savings models.
• Facilitating a validation workshop to present findings and gather feedback from stakeholders.
• Producing a final mapping report that includes a comprehensive analysis of the VSLA landscape, recommendations for government and partners, and a clear implementation roadmap.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, Finance, or a related field. They should have at least seven years of experience in financial inclusion, VSLAs, microfinance, or resilience programming, with a demonstrated understanding of the intersection between social protection and economic inclusion. Proven experience in conducting research and assessments, strong analytical and report writing skills, and familiarity with Zambia’s rural finance landscape are essential. Experience with GIS mapping is an added advantage. Candidates should also demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity and diversity in their work.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree in a relevant field such as Economics, Agricultural Economics, Development Studies, or Finance is required for this position. This educational background will provide the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to effectively assess and recommend community savings models and financial inclusion strategies.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in financial inclusion, VSLAs, microfinance, or resilience programming. Candidates should have a proven track record of working on social protection initiatives and an understanding of how these intersect with livelihoods and financial inclusion efforts. Experience in conducting similar assessments or consultancy work will be considered an advantage.

Languages:
Fluency in English (level C) is mandatory for this position. Candidates should possess strong communication skills to effectively engage with stakeholders and present findings. Knowledge of additional languages may be beneficial but is not required.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy position is expected to be full-time and may involve travel within Zambia to engage with stakeholders and conduct field assessments. The contract duration and specific compensation details will be outlined in the Terms and Conditions section of the vacancy announcement. WFP is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. All applications must be submitted through the WFP online recruiting system, and candidates are encouraged to ensure their profiles are complete and accurate.