Closing date

26 May 2024

Women Livelihood Coordinator; Central Asia Institute Tajikistan

CENTRAL ASIA INSTITUTE TAJIKISTAN

Position Announcement 

for

Women Livelihood Coordinator 

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION 

Central Asia Institute Tajikistan (CAIT) is a locally registered NGO based in Khorog town, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), Tajikistan. CAIT works for women and girls to improve their education and skills to unlock their full potential and contribute to a better, brighter future for themselves, their families, and their communities. CAIT has been working in GBAO since 2014 with a focus on women’s livelihood and skills development, improving quality of education, renovation and construction of schools and others. For the coming years, CAIT has revised its program strategy that will focus on implementing programs with measurable outcomes and sustainable impacts. This will require need-based programs that help tackle the most pressing challenges of the women’s livelihood and skill development in GBAO area. CAIT is looking to recruit a Women Livelihood Coordinator to lead and manage the Women Livelihood and Skill Development portfolio.  This opportunity is open to all Tajik nationals with below stated qualifications, skills and experiences.

POSITION OVERVIEW

CAIT has been implementing ASPIRE program in the past few years through which it has trained over 200 women from GBAO. These women are trained in financial literacy, setting up and managing small businesses, marketing products, etc. A number of these graduates have already started their own small businesses. They have also established a group to meet and share the business ideas, and a few of them have received presidential grants. The graduated women are now interested to establish their own small businesses or income generating activities which will provide self- employment as well as income to support their families. CAIT is ready to shift its program focus from training to supporting these women in their entrepreneurship and business development objectives. The program envisioned by CAIT includes end to end support such as market assessment, specific skill training, provision of raw materials and equipment, linking with financial institutions, networking, marketing products and managing/operating the small businesses or income generating activities. The Women Livelihood and Skills Coordinator will lead and coordinate the women initiated small businesses or income generating activities including needs assessments, program planning, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting.  During FY23, a limited number of women will be provided end to end support and CAIT aims to expand its women livelihood and skills development program for women in the coming years. The program objectives will primarily include self-employment opportunities through establishing small businesses and income generating activities, and additional income to support families and preserve the arts and crafts of GBAO.  

Status:                          Full time, one year contract

Location:                      Khorog, CAIT office

Salary:                          Based on the organization’s standard salary scale

Reports to:                    Country Director

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program management

In consultation with Country Director, leads and coordinates the women livelihood and skill development program including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Conducting market assessments to identifying the needs related to women’s livelihood and skills development programs in the target districts of GBAO
  • Designing and implementing the end-to-end program to support the women to establish and operate the viable small business or income generating activities
  • Working together with selected women to prepare the business plans including cost benefit analysis that outlines all aspects of managing and operating a business 
  • Supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the programs to document lessons learned and demonstrate the program outcomes and successes.
  • Coordinating with stakeholders to leverage/mobilize resources to respond to the identified needs
  • Leading/coordinating program implementation based on the approved plans
  • Organizing skill development training for women required by the business or income generating activities, 
  • Supporting business owners to establish linkages to promote their business and share information
  • Identifying and engaging market experts or organizations to ensure that the women products are easily marketed and meet the required standards 
  • Supporting businesswomen and link them with the financial institutions to expand their businesses
  • Preparing reports on the program progress, challenges/needs, and best practices
  • Collecting data and analyzing information to support the decision-making process on businesses or income generating activities 
  • In collaboration with Country Director develop program budgets and proposals for women livelihood programs and make sure the expanses are made according to the approved budged and organization policies

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

The applicant should have the following qualifications: 

  • At least five years of experience in women’s livelihood and skills development programs including planning, coordinating, and implementing programs, 
  • Knowledge and experience of managing/operating small business and income generating activities in rural or semi-urban areas. 
  • Strong background in market assessment and marketing products
  • Experience in developing business plans including cost benefit analysis
  • Has established linkages with individuals and organizations engaged in women’s livelihood and skill development programs in the country
  • Excellent skills to build and manage the relationship
  • Willing to travel extensively and work in rural areas
  • Excellent written and oral English and Tajik languages
  • Demonstrated skills in working collaboratively with others to create and maintain a professional relationship and team environment
  • Demonstrated ability to produce and edit reports and technical documents.
  • Education: Bachelor’s degree in relevant field required; advanced degree is preferred

APPLICATION SUBMISSION:

Interested applicants meeting the above qualifications should submit applications by Sunday, May 26, 2024, by 5:00 PM. Application package should be submitted in English or Tajik/Russian to tajikistan.cai@gmail.com  and should include the following: 

  • An updated resume that reflects the candidate’s relevant experience in program management field
  • A relevant writing sample, e.g., needs assessment, program proposal, program progress report, etc.
  • Salary history and expected monthly rate.