North Africa Field Officer in Morocco, Deadline: 01 Apr 2008

General Information
Date Posted: 28 Nov 2007
Organization: Grameen-Jameel Pan-Arab Microfinance Limited
Country/Region: Morocco
Apply By: 01 Apr 2008
Contact Information :
Email: grameen-jameel@grameenfoundation.org

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Job Level: Mid-Level

Title: North Africa Field Officer
Reports to: Program Manager
Based: Morocco

Company Background and Mission:
Grameen-Jameel Pan-Arab Microfinance Limited is a for-profit limited liability company jointly owned by Grameen Foundation and Abdul Latif Jameel Group. The company’s core objective is poverty alleviation in the Arab world through microfinance. Grameen-Jameel’s vision is to reach one million new active microfinance clients in the Arab world by 2011. In order to achieve this, the company forms strategic partnerships with microfinance institutions (MFIs) throughout the region who share its values: commitment to reaching women and the poorest; aggressive growth plans; and financial sustainability. Grameen-Jameel supports its Partners by delivering a suite of customized products and services, and provides financing through its $50 million Grameen-Jameel Guarantee Fund. Currently, Grameen-Jameel has 11 Partners in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. The company is registered in Cyprus and is in the process of setting up operations in Dubai.

Grameen Foundation is a global non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that combines microfinance, technology, and innovation to empower the world’s poorest people to escape poverty. Founded in 1997 with the support of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, GF has a global network of 52 partners in 22 countries.

Abdul Latif Jameel Group, based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is one of the Arab world’s most successful and respected business groups. Founded in 1945 by the late Sheikh Abdul Latif Jameel, the company was granted sole distribution rights for Toyota vehicles in Saudi Arabia ten years later, which it has maintained ever since. ALJ has a very active community services program with emphasis on education, training and development.

Job Description:
Working from a home office in Morocco and reporting to the Program Manager based in Dubai, the North Africa Field Officer will support Grameen-Jameel MFI Partners and activities in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

Essential Job Functions:
• Responsible for on-going relationship management and support of MFI Partners in assigned area:
o Maintain an in-depth understanding of MFI Partners’ business plans and requirements for support;
o Work with Program Manager to ensure that appropriate products and services are provided to MFI Partners and coordinate/manage delivery of these products and services;
o Support Investment Manager and Financial Analyst on securing information needed for financing needs;
o Ongoing communication with Partners regarding products and services provided by Grameen-Jameel to Partner;
o Visit each MFI Partner once per quarter (currently there are 4 MFI Partners in the assignment area);
o Provide information as required for the completion of MFI Partnership reports;
• Identify potential new MFI Partners and coordinate with appropriate Grameen-Jameel staff to initiate discussions; follow-up as required;
• Follow-up on quarterly reporting and surveillance;
• Provide ideas and concepts to the Program Manager for new products and services to better serve the assigned and potential MFI Partners;
• Keep current on microfinance services, the regulatory environment, best practices and trends for each country in the assigned area and provide periodic written reports/updates to the Program Manager;
• Represent Grameen-Jameel at microfinance related events such as seminars, conferences, trainings and working exchanges in assigned area; maintain working relationships and collaborate with other microfinance support organizations in assigned area;
• Complete all administrative tasks as required on a timely basis;
• Communicates all activities and challenges to Program Manager on a regular basis;
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Fluency in spoken and written French and Arabic, English proficiency;
• Knowledge of microfinance industry and countries in assigned area is a plus;
• Ability to deliver quality services and achieve high client satisfaction ratings;
• Self-starter with strong self-motivation and the ability to work without daily supervision or interaction with other staff members;
• Proven competence in building collaborative relationships with a variety of stakeholders;
• Demonstrated maturity with excellent interpersonal and inter-cultural communication skills;
• Outstanding coordination and time management skills, with ability to handle multiple activities concurrently, under pressure, and to tight deadlines;
• Willingness and ability up to travel up to 50% of the time to MFI Partner locations in North Africa and to the Grameen-Jameel office in Dubai;
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook;
• Commitment to eradication of poverty in North Africa.

Education and Experience:
• Degree in International Development, Economics, Finance or other relevant subject;
• Five or more years of work experience in related field; microfinance experience strongly preferred;
• International work experience desired.

Start Date: Immediate

To apply, please send the following items to grameen-jameel@grameenfoundation.org:

1) explain why you want to work for Grameen-Jameel; 2) explain how your skills and experience are a good match for this position; 3) cover letter; and 4) CV. Candidates who are missing any of these items will not be reviewed.
No phone calls, please.

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