Financial Education Field Support Officer (Cambodia)

  • Full-time

Company Description

ABOUT GOOD RETURN

Good Return’s mission is to enable those living in poverty to achieve economic empowerment. We do this by working in partnerships that innovate and strengthen financial services and provide economic opportunities for those living in poverty across the Asia Pacific Region.

Our work focuses on promoting responsible inclusive finance, building financial capability & consumer empowerment, and developing smallholder agribusiness solutions. We also deliver interest free loan capital raised from the Australian public. Together these powerful tools empower people to create lasting change for themselves. 

Good Return is an initiative of World Education Australia, an international development agency accredited by Australian Aid and a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID). Good Return has no religious affiliations. Visit www.goodreturn.org.au for more information.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL BANK OF CAMBODIA

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) is the national prudential regulator in Cambodia of banks and financial institutions which are legal entities licensed to carry out banking operations as their regular business (Commercial banks, Specialized Banks, Microfinance Institutions and Microfinance Deposit Taking Institutions). The NBC is also responsible for monetary policy in Cambodia. The NBC operates under the law on the organization and conduct of the National Bank of Cambodia. The main prudential functions of the NBC are to license, de-license, regulate and supervise banks and financial institutions (for more information: ​http://www.nbc.org.kh/english​)

ABOUT OUR PARTNERS

We have been working in partnership with various Financial Service Providers across the Asia Pacific Region since 2010. Our current partners are located in Cambodia, Nepal, Laos, Philippines, Solomon Islands,  Fiji, Tonga & Samoa.

Our partnerships are based on a shared mission to provide responsible microfinance services to people living in poverty as well as build the financial capability of their clients. Our partners are committed to improving their social performance management systems, which includes implementing the seven client protection principles. For more information Social Performance Management & Client Protection:

  • http://www.microfinancegateway.org/p/site/m/template.rc/1.11.48260/1.26.9231/
  • http://www.smartcampaign.org/about-the-campaign/smart-microfinance-and-the-client-protection-principles

Please visit our website (www.goodreturn.org.au) for further information on our partners.

Job Description

FSO Program Objectives

The objectives of the Field Support Officer (FSO) Volunteer Program are for FSOs to:

  • Gain valuable experience living and working in a developing country as part of a professional team
  • Assist with the implementation of Good Return and partner objectives and specific programs
  • Strengthen relationships with partners by enhancing communication and coordination
  • Support Good Return’s communications and marketing

The FSO Program has enabled previous volunteers to build their careers in the international development sector, with a number now in paid roles both in Australia and overseas.

Assignment Objectives

The assignment objectives of the Financial Education FSO are to provide support to the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) on a number of national consumer awareness campaigns and activities. Good Return has partnered with the NBC since 2015 supporting financial inclusion and consumer awareness, including co-delivering the “Let’s Talk Money!” Consumer Awareness Campaign, the 3-2-1 Financial Literacy phone service and the NBC-Edu App, an engaging children’s financial education app. 

Another focus of this role is to provide support to the “Financial Education in the Cambodian School Curriculum Project”, which is integrating financial education holistically into the Grade 1-12 school curriculum for the first time. Phase 1 scoped out the road map for implementation of financial education into 4 existing subjects: 1) Lifeskills 2) Mathematics 3) Home Economics 3) Moral Civics.   Funding for the “Financial Education in the Cambodian School Curriculum Project” Phase 2 is being jointly pursued by NBC and Good Return; however, if secured this new project is an exciting opportunity to be involved in the first financial literacy collaboration between the NBC and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and work with a range of stakeholders in government, finance, international development and schools to empower Cambodian youth with money management skills to secure their financial futures.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Financial Literacy & Consumer Protection activities

  • Support the creative design and development of consumer awareness campaigns to highlight the importance of wise money management, financial education and financial literacy.
  • Contribute to women’s economic empowerment initiatives and activities.
  • Participate in field testing of financial literacy activities with target users and collect communications materials.
  • Work with GR’s partners to develop social media strategies, schedules and content to promote financial education campaigns.

2. Financial Education in the Cambodian School Curriculum Project

  • Support the National Bank of Cambodia & Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport Joint Technical Working Group and Technical Assistance Team on project activities, including researching and writing reports, monitoring and evaluation, and meetings/consultation workshops to embed financial education in the Cambodian government school curriculum.
  • Support the consultation and development of teacher training manuals and teacher training workshops, and interactive, engaging student curriculum resources on financial education.
  • Assist the Technical Assistance Team with the implementation of a pilot financial education program in schools.

3. Marketing & fundraising

  • Research and assist in writing funding proposals for Financial Education and economic empowerment activities.
  • Attend funding meetings with potential donors and expand Good Return and NBC’s funding networks.

4. Other activities

  • Other activities may arise with the partner organisation during the course of the FSO year and responsibilities will be agreed in accordance with the needs of the partnership.

Qualifications

CITIZENSHIP

You must be an Australian citizen or have permanent residency to apply for this position. Applicants not meeting this requirement will not be considered.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • A degree in International Development, Education, Humanities, Economics, Finance/Business or similar (Masters is preferred)
  • Experience working in a cross-cultural context
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • IT skills, particularly Microsoft Word and Excel
  • Strong research, analysis and report writing skills
  • At least 2 years of relevant work experience, such as teaching/training, youth empowerment, curriculum development, finance/banking, policy regulation, public communication campaigns

DESIRABLE SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

  • A strong interest in personal money management skills
  • Independent living or travel experience, preferably in the Asia Pacific region
  • Experience living and working in the Asia Pacific region
  • Marketing and social media communication skills
  • Experience in developing training and assessment programs

ESSENTIAL PERSONAL QUALITIES

  • Independence and resilience
  • Cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity
  • Patience, tolerance and open-mindedness
  • Responsible (for own actions, upholding integrity)
  • Initiative and ability to adapt to isolated settings with limited resources
  • A sense of humour!

ALLOWANCES AND SUPPORT

Pre-departure:

  • Induction training at Sydney office (4 days)
  • Health check and vaccination expenses
  • Visa expenses
  • International airfares at the commencement and conclusion of the assignment

Settling in:

  • Initial accommodation arranged; it is the responsibility of the FSO to secure long-term accommodation
  • First 2 monthly allowance payments paid in advance to assist with set-up costs in-country
  • Orientation support (negotiating lease agreements, shopping options, etc.)

During assignment:

  • Support, monitoring and security guidance from Supervisor and Good Return regional & Sydney offices
  • Monthly allowance (to cover living and accommodation expenses)
  • Language allowance
  • Travel insurance
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Debrief following conclusion of placement

Additional Information

The placement will commence in-country in July 2019. Applicants must be available for a four day induction course (held in May 2019 at Good Return’s Sydney office), prior to the commencement of their placement. Later commencement dates and/or periods of less than 12 months will not be considered.

Good Return will provide international airfares, certain pre-departure medical costs, visa expenses, insurance and a monthly living allowance (including accommodation costs).

How to apply:

Applications can be submitted by selecting the 'I'm interested' link below.

Applicants should provide a CV and a cover letter that clearly states your Australian citizenship/permanent residency status, and addresses the selection criteria listed in the full position description, along with your phone and Skype contact details. Cover letters can be included in the messages section or uploaded together with a CV file.

Please indicate in your cover letter which role/s you wish to be considered for, but apply only for your preferred role (you do not need to submit multiple applications).

We would love to hear how you heard about the position.

Enquiries can be directed via the Good Return website https://www.goodreturn.org.au/contact

Applications close: COB Monday 11 February 2019

Note: Interviews are expected to start late February/early March. It is still possible to apply after that date.

Note: Good Return is a child safe organisation. The successful candidate will be required to comply with our child protection policy and will be subject to pre-hire checks.

Privacy Policy