Consultant, Financial Inclusion, Indonesia

Cohort: TURF-R/Fish Forever Initiative

Reports to: Senior Manager Capacity Building

Dept./Division/Program: Program Implementation

Location: Bogor/Kendari, Indonesia

Last Updated: December 2018

Travel:  Up 50%

Project Overview

Rare is a fast-growing international conservation organization already making strides towards promoting widespread sustainable fishing practices in multiple countries. One of the countries is Indonesia with the goal of improving near shore fisheries. Most of the small-scale fisheries in Indonesia are inherently local: fishers from coastal communities’ fish their near-shore waters and sell their catch in the local market. These fisheries are anchors to the local economy – a key part of the social and cultural fabric of the archipelago and essential to the nation’s food security. To ensure sustainable coastal fisheries, effective management must focus at the same level as the activity: locally. But, devolution of fisheries management authority from the Indonesian national government to the district level and the subsequent re-absorption to the provincial level has left critical gaps in effective fisheries governance across coastal communities.

Since 2014, Rare in Indonesia has used behavior-centered design to build a community’s agency and capacity to address coastal fishing challenges and adopt more responsible fishing behaviors. To develop this agency and capacity, we have created a suite of tools that enables fisheries data collection, fisheries management body development, fisher goal-setting and management plan development, and a process for Managed Access + Reserve (MA+R) implementation. Central to the Fish Forever model is the proven “TURF-R” system (Territorial Use Rights for Fishing + Reserve) with its eight elements of success components (Figure 1). This model combines spatial property rights for fishing areas with marine reserves (or No Take Zones - NTZs), protecting key habitats where fish stocks can rebuild. As fish populations recover in these reserves, a spillover effect can improve catch in the adjacent fishing zones. 

To create country level movement that promotes change in marine conservation and fisheries management regimes, Rare Indonesia needs to change its approaches. The new law No 23/2014 on Regional Government withdraws district government’s authority and gives back the authority to provincial government. This power shifting advocates us to work more strategically, so for example, instead of working sporadically at the site level in many provinces, we shall focus on one or two selected provinces. Innovative approaches include allocate potential MA-R sites under existing marine areas management regime to support legal recognition. Shifting the capacity building strategy from individual focus to a collective team focus is another approach, this requires us to create incentive systems and training models that are more practical yet rewarding. Lastly, we also need to integrate sustainable financing mechanisms that will sustain MA-R and behavior change initiatives in the long run.            

Position Overview

The position will support the implementation of MA-R for changing coastal fisheries at project sites; focus area will be on all provinces where Rare works. The Financial Inclusion (FI) Consultant works in close collaboration with and reports to the Senior Manager for Capacity Building. The FI Consultant works with the Policy Department of Rare-Indonesia to ensure that elements of sustainability and institutional development of MA-R are well designed and implemented.  The FI Consultant develops simple yet applicable innovations and creative approaches to advance the transition of fishers and near shore fisheries from the informal to the formal economy. A key approach will be to integrate organizational learning from the Sustainable Finance pillar into the MA-R project. He/she will work in close coordination with the Program Director to develop plans to advance MA-R, with special focus on finding all possible solutions to support MA-R in the long run and ensure that local organizations that are created through MA-R will sustain and flourish..

Essential Functions

The Financial Inclusion Consultant will exercise independent judgment regarding the 2 following areas, in consultation with the Senior Manager for Capacity Building and Program Directors:

Develop an effective and strategic Financial Inclusion program (90%)

• Develop an implementable strategy to incorporate Financial Inclusion project deliverables into the RARE Indonesia Program; 
• Conduct assessments of financial services and institutions and their linkages to fisheries businesses to identify ways to improve community financial access and community enterprise development for incentivizing adoption of MA-R;
• Identify tangible and intangible benefits for fishers to join Saving Clubs.
• Work closely with local implementing partners to manage and facilitate the production of required project deliverables, with specific emphasis on financial sustainability pillar, in effective ways;
• Provide direct and indirect training support of implementing financial inclusion interventions in the MA-R program, i.e. Savings Clubs, Fisher Associations, to improve financial planning and financial literacy in target communities;   
• Provide indirect support where required, of implementing technology-based intervention in MA-R program, i.e. OurFish, as main platform for measuring fishery production and value and integrating with financial inclusion approaches;
• Lead financial inclusion training activities, including developing training materials and promoting cross-site learning and networks building, in particular in building the financial resilience of communities and integrating with M&E methodologies;
• Lead process of developing Financial Inclusion models to strengthen MA-R with government partner’s capacity building program;
• Assist local implementing partners in implementation of the sustainable finance pillar, including relationship management, training in technical skills and time management;
• Strengthen networks and develop collaborative efforts with Universities and other NGOs to ensure stronger government partner’s buy-in to MA-R program.
• Create alignment of the sustainable finance pillar with Rare’s M&E model and methodologies and global data needs and manage data and conduct data analyses.

Assist effective project management activities (10%)

• Build and maintain networks and relationships with local implementing partners and capitalize these networks to increase Rare profiles or project’s bright spots;
• Create communication plans with all related stakeholders to build project ownership and support throughout project time span; 
• Manage, communicate and report on activities and progress, towards final outcomes of each program element.

Required Experience and Education

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in coastal community development and developing financial inclusion and community enterprise approaches in the sustainable use of natural resources;
• Strong understanding of socioeconomic technical data needed for MA-R design, and environment and socioeconomic issues especially those related to incentives to improve community livelihoods and food security;
• Proven expertise in project planning and management skills and demonstrate people-oriented focus;
• Proficient in English and Bahasa Indonesia language skills – both written and oral;
• Experience in using MS Office suite, databases, graphics and willing to learn new software;
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required, Masters degree highly preferred;
• Experience in solving problems and ability to apply conflict resolution and negotiation techniques to achieve results;
• Proven success in being able to thrive in team environments, solution oriented, having a strong understanding of diversity and other cultures;
• Ability to self-manage and to adjust to competing priorities and allocate time as necessary to get the job done.

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional office environment as well as field set up (usually in remote places). The FI Consultant should be comfortable and proficient with working with government officials at all levels and communities, and at all stages of project implementation.

Physical Demands

This position is a role with specific physical demands specially during monitoring visits. The person   must be able to work in remote places and be comfortable with limited communication access, limited hygiene facilities, also with various transportation modes (eg. boat, motor cycle).

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position; typical work days and hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, there may often be times when longer work hours are required.  Please note that this position is eligible to participate in Rare’s telecommuting or flexible work schedule program.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required to implement the MA-R program. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time to adapt with project’s needs and interventions.

Rare is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a proactive program of affirmative action and diversity development. Rare will continue to recruit, hire, train, and promote into all job levels without regard to race, religion, gender, marital status, familial status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, source of income, or veteran status. All employment-related decisions are based solely upon legitimate, job-related factors such as skill, ability, past performance, attendance and length of service. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated under any circumstance.

Application Procedures

Please submit your application and curriculum vitae in English, relevant experience, past salary history, three referees via email no later than 31 December 2018, to Ratna Kania <rkania@rare.org>, placing the job title in the subject line and label your CV with your name. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.