Consultancy Needed - Program Support CORE Project

SCOPE OF WORK EXTERNAL COLLABORATOR FIELD OFFICER FOR ACEH/CENTRAL SULAWESI/SOUTHEAST SULAWESI

Background

Mars and Save the Children Indonesia (SCIDN) have cultivated a longstanding partnership since 2013, beginning with the Mars Wrigley Foundation’s Healthier Smiles program and, over the past five years, working closely with cocoa supply chain communities. Through this collaboration—and across more than a decade of smallholder agriculture programs—we have demonstrated that Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) are far more than financial platforms. They serve as catalysts for household income growth, women’s empowerment, and community resilience. Evidence from cocoa communities and other smallholder initiatives shows that VSLAs not only improve financial literacy and access to capital but also foster equity in household decision-making and amplify women’s voices in community forums. The Mars Impact Fund (MIF) presents a unique opportunity to scale these successes. By leveraging Mars’ Village Cluster projects—which currently focus on productivity and agroforestry—the MIF can replicate VSLAs in new villages and elevate existing communities toward the Graduated Village Model. This model integrates economic empowerment and social resilience as the foundation for sustainable cocoa communities, with VSLAs serving as the central entry point for change. Importantly, this initiative will also build the capacity of local civil society organizations (CSOs) and community champions, enabling them to lead and replicate these approaches independently, ensuring sustainability and scale beyond the life of the project. The goal of project is Cocoa-farming communities are economically empowered, socially cohesive, and climate resilient, with women and youth actively leading and participating in community decision-making. Communities promote children’s well-being and protection, diversify income sources, and collaborate with multiple stakeholders including the private sector to sustain collective progress and adapt to environmental challenges. Save the Children’s program approach focuses on building community resilience and empowerment in cocoa-growing areas through: (1) strengthening household and community capacity for resilience, income diversification, and child protection; (2) improving local governance and multi-stakeholder coordination to sustain inclusive, child-centered development, and (3) Graduated Village Model Established, Consolidated, and Replicated. The approach is designed to enable communities, especially women, youth, and vulnerable households to adapt to climate, economic, and social challenges while ensuring that children grow up safe, healthy, and supported.

Assignment

• Duty station: Aceh, Central & Southeast Sulawesi
• Report to: Program Coordinator
• Duration: 06 months

Scope of Work

1. Preparation: preparing every activity, such as coordinating with the district level government, prospective participants, making and distributing invitations, preparing the activity venue, developing a ToR (if needed), and ordering meal packages as needed.
2. Implementation: together with the partner, conduct the activities according to the capacity, make documentation of the activity (photos and brief activity reports), prepare the FRM & input by system including data beneficiaries, prepare the activity absences, fill out the Kobo. Ensure VSLA groups are mentored, and that progress on the VLSA, Business & Community Action Plan is updated, including QB monitoring.
3. Monitoring and Evaluation; Conduct regular monitoring by establishing routine communication as needed with VSLA and Business groups, Community action plan, local champion, village government, farmers & women groups, children & youth, and other stakeholders, through informal meetings and field visits.

Deliverables

1. Activity Monthly Report→ The project officer will submit a monthly report as agreed by the supervisor and organization, which may include, but not be limited to, minutes of meetings, meeting notes, photos, supporting documents related to the financial report and any other document needed by the project, VLSA, Business & Community Action Plan update in Kobo, including data beneficiaries. Reports will be submitted on the 25th of each month.
2. Time sheet

Qualification

• Domiciled in the program area, Aceh, Central & Southeast Sulawesi and speaking the local language.
• No track record of committing violence against children.
• Minimum education: S1 graduate from agriculture, social or relevant
• Minimum 2 years of community assistance experience
• Age 25-40 years old
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently to field locations.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles, including rights-based approaches.
• Have good facilitation skills in the community
• Computer literate (MS Office, PowerPoint, and Excel are a must)
• Have a personal vehicle and a valid driving license
• Compensation not under contract with other agencies