Financial Literacy & Cooperative Specialist

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and we enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

For over 85 years, we have rallied other determined optimists to transform the lives of all children in more than 80 countries.

We won’t stop until we are all equal.

Project Background

The anticipated project is for Advancing Gender Equality in Tanzania (PAMOJA) a World Bank-IDA financed initiative implemented by the Government of Tanzania through the Prime Minister's Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG), in collaboration with the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups (MoCDGWSG).

Spanning 40 district councils across 10 regions in Mainland Tanzania and 8 districts across 4 regions in Zanzibar, PAMOJA seeks to advance women's economic empowerment and strengthen gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response services. At the heart of the project is a capacity-building and Business Development Services (BDS) program designed to equip approximately 7,500 Community Microfinance Groups (CMGs) predominantly women-led with the governance, financial literacy, and business skills needed to become creditworthy and access sustainable financing. Through a “Train-the-Trainer” model, the program will strengthen the capacity of local government authorities and community-based facilitators to deliver high-quality, context-appropriate training and mentoring, enabling women micro-entrepreneurs to build resilient, climate-informed businesses and improve their economic agency and livelihoods across Tanzania.

Plan International Tanzania therefore is recruiting for two Financial Literacy & Cooperative Specialists for Mainland and Zanzibar. The applicants should note that the employment offer is conditional, subject to contract award.

Role Purpose

The Financial Literacy and Cooperative Specialist will strengthen the financial capability and institutional foundations of the women's groups supported through this project. The post-holder will train rural groups in savings and lending models, bookkeeping and cooperative formation, translating complex financial concepts into accessible content for low-literacy audiences and building the collective financial management systems that underpin sustainable enterprise.

Accountabilities

• Lead the design and delivery of financial literacy content within the dual-track training curriculum, covering entrepreneurship development, bookkeeping, collective financial management and savings and lending models (CMG/VSLA Module).

• Advise women's groups on the legal process of forming and formalising cooperatives in Zanzibar or Mainland

• Develop financial readiness and investment assessment content that links group financing to climate-aware and viable business models.

• Contribute financial capability content to the ToT manual and support District Focal Points to deliver it effectively.

• Ensure financial concepts are translated into clear, culturally appropriate materials suitable for low-literacy participants.

• Provide mentorship and coaching support on financial management during the supervision phase.

• Liking groups to traditional and non-traditional financial institutions for accessing finance

• Support the preparations of Business Plans to facilitate access to finance to the group business

• Develop Access to Finance road map that will facilitate groups to follow necessary steps for accessing financial products

• Provide necessary Business Development services to groups to enhance group business operations

Technical Expertise, skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, or Cooperative Management.

• Minimum of five (5) years' experience training rural groups on VICOBA/VSLA models, bookkeeping, and the legal process of forming cooperatives in Tanzania or Zanzibar (with a preferance for Zanzibar experience).

• Proven experience with at least two (2) comparable consultancies focused on providing financial literacy to cooperatives and economic groups.

• Expertise in translating complex financial concepts for low-literacy audiences.

• Experience working in Zanzibar

• Experience in the World Bank or other international donors

Desirable

• Experience with cooperative development frameworks specific to Zanzibar.

• Working proficiency in Kiswahili.

• Strong English writing and presentation skills

• Familiarity with digital financial tools for community-based groups.

• Familiarity with green economy financing mechanisms.

• Familiarity with the Blue economy and community based empowerment models

Location: Unguja & Pemba, Mainland TBC

Reports to: Team Leader - Business Development Services

Grade: 13

Closing Date: 26th July, 2026

Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the very heart of everything that Plan International stands for.

We want Plan International to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Plan International is based on a culture of inclusivity and we strive to create a workplace environment that ensures every team, in every office, in every country, is rich in diverse people, thoughts, and ideas.

We foster an organisational culture that embraces our commitment to racial justice, gender equality, girls’ rights and inclusion.

Plan International believes that in a world where children face so many threats of harm, it is our duty to ensure that we, as an organisation, do everything we can to keep children safe. This means that we have particular responsibilities to children that we come into contact with and we must not contribute in any way to harming or placing children at risk.

A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Plan International's Safeguarding Children and Young People policy. Plan International also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme we will request information from applicants previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

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