COOPI Cooperazione Internazionale is an humanitarian, non confessional and independent organization that fights against all kinds of poverty to make the world a better place. Founded in 1965 by Vincenzo Barbieri (Italian “father” of international volunteering), COOPI is based in Milan and it has 20 local offices in the South of the World.
It works to assist populations struck by emergencies (disasters and conflicts) and to facilitate their civil, economic and social development.
The association intervenes in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East in collaboration with local actors (civil society, public administration and so on). In 2013 it has implemented 160 projects.
COOPI works in different sectors: agriculture, water and sanitation, health care, humanitarian assistance, human rights, education, socio-economic services, migration. All sectors are related to one another in the programs launched by COOPI all of them interrelated.
COOPI is also committed to the Child Sponsorship programme in 8 countries (Perù, Haiti, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Uganda and DR Congo), and provides food, education, health and protection to 2.700 children.
COOPI also operates in Italy, through awareness and fund-raising campaigns, volunteering activities (almost 400 volunteers), the promotion of the Cooperation and Development Master course at the Institute for Advanced Study of Pavia, and finally the participation to several NGOs associations, among which Link 2007 and AGIRE (Italian Humanitarian Emergency Response Agency) are the most important. The organization is supported by important institutional donors, local institutions, foundations, companies and citizens among the main donors, the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) recognizes COOPI as an important partner.Key Responsibilities
VSLA Formation and Capacity Building:
Assist in forming and training Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs).
Train group members on savings, loans, financial literacy, and business skills.
Support VSLA groups in record-keeping and governance.
Monitoring and Reporting:
Track VSLA group performance, savings, and loan repayment rates.
Document success stories and challenges.
Submit regular reports to the VSLA Officer.
Livelihoods and Economic Recovery:
Link VSLAs to income-generating activities and market opportunities.
Support small business development among group members.
Support financial literacy training and linkages to financial institutions of VSLA members
Promote digitalization of the VSLA groups in partnership with Airtel
Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding:
Promote inclusive participation (women, youth, marginalized groups) in VSLAs.
Integrate peacebuilding dialogues within VSLA meetings.
Qualifications and Experience
Diploma/Degree in Economics, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or related field.
At least 2 years of experience in VSLA, microfinance, or community-based savings programs.
Strong facilitation and training skills.
Proficiency in Hausa/Kanuri (local language required).
Experience in conflict-affected settings is an advantage.
General Conditions for this position:
Willingness to travel frequently to rural communities.
Adherence to project policies on gender equality and conflict sensitivity.
Collaborate with other project teams (peacebuilding, Forestry and Natural Resources Management, Nutrition, etc.).
