Governance and advocacy in Nepal
WHERE: Nepal
WHEN: February 6 - 19, 2012 (approx)
APPLICATION PROCESS: Please send a detailed letter of interest and copy of your resume to Sarah Feldberg, Volunteer Coordinator at sarah.feldberg@coopscanada.coop by December 11, 2011. Only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.
*This is a voluntary assignment. All related costs including domestic and international airfare, ground transport, visa, travel insurance, out of country accommodation, and a meal/incidental allowance will be covered by CCA. For more information contact Volunteer Co-ordinator, Sarah Feldberg.
Description of assignment:
Nepal Federation of Savings and Credit Cooperative Unions Ltd. (NEFSCUN) is the member based national apex body of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOS) and their District Unions (DU's) in Nepal. Since 1998, NEFSCUN has been committed to the development, promotion and strengthening of member's capacities to contribute to poverty reduction. NEFSCUN is run by its strategic direction based on the International Credit Union Operating Principles and has reached 62 districts, with a total of 1,050 members out of more than 12,000 SACCOS registered in Nepal. Among them, more than 15,000 cooperatives are engaged in the financial sector.
Co-operative legislation known as the Cooperative Act was introduced in 1992. Since then some 3 million people have already become members of co-operatives, and more than 50,000 people are directly employed by a co-operative business.
To improve the financial services and governance (operated as the PEARLS, Policy and Planning) of financial cooperatives, NEFSCUN (with the support of CCA) started drafting the Credit Union Act in 2009. This process has seen 4 regional meetings and a national workshop with lawmakers in 2010.
NEFSCUN is looking for a Canadian expert in policy and legislation. It is hoped that the Canadian volunteer will be able to provide some advice and guidance to both NEFSCUN and government bodies in order to help move the credit union act into reality.
The position:
KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Review existing Cooperatives Act 1992 and CU Act (draft)
- Assist NEFSCUN in the development of an advocacy plan
- Share knowledge of Canadian regulations and legislation as it applies to the Nepalese act
- Meet and work with political and sectoral leaders, as well as government officials in order to provide guidance in regards to the legislation
- Support to design advocacy documents for NEFSCUN members
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Someone with a legal/academic background in credit union legislation or with equal practical hands-on experience
- Strong knowledge of co-operative legislation
- Understanding of international legal co-operative practices
- Strong knowledge and a proven track record in legal planning and advocacy
- Highly personable and professionally presented
- Strong public speaker
- The technical consultant will need to have their own laptop
Canadian Co-operative Association
The Canadian Co-operative Association (CCA) is a national association for co-operatives in Canada, representing more than nine million co-operative and credit union members from over 2,000 organizations. Individual co-op members are represented by CCA either directly through their co-operative, through their provincial co-op associations or credit union central, or through sectoral organizations. CCA provides leadership to promote, develop, and unite co-operatives and credit unions for the benefit of people in Canada and around the world.
Nepal Federation of Savings and Credit Cooperative Unions Ltd (NEFSCUN)
Through their vision and mission, NEFSCUN contributes to poverty reduction and economic growth in Nepal. By applying the cooperative principles throughout the organization, they promote equality, including the promotion of provision of services to all groups with a special focus on disadvantaged groups like low or no caste members, women and youth. With their special services provision (e.g. Micro finance program, inclusive policy promotion and Women Entrepreneurs Credit Union Micro Innovations program), NEFSCUN provides an environment for their members in which they can really reach out to excluded groups. Through exchange of best practices, member SACCOS are encouraged to expand not only in middle class groups but also to the lower middle class and the poor.