Field Officer

Background: GiveDirectly is driving a re-evaluation of the assumptions underlying international philanthropy with a provocative model: we deliver donations directly to the extreme poor and let them decide what to do with them. This approach builds on two converging trends: the rapid spread of electronic last-mile payments solutions in the emerging markets, and the large body of experimental evidence showing that direct transfers are as or more cost-effective at reducing poverty than more traditional, top-down approaches. GiveDirectly’s field operations utilize state-of-the-art technology and business processes to deliver transfers securely, efficiently, and transparently. Our unorthodox approach – allowing the poor, and not the donor, to choose where they invest – has prompted debate in the popular press and among policy makers. GiveDirectly has been featured on NPR’s This American Life, and in Foreign Affairs, The Economist, and The New York Times. It was named one of the Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Finance by FastCompany, one of the 25 Most Audacious Companies by Inc., and one of GiveWell’s top-rated charities for 4 years running.

Overview: The Field Officer will play a critical day-to-day role in delivering GiveDirectly’s gold-standard cash transfer product to donors and recipients. The Field Officer will carry out and support a variety of field activities, depending on his / her team assignment and GiveDirectly’s needs on any given day. In short, the Field Officer will be responsible for executing the recipient surveys and associated processes that facilitate GiveDirectly’s unique cash transfer model, from enrollment of recipients to sending actual transfers. The role will reward high-quality judgment on operational questions and challenges, work ethic, communication skills, and a strong commitment to GiveDirectly’s mission and model.

Responsibilities

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• The Field Officer will meet with the community leaders and guides to understand community boundaries
• In charge of coordinating with team members, visit with every household in the town or community
• Complete census surveys with accurate data
• Explain GiveDirectly’s program to eligible households
• Provide cell phones and SIM cards as necessary
• The Field Officer will identify and eliminate ineligible households
• Explain safety and readiness information to recipients
• Ensure someone in the household is ready to operate the phone to access transfers

Required qualifications:

• The ideal candidate for the GiveDirectly Field Officer job opportunity must hold a Diploma or a Degree in a relevant field is an added advantage.
• One to two years' experience in the field working with vulnerable communities
• Computer and mobile device data entry knowledge and experience with good typing skills
• Possess the ability to conduct and support recipient surveys and associated processes
• Empathy, honesty, and the highest standards of integrity
• Fluency in Portuguese, English and Sena
• Excellent communication skills
• Physical fitness and ability to cope with difficult weather conditions or terrain
• Patience and good judgment in resolving recipient problems

***GD is committed to observing all local, national and international laws that protect children, vulnerable adults, and basic human rights of all. GD is committed to a policy of “zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH)” and expects anyone who works for GD to uphold the protection and safeguarding of our recipients as a priority.