Position: Regional Project Specialist (Southeastern Anatolia)

Position Base: Gaziantep

Required Languages: Arabic (Native), Turkish, English

Background and Introduction

German Sparkassenstiftung für internationale Kooperation (DSIK) is the international consultancy and development arm of the Sparkassen Finance Group, the largest network of German retail banks. DSIK’s mission is to promote financial inclusion all over the world. Funded by its members, the German government and other donors, DSIK experts support partner institutions and directly with target group to develop their capacity on different aspects. Main competencies of DSIK are financial inclusion of MSMEs, capacity building of MFIs/FI, improving financial and business literacy knowledge, develop sustainable finance and rural finance in more than 50 countries.

DSIK aims to improve the living conditions of refugees and the economically challenged local host communities in Türkiye. The project objective is to strengthen the financial inclusion of target group by promoting financial and business literacy, supporting entrepreneurial activities and to linking these target groups to financial institutions to use special financial products in an efficient manner.

Within this scope, Sparkassenstiftung is seeking to recruit a Regional Project Specialist (Southeastern Anatolia) to support the new project about financial inclusion of entrepreneurs living in Kilis and Gaziantep. The Project Specialist plays a crucial role supporting operations, programs, of the project within a specific geographical area under the supervision of Project Coordinator, Training Coordinator and Financial Sector Coordinator. This position is part of a existing project which aiming to enhance financial inclusion in the region and continues till the end of May 2027 with a possible prolongation for 3 months.

Scope of Work

The Regional Project Specialist will play a key role in the implementation of Sparkassenstiftung’s projects in the designated region, with a particular focus on training activities and financial processes, including financial inclusion of the target group. Proficiency in Arabic is essential to ensure effective communication with beneficiaries and stakeholders, particularly within the Syrian community.

The primary responsibilities of the Project Specialist include organizing and facilitating training sessions, coordinating financial support mechanisms, and strengthening collaboration with partner institutions. The Specialist will also be expected to organize and participate in trainings, meetings, workshops, seminars, and other project-related events in pilot regions as needed.

Beyond training activities, the Project Specialist will actively contribute to the planning, execution, and monitoring of financial processes ensuring compliance, transparency, and efficiency on given financial support to target group. The role also entails conducting field assessments, identifying regional needs, and providing valuable insights to support the strategic development of future project phases. Additionally, the Specialist will collaborate with other Sparkassenstiftung offices when required, contributing to broader regional and institutional goals.

A. Conducting Trainings and Capacity Building for Partner Institutions

• Develop, organize, and facilitate trainings, workshops, seminars, and webinars.
• Prepare and conduct ToT sessions.
• Collaborate with partner institutions to organize training programs and ensure quality.
• Evaluate and ensure training materials are sufficient in both quantity and quality.
• Monitor training sessions and provide post-training reports.
• Support trainers by identifying and addressing their training needs.
• Collaborate with partner institutions in the implementation of training sessions.
• Organize and book training venues and ensure the delivery of support services such as transportation, accommodation, subsistence, hygiene, and stationery for training events.
• Support adaptation and updating of training modules based on the needs of the target group.
• Ensuring accessibility and relevance of content, reporting to the digital training portal of DSIK.
• Ensuring accessibility and relevance of content, reporting to the digital training portal of DSIK.
• Oversee the maintenance and updates of the training portal, ensuring accessibility and relevance of digital content.
• Facilitate the active participation of Turkish and Syrian entrepreneurs in training programs by ensuring smooth communication, outreach, and logistical arrangements.

B. Financial Process & Management

• Support and oversee financial processes, including financial support and tracking the allocation of financial resources.
• Assess the target group for financial support in alignment with project standards.
• Ensure transparency, compliance, and efficiency in the financial aspects of the project.
• Monitor grant utilization and provide recommendations for effective fund management.
• Assist in budget planning and track expenditures related to training and project activities.
• Work with relevant teams to prepare financial reports and ensure compliance with donor or institutional requirements.
• Check grant compliance of the target group in alignment with eligibility criteria.
• Identify and select reliable suppliers and service providers, ensuring they meet project requirements in terms of cost, quality, and timeliness.
• Perform daily accounting tasks, including tracking transactions, bookkeeping, and maintaining financial records.
• Follow up on payments, bank transactions, and account reconciliations, ensuring proper documentation and compliance.
• Collect, verify, and organize financial proof documents (e.g., invoices, receipts, contracts) for auditing purposes.
• Assist in the preparation of financial documents for legal audits, in coordination with accounting teams.

C. Support for the Regional Office in Project Management & Organization

• Assist partner institutions in training implementation.
• Provide ongoing support to trainers and partner organizations.
• Collaborate with the Training Team to develop new training content and reporting modules when needed.
• Prepare procurement documents, oversee contracting and payment processes.
• Draft and follow up on Terms of Reference (ToRs), reports, and contracts.
• Oversee procurement processes, ensuring all third-party services and suppliers comply with project policies.
• Support project team members in field visits to target groups.
• Provide administrative and logistical support for field activities and maintain accurate records of implementation.
• Assist in the preparation and documentation of project-related reports and paperwork.

D. Effective Communication and Coordination

• Support the DSIK Country Representative and other Coordinators in managing and organizing project activities.
• Assist in creating and maintaining an expert pool for relevant assignments.
• Strengthen coordination and collaboration between Sparkassenstiftung experts, suppliers, and partner institutions.
• Assist in business development activities with potential partner institutions in the region.
• Represent Sparkassenstiftung in regional coordination meetings and support field-level planning, monitoring, and oversight activities.
• Conduct on-site visits to target groups to monitor project activities, assess challenges, and ensure alignment with project goals.
• Organize face-to-face and online learning events tailored to the region together with the project team.
• Provide insights to management on customized training needs for the target group.
• Support the team in documenting success stories by collecting relevant public relations materials from the field.
• Translate documents, training materials, meetings and other project-related content between Arabic-Turkish-English ensuring accuracy and consistency, if necessary.
• Mobilize participants to attend project and ensure effective communication with beneficiaries.
• Support close collaboration with trainers, field teams, and local stakeholders.
• Maintain regular communication with the project coordination team to ensure smooth and timely implementation of activities.
• Perform other project related duties and tasks as requested by management.

E. Monitoring and Evaluation

• Guide target group in preparing necessary documents to receive financial support.
• Actively participate in field visits to assess project implementation.
• Monitor grant implementation to ensure adherence to donor standards.
• Support data collection to measure project impact and provide insights for future improvements.
• Contribute to identifying and addressing the specific needs of target group within the scope of the project.

Contract and Duration

The contract is expected to start in August 2026 and continue till the end of May 2027 (10 months), with a possible extension for 3 months.  The contract will be signed based on the confirmed schedule.

Place of Duty

The official duty station for this position is Gaziantep, where the Regional Project Specialist will be based. The role requires to implement project activities in Gaziantep and Kilis. This position also requires frequent travel to Kilis, the main project implementation area, and occasional visits to other locations within Southeastern Anatolia as needed for project-related activities.

Qualifications

• University degree in social sciences, communication, international relations, business administration, or a related field.
• At least five years of relevant experience with international organizations in livelihoods and/or education, financial inclusion, capacity development and humanitarian projects.
• Fluent in Arabic, Turkish and English (written and spoken) with strong drafting skills.
• Experience collaborating with external partners, government agencies, or community groups.
• Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative research and drafting skills.
• Experience in leading and facilitating trainings and workshops in multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to work independently and in teams, including remote and on-site settings.
• Accuracy in reports, budgets, and documentation.
• High professional standards with sensitivity to political, gender, and cultural balance.
• Proficiency in project management software, Microsoft Office, and communication tools.
• Strong communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to analyse complex situations, make decisions, and solve problems effectively.
• Understanding of cultural diversity and experience working with vulnerable groups.
• Commitment to high-quality work and achieving targets.
• Ability to adapt to dynamic environments and changing priorities.
• Willingness to travel regionally as required.

Application Process

1. Application Submission: Interested candidates should send their CV to [email protected] by adding vacancy code reference code RPS-30 in the subject line of the e-mail. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
2. Motivation Video (Shortlisted Candidates Only): Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and asked to submit a self-recorded motivation video (maximum 2 minutes). In the video, candidates are expected to briefly introduce themselves and explain their motivation.
3. Interview: Candidates who meet the requirements of the position and pass the stage will be invited to the interview.
4. Final Interview: Candidates who reach the final stage will be invited for a final interview with the Country Representative.
5. Final Evaluation and Selection: Following the final interview, the selected candidate will be notified, and the recruitment process will be completed.