| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | NGO and Social Sector |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Programme Manager |
| Direct reports | Community Mobiliser |
| Experience | 3 to 6 years in livelihood or rural development |
Livelihood Coordinator job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Livelihood Coordinator
Department: NGO and Social Sector
Reports to: Programme Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Livelihood Coordinator runs an NGO's income and skills work, helping community members earn more through skilling, self help groups, farming or micro enterprise. They plan and deliver training, link people to markets, banks and schemes, and track incomes and enterprises. The role reports to the Programme Manager or Programme Coordinator. A good livelihood coordinator helps people build steady income, forms and strengthens groups and enterprises, and connects the community to the credit, inputs and markets they need.
Key responsibilities
- Plan and run livelihood activities such as skill training, farming support or micro enterprise.
- Form and strengthen self help groups and producer or enterprise groups.
- Link members to banks, credit, government schemes and input suppliers.
- Connect producers and enterprises to markets, buyers and fair prices.
- Train members in the trade, book keeping and running a small enterprise.
- Track members' income, enterprises and loans and their repayment.
- Coordinate with government line departments, banks and financial institutions for support.
- Support groups to keep records and manage their funds.
- Identify local livelihood opportunities that are suited to the area and its people.
- Document activities, member incomes and enterprise outcomes for programme reporting.
Requirements
- Graduate or postgraduate in rural development, agriculture or social work
- MSW or MBA in rural management is an advantage
- Local language fluency
- 3 to 6 years in livelihood or rural development
KRAs and KPIs for a Livelihood Coordinator
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Skilling | People trained in livelihood skills meeting the annual target |
| Enterprises | Micro enterprises or groups started and still running against the target |
| Income | Members reporting increased income against the programme target |
| Linkages | Members linked to credit, schemes or markets meeting the plan |
| Group health | Groups keeping records and repaying loans above the agreed rate |
| Documentation | Livelihood data and outcomes recorded accurately each cycle |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: MS Excel and Word, Training materials, Scheme and bank formats, Smartphone for data, Enterprise trackers.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Programme Manager, Livelihood Specialist, Programme Coordinator
Interview questions for a Livelihood Coordinator
- How do you choose a livelihood activity that will actually work in an area?
- How do you link a self help group to a bank loan or government scheme?
- How do you connect a group of producers to a market or buyer?
- How do you help members keep simple records for their enterprise?
- How do you tell whether a livelihood intervention is really raising income?
- Tell me about a livelihood group or enterprise you helped build.
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What does a livelihood coordinator do?
A livelihood coordinator runs an NGO's income and skills work. They plan and deliver skill training, form and strengthen self help and enterprise groups, and link people to banks, schemes, inputs and markets. They track incomes, enterprises and loans, and help community members build steady, sustainable income.
What skills does a livelihood coordinator need?
A livelihood coordinator needs skills in livelihood planning, group formation and training, plus knowledge of bank linkage, government schemes and market connections. Basic book keeping, local language fluency and strong facilitation help. The ability to spot practical income opportunities suited to the area and to build members' confidence to run enterprises is central to the role.
What qualifications do you need to be a livelihood coordinator?
Most livelihood coordinators hold a graduate or postgraduate degree in rural development, agriculture or social work, and an MSW or a rural management MBA helps. Local language fluency is important. Employers value field experience in livelihoods, knowledge of schemes and bank linkage, and the ability to help groups and enterprises actually earn.