Manager, Financial Inclusion and Microbusiness, Indonesia

About Rare

Rare inspires change so people and nature thrive. For 50 years, across 60 countries, we have inspired and empowered millions of people and their communities to shift their behaviors and practices to protect our shared planet. We are a global leader in driving social change for people and nature and believe that the cumulative power of individual and community action is a vital pathway to safeguarding and restoring our shared waters, lands, and climate. Rare’s organizational culture is results-oriented and entrepreneurial, and our global programs cover the thematic areas of climate change, fisheries and marine conservation, sustainable agriculture and food security, and Green Recovery.

Project Overview

Building on Rare’s mission to inspire lasting change for people and nature, the Fish Forever program in Indonesia supports coastal communities in managing their fisheries sustainably while strengthening livelihoods and long‑term economic resilience. Indonesia’s small‑scale fisheries are deeply local - rooted in community traditions, food security, and local economies - yet face growing governance, market, and environmental pressures. Rare works at the community level to ensure that conservation solutions are practical, inclusive, and capable of delivering lasting social and ecological impact.

Since 2014, Rare Indonesia has partnered with fishing communities to advance the Managed Access + Reserve (MA+R) approach, including the TURF‑R (Territorial Use Rights for Fishing + Reserve) system, which combines fishing access rights with marine reserves to rebuild fish stocks and improve livelihoods over time. As fisheries governance continues to evolve, Fish Forever is adapting its approach to focus on strategic, province‑level engagement, stronger local institutions, and sustainable financing mechanisms that allow community‑led fisheries management to endure. Financial inclusion, microbusiness development, and inclusive participation are central to this work.

Position Overview

The Manager, Financial Inclusion and Microbusiness plays a key role in advancing Fish Forever’s mission in Indonesia by integrating financial inclusion, fisheries‑linked microbusiness development, and institutional sustainability into MA+R implementation across provinces where Rare operates. Reporting to the Senior Program Director and collaborating closely with Science & Technology, Policy, and Program Implementation teams, this role helps ensure that community‑based fisheries management delivers both environmental outcomes and economic opportunity.

Essential Functions

The Manager will exercise independent judgment in the following areas, in consultation with the Senior Program Director:

Strengthen Financial Inclusion and Microbusiness Programs (70%)
(with an emphasis on fisheries‑linked financial inclusion and enterprise development)

• Develop, lead, and be accountable for implementation strategies integrating financial inclusion and microbusiness into Rare Indonesia’s programs
• Strengthen fisheries microbusiness enterprises, including business planning, institutional development, and access to external expertise • Lead financial literacy and savings club initiatives
• Support implementation of technology-based solutions (e.g., digital ledger tools and fisheries applications)
• Provide technical assistance to partners, including capacity building and relationship management
• Design and facilitate training, cross-site learning, and networks that build community financial resilience
• Collaborate with government stakeholders at national and local levels • Build partnerships with government agencies, universities, and NGOs
• Align with donor requirements and global frameworks; manage databases and analyze data to inform program learning and improvement
• Ensure financial inclusion and microbusiness activities are designed and delivered in line with Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles

Support Effective Project Management and Partnerships (30%)

• Lead and oversee project implementation with a focus on time, cost, and quality
• Build and maintain strong relationships with local partners and stakeholders
• Develop and execute communication plans to strengthen project ownership among community, government, and donor stakeholders
• Oversee activity tracking, budget management, and timely reporting of program outcomes

Required Experience and Education

• 5 - 10 years of experience in community development, financial inclusion, microfinance, or MSME development, preferably in fisheries or natural resource contexts
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing financial inclusion or enterprise models (e.g., savings groups, value chains, blended finance)
• Strong understanding of socio‑economic dynamics and sustainable livelihood systems
• Proven ability to lead and manage multi‑site programs, partnerships, and deliver results in complex, multi‑stakeholder environments
• Experience integrating Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) into program design and implementation
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including the ability to use data for program learning and decision‑making
• Excellent communication skills in Bahasa Indonesia and English
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in cross‑cultural environments

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional office environment as well as field settings (usually in remote places). The Manager should be comfortable and proficient working with government officials at all levels and with community partners, and at all stages of project implementation.

Physical Demands

This position is a role with specific physical demands, specially during monitoring visits. The person must be able to work in remote places and be comfortable with limited communication access, limited hygiene facilities, also with various transportation modes (e.g. boat, motorcycle).

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position with standard working hours. Flexibility is required to accommodate travel and project needs, and the role may be eligible for telecommuting or flexible work arrangements.

Other Duties

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities. Duties may change based on program needs and priorities.

Commitments

• To Rare's mission and values
• To address important environmental issues such as climate change, overfishing, sustainable agriculture, etc. is required. Experience working on these issues is not required (in fact, sometimes experience working outside of these issues drives the sort of innovation the team most needs)
• To the success of a team, to both teach and learn from others, and toggle comfortably between directing and supportive roles as needed

Rare is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic.