Regional Project Financial Inclusion and Youth Enterprise Expert

INTRODUCTION

ODA has partnered with the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) to be one of the local implementing partners on the project entitled “Agriculture-focused Dignified Employment for Youth in Ethiopia (ADEY) to address the aforementioned constraints and increase the participation of young people through promotion of agricultural value chain commodities and small business activities. The ultimate objective of the project will be to increased access to dignified and fulfilling job opportunities for young women, inclusivity, and the sustainable use of natural resources while building resilience capacities to shocks at all levels.

This will be addressed through the following intermediate results:

• Change individual capacity.
• Change in enterprise capacity.
• Policy enabling environments.

In Oromia context, the project aimed to address about 45,660 youth in the region categorized in three cluster setting: central cluster constituting of south West Shewa zone in two woredas, Hararghe cluster having four woredas and Western cluster Buno-Bedele and Illubabor Zones having six woredas with in a total of twelve woredas in Oromia by this particular project. ODA will implement the project within five years period starting from 01 January 2024 – 31 December, 2028.

1. Job Title : Regional Financial Inclusion and Youth Enterprise Expert

1. Report To: Livelihood and Resilience Program Manager
2. Number of Position. 01 (one)
3. Duty Station : Head office, Finfinnee
4. Terms of Employment: full time fixed term employment contract up to December 31/2026 GC with possibility of extension

Role Summary

Financial inclusion and youth enterprise expert, will support dignified youth employment opportunities working as youth enterprise and financial inclusion expert, As financial inclusion he/she will coordinate financial inclusion within the context of YSLA and SACCO who shall promote saving and credit activities, agricultural input marketing, including digital financial solutions, market information, insights, funding opportunities, partners, tools, and models that enhance access to finance for youth in agriculture.

S/He will work closely with youth and rural financial institutions in the inclusive finance team, the unit as well as with head office line departments staff to make sure access to finance is integral part of all (grant) investments that ODA ADEY program plans to make to enhance work opportunities for young people in the agricultural sector. S/He is well informed about the landscape: what has worked elsewhere, who else is doing this work, what funding opportunities are available, how can financial services providers be incentivized to finance youth (groups), what is role of public sector in de-risking financial services provision to youth (groups), what business support services make youth (groups) finance-able and S/He is capable to translate these insights and networks in fundable interventions that enhance access to finance for youth (groups) and create work opportunities for them.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Program Design: Facilitate the design of innovative financial products and services that cater to the unique financial requirements of young people, including accounts, credit, financial education programs, and digital payment solutions.
• Market Research: Conduct in-depth market research and analysis to identify opportunities for expanding financial inclusion among youth and understand the financial behaviors, needs, and preferences of the target audience.
• Analyze cost-benefit of existing financial and non-financial services delivery mechanisms including leveraging of technology that could reduce the cost and risks of agricultural finance delivery (to youth and young women).
• Innovation and Adaptation: Stay abreast of emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in the field of inclusive finance and youth development, integrating new ideas into existing programs.
• Strategy Development: Collaborate with sector actors to formulate inclusive finance strategies tailored to the specific needs and challenges faced by youth populations.
• Share knowledge on proven youth finance solutions and models with country teams and relevant partners for adaptation, adoption, and scaling.
• Proactively support project teams in their strategy delivery and pipeline development to ensure inclusion of youth and finance in the programs.

Educational Qualification, Experience & Skills requirements

· Qualification, Experience and Skills

• MA/BA in Accounting, Cooperative finance, Economics, Agricultural economics, financial management, Business, Economics management Administration, and related field with minimum of 8/10 years of services in grants or contract management role related to youth development and working in NGOs as a senior level.
• Strong knowledge and trainings in any donor regulations and policies, in cooperative development and in Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLA).
• Proven experience with budget development, monitoring and reporting and strategic development.
• Experience relationships with international partners
• Familiarity with accounting software’s.
• Fluency in English required; ability to communicate in Afaan Oromo language is an advantage.
• Familiarity with current agricultural and digital finance industry challenges and constraints for youth and young women to make use of financial services.
• Experience in an advisory role involving engagement of financial ecosystem stakeholders, and youth (support) organizations.
• A good understanding of challenges and opportunities in engaging youth in the agricultural sector, youth entrepreneurship development and (informal) job markets in rural and semi urban context.
• Capacity to develop a network of relevant youth organizations, youth support programs, financial and non-financial services providers are essential.
• Good writing (ToRs, grant proposals and knowledge documents) and communication (conducting webinars, chairing meetings, panel, and moderation roles) skills.

Additional requirements

• Adhere to ODA’s zero-tolerance policy on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA).
• Report any SEA concerns and actively participate in SEA training and investigations.
• Uphold ODA’s Code of Conduct, ensuring the safety and well-being of all children under their care