Youth Enterprise Development and Quality Monitoring Advisor -Assela, Ethiopia

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organization. Founded in the Netherlands 50 years ago, we have built a long-term, local presence in more than 26 of countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Our global team of local and international advisors work with local partners to equip communities, businesses, and organizations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services – empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development.

SNV, Netherlands Development Organization, is operating in Ethiopia since the 1970s. Currently, SNV is working in eight regional states and the two city administrations of Ethiopia, providing technical assistance and program implementation in Agriculture, WASH, and Energy Sectors. SNV is an open and learning organization that focuses on improving the lives of Ethiopian through a market-based approach inclusive of women and youth. In its new Strategic Plan period (2019 – 2022), SNV will more explicitly aim for systems change including strengthening institutions and kick-starting markets that help many more to escape poverty beyond our projects.

For more information on SNV’s operations, visit our website: www.snv.org.

Project background

Realizing Aspiration of Youth in Ethiopia through Employment (RAYEE) is a five-year (Nov 2019 to October 2024 inclusive) youth employment creation project which is being implemented in Collaboration with Mastercard Foundation. The overall objective of the project is to secure dignified and fulfilling employment and improved livelihoods for 240,000 youth (of which 70% are women) in urban, peri-urban, and rural targeted areas of Ethiopia.

RAYEE operates in four regions and one Administration namely, Oromia, Amhara, SNNPR, Sidama, and Dire Dawa administration. 70% of the jobs are targeted for young women and 70% of the jobs are to be in Agriculture/Agribusiness sector.

Purpose of the job

Youth Enterprise Development and quality monitoring Advisor will be responsible for the project day to day implementation and quality monitoring within the project’s targeted area. He/She will provide both programmatic and quality monitoring support to youth employment intervention being implemented by the RAYEE project.

In relation to quality monitoring the advisor will oversee the overall quality aspects of the project, monitor implementation of the project at the field level, and technically support the functionality of the digital data management process. In addition, the advisor will support the selection of the target groups with stakeholders, identification of business and employment opportunities for unemployed youth, facilitate the provision of life, business, and technical skill trainings, facilitation of BDS services, and maintaining partnership to ensure substantiality and implementation at scale in the operational areas.

The key Responsibilities of the Youth Enterprise Development and Quality Monitoring Advisor are:

• Participate and work with stakeholders in the targeting and selection of youth to be trained and linked for employment.
• Participate in the identification of business and employment opportunities for youth including young women-friendly businesses.
• Support the team in undertaking of business development services to MSEs
• Actively engage in the identification and capacity building of potential business development services providers and key stakeholders
• Closely work with other team members in an undertaking of regular coaching and mentoring of youth-led MSEs
• Ensure the jobs created are dignifying and fulfilling
• Facilitate youth voice platforms to listen to youth-related issues and implement other feedback mechanisms to improve the performance of the project
• Monitor the project implementation process
• Periodically collect and analyze information to track progress on key project components such as MSEs establishment and functionality, employment in firms, savings, loan access, market linkages and other related key output and outcome level results.
• Plan and coordinate regular field visits and review meetings internally and externally
• In collaboration with M and E advisors, facilitate and support annual assessments, mid-term and final evaluations and other studies to be completed on time with quality.
• Ensure that the digital project database management system is effectively utilized and all relevant data are documented
• Facilitate documentation of learnings papers, case studies documentaries, publications, and dissemination to a wider audience
• lead the preparation and submission of progress reports to be submitted to the project and signatory bureaus.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferably M.SC in the field (s) of Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, Agribusiness, Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, community development, social science, rural development, and/or related courses
• Minimum of Five (5) years of experience in enterprise development, monitoring and evaluation and quality assurance system, data management, agribusiness development, microenterprise development,

Competencies

• Problem analysis
• Coaching
• Focus on quality
• Result orientation
• Persuasiveness

Additional skills:

•  Excellent understanding of the culture and ways of living of target communities
•  Speaks the local language fluently
•  Good written and spoken English
•  Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and excellent awareness about communities, and government structure
• Good report writing skills and ability to collect and share documents, records and information.
• Computer proficiency is required.
• Ability and Willingness to frequently travel to all project locations
• Work independently and as part of the team, and work effectively with co-workers, partner agencies and the private sector

Contract Type: National

Expected start date: As soon as possible

Duty Station:  Asela, Ethiopia

Contract Duration: one year with the possibility of extension based on performance and budget availability.

Working at SNV 

SNV offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package; for internationals, we offer an international benefits package and to Ethiopian nationals, we offer a competitive national package. We also offer a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from, and contribute to, an internal global network of experts.

How to Apply

Please apply by clicking on the I’m Interested button and complete your application in our in-house recruitment system before or on 13 January 2023.

All information will be in the strictest confidence and in accordance with GDPR.  Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

We will require that you provide us with the full details of three people who are willing to act as a referee.  We will not contact these referees without your explicit permission.

Women candidates are encouraged to apply.