National Consultant for Project on Opportunities for Youth in Africa (OYA)

Organizational Setting

In response to the need for accelerated efforts in job creation and empowerment of African youths, FAO and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) – in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), have developed a joint programme called “Opportunities for Youth in Africa: Accelerating Jobs Creation in Agriculture and Agribusiness” (OYA)[1]. The programme was launched in August 2019 at the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) in Yokohama, Japan with support from the Government of Japan. The joint project will serve as an example of UN inter-agency collaboration with other partners such as the AUC as the UN Agencies Deliver as One and, very importantly, respond to AUC Continental frameworks namely Agenda 2063 and The Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, bearing commitments to creating enabling conditions for the transformation of the agricultural sector while empowering the youth to actively participate and benefit from emerging opportunities of the sector.

During the inception phase of the OYA programme, a Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) titled “Multi-country support to promote Employment Opportunities for Youth in Agribusiness in Africa” has been requested by AUC with the objective to undertake essential preliminary assessments of the country’s enabling environment and existing programs in support to youth. The assessments will lead to identifying concrete interventions (plans of action) for operationalizing the OYA programme, building on existing priorities in each of the countries.

In order to ensure successful involvement/contribution of AUC in the TCP implementation, a National Junior Consultant will be hired to play the role of focal point for the TCP and to support other efforts aimed at promoting the OYA programme at AUC level and with its different partners.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) overseeing this project, and the direct supervision of AUC/Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA)’s Head of Rural Economy Division and in close collaboration with the members of TCP Task force, the consultant will undertake the following tasks and responsibilities:

Tasks and responsibilities

• Carry out all organizational/planning, communication/liaison, operational/administrative, and implementation support aspects of the regional Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project, including supporting work plan and budgets, reporting and other duties accordingly;
• Carry out required tasks to support countries as needed and agreed upon in implementing the main TCP activities, including hiring national consultants, organizing and conducting the national baseline studies, organizing and conducting country action planning exercises, organizing and conducting validation of study reports, support national consultants in particularly identifying and reaching out to national resource partners for inviting them to participate in TCP activities and in the broader OYA programme and supporting countries’ participation in the final validation workshop;
• Carry out required duties for the project final regional validation workshop, including notably contribution to producing the event’s concept note; contribute to identifying, inviting and making logistical arrangements for participants; contribute to identifying and recruitment of a facilitator and a rapporteur for the event; follow up with the rapporteur on finalizing and producing in a timely manner the event’s final report;
• Provide support in organizing missions of the AUC/DREA representatives to TCP beneficiary countries for participating in national as well as regional validation events, as well as to other events as needed, organized within the framework of the TCP;
• Contribute to partnership development and resource mobilization efforts for the OYA programme at AUC level, in collaboration with FAO and UNIDO, including identification of potential resource partners for the programme; reaching out to selected partners to market the project; participating and presenting the OYA programme in resource mobilization or other promotional events either organized by AUC or by partner-organizations;
• Be responsible for ensuring consistent and timely communication and exchange between main project stakeholders, notably DREA/AUC, FAO, the project task force and national focal points/committees;
• Carry out secretariat duties for the TCP project task force under the AUC and FAO guidance, including planning, agenda invitations, reporting and any other duties on request;
• Provide support in organizing and (delivering where necessary) presentations on the TCP activities on behalf of AUC and in collaboration with FAO;
• Provide monthly reports on activities carried out;
• Perform other related duties as requested

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Candidate should be national of Ethiopia
• University degree in rural development, agribusiness, economics, sociology or other relevant social sciences;
• At least three years of relevant experience in agribusiness, policy and/or programme formulation and management, operational support in employment policies and/or youth empowerment;
• Fluency in English Language. Working knowledge of French would be an added advantage.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in Project Cycle Management and Project Development, organizing and conducting baseline studies, action planning exercises, validating study reports and in organizing meetings and workshops
• Coping with pressure and insecurity: ability to work productively in a pressurized environment
• Ability to effectively communicate, computing skills and use of various email systems.
• A cooperative spirit, flexibility and openness to work in an international environment needed. Tact, courtesy and a high level of trustworthiness are essential personal attributes; approach to work assignments; analytical ability, accuracy and consistency

Selection Criteria

• Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge on organizing and conducting baseline studies, action planning exercises and Project Cycle Management and Project Development
• Extent and relevance of experience in developing guidelines, training materials, policy instruments;
• Familiarity to work with UN agencies, Government and other partners;
• Relevance of experience with project development and managements is an asset;
• Ability to work under pressure and willingness to travel frequently in and outside Ethiopia;
• Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English;
• Quality of both oral and written communication skills;