Youth professional Skills Specialist, agri-food sector focus

Organizational Setting

FAO’s work in West Bank and Gaza Strip is guided by the Country Programming Framework (CPF) for Palestine in 2018-2022. The CPF promotes to the well-being of Palestinian people contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. It focuses on sustainable management of natural resources and development of agrifood value chains, protection and inclusion of vulnerable groups and improved nutrition, quality and safety of food consumption. To this effect, the CPF adopts a resilience approach to bridge humanitarian and development interventions, recognizing the centrality of market led development and its dependence on the enabling environment put in place by the public sector to promote food security.

Under the project Green jobs and Sustainable Income Opportunities for Palestinian Female and Male Youth in the Agri-food Sector – Phase II (OSRO/GAZ/111 DEN), funded by Government of Denmark, FAO aims to promote social and economic stability within the Palestinian community through addressing barriers to youth employment by tapping into the underutilized potentials of the agri-food sector and enabling young people to capture various market-driven opportunities from the transition to the green economy. The project will strengthen capacities of 480 Palestinian female and male youth to identify and utilize green jobs and green enterprise opportunities within the private, public and civil sector partners in the agri-food sector through provision of tailored training using a training manual that developed under the Phase I of the project and will be enhanced and enrich in phase II.

Reporting Lines

The specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO WBGS Head of Office, the direct supervision of the FAO WBGS Head of Programme and in close consultation with the Deputy Project Manager.

Technical Focus

Development of skills raising training materials to improve the professional capacities and technical knowledge of youth in relation to green jobs for youth in the agri-food sector.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Review the existing training package “Building personal skills for the era of knowledge and green technology focusing on opportunities for female and male youth in the food value chain” and other related documents and materials. • Conduct a consultative assessment to identify and analyze the most relevant topics to be updated, added, or deleted to enable the effective integration of youth into high potential agrifood businesses as leaders of innovation and entrepreneurship within the green economy. This includes identifying topics that will drive youth desire to work in the agri-food sector. • Based on the findings of the consultative assessment, update and improve the aforementioned training package and propose a training schedule. This includes a specific chapter on the development and formulation of agribusiness plans; financial management for effective resource management and market competitiveness; marketing skills including a special focus on e-marketing; effective communication skills, team building, and leadership skills; gender equality, equity, and mainstreaming these concepts into practice. • Design and deliver a 4-day tailored Training of Trainers (ToT) event to familiarize specialized trainers selected by the targeted universities with the contents of the new training package. • Participate in the delivery of the tailored training in agri-business events to youth in the 6 universities targeted by the project. This includes supporting the universities to develop pre and post-training evaluation forms. • Advise on additional coaching activities needed to increase the efficiency of the entrepreneurship programme. • Perform other tasks as and when required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in relevant disciplines; such as human development, business administration, social sciences, leadership, economics, or related fields. • At least 5 years of proven experience in human development. • Working knowledge of English and Arabic languages.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Computer/word processing and standard office software skills; • Ability to travel to and within the West Bank and Gaza Strip • Excellent communication skills.