SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

The Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) is an international not-for-profit development organization that believes in contributing to poverty alleviation in Zambia through various programs/projects that it implements. There is great opportunity by all people to pursue their own sustainable development and SNV is working with different groups in pursuant of the same. SNV provides services in Agriculture, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Renewable Energy. The recipients of these services include governmental institutions, non-governmental organizations and private sector organizations, communities, and individual households.

BACKGROUND: 

SNV is implementing a multi-country Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE) Project funded by SDC and other donors. The OYE approach is a market-based method to sustainably increase youth (self) employment. The OYE model is distinguished from regular/traditional approaches – it goes beyond skills training, including market matching and mentoring into (self-) employment and enterprise development. It aims to achieve access to direct employment and business opportunities in climate smart agriculture and renewable energy sectors.

OVERVIEW AND PURPOSE OF THE INTERNSHIP

PURPOSE

The Youth Skills and Business Development Intern will support the process or pathway of young people engaged by the project transitioning to (self-) employment and entrepreneurship. This support will (initially) be mainly exist of tracking, monitoring, and verification of youth progress. This entails the quality and actual delivery of soft employability skills (mainly through local service providers contracted by SNV OYE) technical skills (as much as possible acquired in a work environment e.g., on-the-job or apprenticeships), as well as regarding the engagement of OYE youth with private sector companies and local markets.

• The internship in OYE is also providing learning opportunities for candidates who are interested in youth empowerment and ways of improving youth inclusion notably in private sector companies and financial institutions (Banks, Microfinance institutions, etc). He/she supports the OYE project in the context of the sectors of Agriculture, and Renewable Energy. Including identification of opportunities for youth self-employment and entrepreneurship

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

•  (Secretarial) Organizing meetings with private sector companies and Financial Institutions (aimed at promotion of youth inclusion)
• Convening (or facilitating/secretarial) stakeholder meetings including local government, and training providers (aimed at youth empowerment)
• Monitor and verify youth skills training by service providers, training institutions and private actors with focus on youth employment (formal, informal and self-employment), training curriculum review and adaptation of the curriculum through documenting experiences and recommendations from stakeholders
• Support the roll out of skills development component, in the realm of supporting job placement and matchmaking between skills development and demand from prospective employers.
• Engage and support national and local institutions in the design of curricula and the delivery of training to achieve quality targeted results.
• Supports the for “soft skills” components with a focus on practical business and entrepreneurship youth skills development
• Works with youths/ youth groups to access credit guarantee facility and other innovative financing products such as loans and grants, provided by financial institutions and government
• Support the engagement of the financial service providers to develop/adapt and avail youth-friendly financial products and services
• Support coaching mentorship of youths/youth groups together with Local Service Providers (LSPs)
• Support the documentation, sharing and dissemination of project learning and results
• Support database management by ensuring Local Service Providers (LSPs) update it regularly
• Support OYE/INCREASE project implementation in the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Central

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A degree in Development Studies, Entrepreneurship, Agriculture Business or other related qualification.
• Strong practical and theoretical experience in youth skill development
• Strong database management skills
• Entrepreneurship and business development experience
• Experience in engaging in vocational training institutions, knowledge institutions and youth hubs
• Experience in youth related programming
• Fluent in English and local languages.
• Strong computer skills

PERSONALITY

• Willingness to learn
• Has interest in youth empowerment programs with a focus on agriculture, energy and WASHE
• Proactive personality and strong leadership capabilities
• Sociable individual to accommodate youth
• Good communicator who is a critical thinker and has a strong personality
• Strong interpersonal skills
• A good team player

SNV is an equal opportunities’ employer and women are particularly encouraged to apply.

Duty Station – 3 (Katete, Kabwe and Mazabuka)