SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. We are driven by a vision of a better world: A world where across every society all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably. To make this vision a reality, we need transformations in vital agri-food, energy, and water systems. SNV contributes by strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships in these sectors. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises.
Building on 60 years of experience we support our partners with our technical and process expertise and methodological rigour. We do this in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia with a team of approximately 1,600 colleagues. By being adaptable and tailoring our approaches to these different contexts, we can contribute to impact at scale, resulting in more equitable lives for all.

For more information on our operations in Zambia visit our website: www.snv.org/zambia

Overview of position:

SNV is implementing the second phase of the Scaling Up Youth Employment in Agriculture Initiative Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE)+ project in Zambia The four-year OYE+ Phase II project builds off successes, lessons learned and evaluations to date from the Phase I project in Zimbabwe and Zambia, other SNV youth employment projects and the OYE program in the Africa region. The OYE+ Phase II program aims at fostering a strengthened approach to youth employment programming by addressing structural barriers, offering tailored support, and promoting collaboration among community, private sector, and government stakeholders to create dignified livelihoods for young people.

The key objectives of the project are to:

1. Increase access to employment and entrepreneurial skills development opportunities.
2. Match young people to economic opportunities in their communities, using market development and increased financial inclusion.
3. Contribute to and support an enabling environment via company partnerships, community engagement, and improved government coordination.

The project employs the Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (YEE) Pull-Match-Pull-Enable framework approach that brings together partners from the private sector, service providers, and government to focus on employability, entrepreneurship, and business access for youth.

SNV is seeking a Technical Advisor Youth Skill and Private Sector Engagement, the technical advisor is part of OYE-project team within SNV Zambia, which focuses on providing technical guidance and support on youth skills and private sector engagement in the context of the project. The Technical Advisor Youth Skill and Private Sector Engagement will provide essential support to the Project Manager during the project implementation phase. Reporting directly to the Project Manager for OYE, the incumbent will engage with both SNV personnel directly involved in project support and those providing indirect support, engage with TEVET institutions, private sector companies, as well as working closely with project local implementing partners

The Technical Advisor Youth Skill and Private Sector Engagement will act as technical expert together with the project team and relevant stakeholders to create an enabling environment (by sharing knowledge, understanding and engagement of relevant stakeholders) for the implementation of a project, for the project to meet its objectives.

Key responsibilities:

• Support the development and implementation of youth skills development plans while updating a comprehensive map of youth skills gaps, opportunities, and labour market requirements, particularly focusing on young women. Provide technical assistance in curriculum review development (The YEE curriculum) and skills training by collaborating with national and local TEVET institutions to ensure quality targeted outcomes.

• Lead the process of aligning appropriate training providers, methodologies, and training curricula with the identified concrete market-based opportunities and youth skills gaps for youth-led enterprise development and (self)-employment in the project. Collaborate with stakeholders such as TEVET institutions and the Ministry of Agriculture to integrate youth skills and enterprise development with agriculture, climate, and energy initiatives, identifying synergies for maximum impact.
• Engages with government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders to establish partnerships for the rollout of skills training initiatives, including job placement support and alignment of training with market demand. Monitor and ensure the quality of services provided by third parties, tracking progress in youth employability and opportunities for youth-led enterprise creation.
• Facilitates the establishment of a knowledge development by delivering success narratives and stories of transformative change, showcasing impactful outcomes. Provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to youth-focused organizations and government agencies involved in youth employment initiatives with a focus on private sector engagement, agriculture, energy, and climate. Disseminate best practices and lessons learned in youth skills development through workshops, publications, and digital platforms, fostering collaboration and collective learning among stakeholders.
• Forge partnerships with private sector entities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to leverage resources and expertise in support of youth empowerment and sustainable development goal. Assist the Ministry of Youth and Sports in identifying improvement needs for resource centres. Continuously identify business opportunities for new Youth-Led Enterprises (YLE) and wage employment in the target regions and respective project areas.
• Strategically engage private (and public) sector players for OYE youth-led business, products, and services Advocate, mobilize, and work with multiple stakeholders, including agro-entrepreneurs, private sector, government, NGOs, and social enterprises, in areas relevant to youth employment (e.g., employment, entrepreneurship, private sector development, local economic development, micro-finance, poverty reduction, agriculture, vocational and technical skills training).Assist youth in the program areas by developing and maintaining strong partnerships with private sector companies, training providers, and other relevant organizations to generate opportunities for employment and further development of skills; provide specialist advice on traineeships, apprenticeships, and other learning pathways.

• Minimum Bachelor in areas such as in agriculture, agribusiness, economics, rural development, Business, Marketing, entrepreneurship, or related field. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. 5+ years of demonstratable relevant experience.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in private sector and/or NGOs working focused on MSD approaches (facilitation and providing technical supports), agribusiness and/or financial services. Good understanding on the Markets4Poor approach and Markets development facilitation including coaching, relationship building, communicating, entrepreneurialism/business understanding and innovating.
• Experience in the private sector and ability to apply market driven solutions and non-traditional thinking skills to achieve development goals. Experience in setting up, developing and managing private sector or market development programs.
• Demonstratable experience in skills development, gender equality and social inclusion and youth empowerment and entrepreneurship programming.
• Proven experience in market systems analysis and research and ability to read market trends and design proactive interventions to enable MSMEs to seize market opportunities.
• Proven experience in collaborating and cooperating with stakeholders for the collective achievement of common-purpose results and activities.
• Experiences in supporting private sector led business enterprises in agribusiness settings, providing business development supports, small industries (public and private), institutions and stakeholders. Knowledge of participatory analyses, action and results processing.

Contribute to enhancing program quality and increase the impact of innovative TVET delivery models and youth employment and entrepreneurship solutions by creating a learning platform for sharing best or promising practices, innovations, and learning, highlighting effective approaches and practices

Personal skills:

• Strong analytical and risk assessment skills, including financial modelling skills.
• Ability to build productive internal and external working relationships.
• Strong internal motivation, self-starter and ability to work amid ambiguity.
• Fantastic inter-personal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Strong skills in planning, administration, organising and prioritising.
• Risk aware and able to escalate issues when necessary.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Affinity with SNVs mission.

Competencies:

Conceptual thinking, Planning, and organising, Service minded and Client Orientation, Problem analysis, Innovation, Focus on quality & Accuracy and Exactness

candidates must be registered with the Agriculture institute of Zambia. 

Closing date: 2 July 2024, “only shortlisted candidates will be contacted”.

Working at SNV

SNV offers 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 and global network of experts.

• We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement. Any form of solicitation by phone or other means will be treated as disqualification of the candidate / bidder.