Job Advertisement: Gender, Youth and Economic Empowerment Manager

JOB ADVERTISEMENT
USAID’s Avansa Agrikultura Project

‘Gender, Youth and Economic Empowerment Manager’ Position

1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

USAID’s Avansa Agrikultura Project is a horticulture value chain activity aimed at addressing the key challenges of rural poverty, natural resource degradation, food insecurity, and under-nutrition. The value chain approach will be applied in achieving increased productivity along key horticulture value chains that include vegetables, fruits and legumes. Through the promotion of sustainable production practices, increased functionality of farmer groups and associations, improved market linkages, and increased availability and access to quality agricultural inputs and services, including access to finance, the project will aim to stimulate and support increased economic activity and growth in targeted rural communities and districts. Sustainability of these interventions will be supported by work to maintain sound policies and enabling environment relevant to the sector, as well as efforts to increase resilience to climate change and improve natural resource management as it relates to farm systems.

1. SCOPE OF WORK
2. Assignment Objective

The Gender, Youth and Economic Empowerment Manager will collaborate with the staff on the ways boost integration of gender and youth specific interventions within all activities, translating that into specific plans for action throughout all of the project activities. The Gender, Youth and Economic Empowerment Manager ensure the project activities follow USAID requirements and policies.  The Gender, Youth and Economic Empowerment Manager will set up and oversee activities specific to training and dissemination of information to this target group.

1. Specific Tasks

Tasks of the Gender, Youth and Economic Empowerment Manager are:

• Collaborate with the Chief of Party (COP), Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP), and Agribusiness Specialist in refining annual work plans and targets in a timely manner in accordance with the contract terms. Contribute to regular monitoring efforts, and ensure activities are progressing against the work plan and PMEP
• Work with project leaders to bolster activities including women and youth; including collaborating with other donor funded projects or locally established projects.
• Assist with the preparation and submission of program deliverables including program reporting as required by the contract, including reading and reviewing monthly reports for integration.
• Work with the monitoring and evaluation specialists to be sure that project achievements in regards to gender equality and youth development are reported and supported with success stories and statistically important evidence.
• Find individual beneficiaries the project is working with who can be defined as a success and report on them.
• Assist team to identify agribusiness development opportunities and activities for youth and women. Support women and youth entrepreneurs to develop their businesses, including through the grants program
• Monitor and manage saving and loan consultants to implement S&L clubs including collaboration with field staff to avoid overlapping. Work with consultants to teach S&L clubs to use their money for investments and assess any impact of S&L groups on members.
• Design and oversee implementation of activities to support youth to increase their participation in the horticulture value chain
• Work with MAF and MCIE to provide policy guidance for supporting female farmers and supporting women agribusinesses
• Help facilitate consultations with government and donors on progressing women entrepreneurs
• Develop scopes of work for short term consultants, grant RFAs and tender for local subcontractors as needed under direction
• Strategize ideas on how to increase awareness of the project activities with gender and youth through media outlets
• Support implementation of the grant fund as related to gender and youth activities
• Travel to the municipalities to support District Activity Managers to implement activities across all districts
• Provide assistance to other project activities as necessary

1. Qualifications

• 5 years’ experience working with gender and youth related activities; focus in agriculture is not required but preferred
• Experience working with donor funded agencies; USAID is preferred but not required
• Experience in designing, managing and implementing activities related to gender and youth
• Strong reading and writing in English and Tetum
• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree

This program represents a challenging, fast-paced international work environment that demands initiative, flexibility and a willingness to travel for certain aforementioned position. In return, Cardno offers the right candidate a very competitive package and an exciting job that rewards creative thinking and offers an opportunity to develop a deep insight into the functioning of the Timor-Leste economy, and possibly beyond. Please note that the rate of pay will be based on previous salary and local labour standards.

To apply please send your CV and a brief cover letter in English. Applications should be emailed quoting “USAID’s Avansa Agrikultura Project- Gender, Youth and Economic Empowerment Manager”, to [email protected]

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. Position is open to Timor-Leste national and Individuals with valid work permit to work in Timor-Leste. Cardno is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to Child Protection in all fields. Cardno encourages women to apply for the position. Successful applicants will be required to provide a police clearance certificate.

The deadline for submission of CVs / Expressions of Interest is August 8th, 2017 at 05.30 pm.

USAID’s Avansa Agrikultura Project managed by Cardno