Regional Project Financial Inclusion and Youth Enterprise Expert

EXTERNAL VACANCY

INTRODUCTION

Project Summary

ODA has partnered with the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) to be one of the local implementing partner on the project entitled Agriculture-focused Dignified Employment for Youth in Ethiopia (ADEY) to address the aforementioned constraints and increase the participation of young people through promotion of agricultural value chain commodities and small business activities. The ultimate objective of the project will be to increased access to dignified and fulfilling job opportunities for young women, inclusivity, and the sustainable use of natural resources while building resilience capacities to shocks at all levels.

This will be addressed through the following intermediate results:

Change individual capacity.

Change in enterprise capacity.

Policy enabling environments.

In Oromia context, the project aimed to address about 45,660 youth in the region categorized in three cluster setting: central cluster constituting of East, West, North and south West shoa zones in eight woredas, Hararghe cluster having three woredas and Western cluster Jimma, Buno Bedele and Illubabor Zone having Nine woredas with in a total of Twenty woredas in Oromia by this particular project. ODA will implement the project within five years period starting from 01 January 2024 31 December, 2028.

1. Number of Position : 01(One)

2. Mode & Term s of Employment : Full time fixed term employment contract for one year with possibility of extension

3. Place of Work at : ODA HEAD office, Finfine,

Financial inclusion and youth enterprise expert, will support dignified youth employment opportunities working as youth enterprise and financial inclusion expert, As financial inclusion he/she will coordinate financial inclusion within the context of YSLA and SACCO who shall promote saving and credit activities, agricultural input marketing, including digital financial solutions, market information, insights, funding opportunities, partners, tools, and models that enhance access to finance for youth in agriculture.

S/He will work closely with youth and rural financial institutions in the inclusive finance team, the unit as well as with head office line departments staff to make sure access to finance is integral part of all (grant) investments that ODA ADEY program plans to make to enhance work opportunities for young people in the agricultural sector. S/He is well informed about the landscape: what has worked elsewhere, who else is doing this work, what funding opportunities are available, how can financial services providers be incentivized to finance youth (groups), what is role of public sector in de-risking financial services provision to youth (groups), what business support services make youth (groups) finance-able and S/He is capable to translate these insights and networks in fundable interventions that enhance access to finance for youth (groups) and create work opportunities for them.

Key Measures of Performance

Number and quality (leverage and catalytic nature) of inclusive and innovative finance initiatives supported and advised upon through organizational programming that will lead to enhanced access to finance for (young and female) actors in the food system.

Inclusion of youth relevant interventions and partnerships in the agricultural value chain and Agri small and medium enterprise (SME) strategy that will lead to creation of work opportunities for youth especially young women.

Impact (work opportunities for youth, and improved performance of youth led enterprises) of initiatives designed and implemented through ODA ADEY program.

Level of support (quantity and quality) provided to country and technical teams around access to financial services for young entrepreneurs and employees and youth groups.

Accurate reporting on relevant indicators and knowledge sharing around improving financial skills and access to financial services for youth (groups, entrepreneurs, and employees) in agricultural value chain and small scale business activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Design: Facilitate the design of innovative financial products and services that cater to the unique financial requirements of young people, including accounts, credit, financial education programs, and digital payment solutions.

Market Research: Conduct in-depth market research and analysis to identify opportunities for expanding financial inclusion among youth and understand the financial behaviors, needs, and preferences of the target audience.

Analyze cost-benefit of existing financial and non-financial services delivery mechanisms including leveraging of technology that could reduce the cost and risks of agricultural finance delivery (to youth and young women).

Innovation and Adaptation: Stay abreast of emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in the field of inclusive finance and youth development, integrating new ideas into existing programs.

Strategy Development: Collaborate with sector actors to formulate inclusive finance strategies tailored to the specific needs and challenges faced by youth populations.

Share knowledge on proven youth finance solutions and models with country teams and relevant partners for adaptation, adoption, and scaling.

Proactively support country teams and Centre of expertise staff in their strategy delivery and pipeline development to ensure inclusion of youth and finance in the programs.

Engagement Persuade

Financial Education: Develop and implement cost effective financial literacy programs and workshops to educate young people on managing personal finances, budgeting, saving, and in making informed financial decisions.

Policy Advocacy: Advocate for policies and regulatory frameworks that promote youth financial inclusion, working with policymakers and contributing to policy discussions on public investments in financing youth (groups).

Capacity Building: Train and mentor staff, field agents, and partners on inclusive finance practices and youth engagement strategies and develop knowledge-sharing products and events to position ODA as a thought leader and catalyst in reducing the cost and risk of finance for young people in agriculture.

Collaboration with Business Development Service Providers: collaborating with Business Development Service (BDS) providers to enhance the effectiveness and reach of financial inclusion programs for young entrepreneurs and aspiring youth in the target areas. Work closely with BDS organizations to identify, design, and deliver appropriate capacity-building services that complement financial products and contribute to the overall economic empowerment of youth.

Monitoring and Evaluation: Create performance metrics and track the impact of inclusive finance initiatives on youth beneficiaries, regularly reporting progress to management and relevant stakeholders.

Partnership Management: Establish and maintain productive partnerships with governmental bodies, financial institutions, youth organizations, and other stakeholders to drive the implementation of inclusive finance initiatives while contributing to resource mobilization efforts in Agri SME development and financing for youth.

Risk Assessment: Evaluate potential risks and challenges associated with inclusive finance programs for youth and propose risk mitigation strategies to ensure sustainable and responsible financial services.

Integrity: Uphold moral convictions and always doing the right thing.

Respect: Value differences and embrace diversity and inclusion.

Innovation: Strive for excellence and embracing continuous improvement, bold creativity, and change.

Stewardship: Be responsible for actions undertaken and resources entrusted.

Equity: Be governed by fairness in all undertaking

Educational Qualification, Experience & Skills requirements

MA/BA in Accounting, Cooperative finance, Economics, Agricultural economics, Financial management, Business , Economics management/Administration, and related field and 8/10 years of services in grants or contract management role in related to youth development and working in NGOs as a senior level

Strong knowledge and training in any donor regulations and policies.

Strong knowledge in cooperative development.

Strong Knowledge in Village Saving Lone Association (VSLA)

Proven experience with budget development, monitoring and reporting and strategic development

Experience relationships with international partners

Familiarity with accounting soft wares

Fluency in English required; ability to communicate in Afaan Oromo language is an advantage.

Familiarity with current agricultural and digital finance industry challenges and constraints for youth and young women to make use of financial services.

Experience in an advisory role involving engagement of financial ecosystem stakeholders, and youth (support) organizations.

A good understanding of challenges and opportunities in engaging youth in the agricultural sector, youth entrepreneurship development and (informal) job markets in rural and semi urban context.

Capacity to develop a network of relevant youth organizations, youth support programs, financial and non-financial services providers is essential.

Good writing (ToRs, grant proposals and knowledge documents) and communication (conducting webinars, chairing meetings, panel, and moderation roles) skills.

Relevant Experience

Professional experience in youth entrepreneurship and agricultural finance.

Relevant experience in development and design of interventions targeting creation of work opportunities for young people in food systems.

Candidate should have worked in an advisory capacity in a financial institution, enterprise support organization or development program with a strong focus on youth and agriculture.

Relevant experience in different countries and contexts in Africa is desirable.

Key Competencies

Strategic Orientation: Focus on the big picture and overall Strategic Framework. Ability to identify and pursue strategic initiatives which provide the greatest value and sustainable impact; balances long and short-term trade-offs; communicates clearly and precisely the strategic goals and the strategies for achieving them.

Leadership: Demonstrates ability to mobilize, focus, align, and build effective groups to enable them to conceptualize and achieve collective objectives. Inspires Trust and Passion in the AGRA Mission: Ability to show great drive and commitment to ODA mission; help others understand how their daily work contributes to the ODAs mission and inspires others to proactively meet the ODAs strategic objectives in partnership with clients. Maintains high standards of personal integrity and provides support for professional development efforts linked to business objectives.

Customer and market Orientation: Demonstrates knowledge of the customers they serve, competitors, suppliers, and the regulatory environment. Provides a balanced a responsive and proactive approach to meeting client needs; encourages staff to understand client needs and concerns; ensures provision of customized services and products as appropriate; Responds promptly and effectively to client and market needs. Adds business value based on own understanding and service of the customers and the market in which they work.

Driving Results: Demonstrates drive for improvement of business results, based on well-rounded understanding of general business principles and own activities commercial and financial implications.

Planning and Organising: Devises plans of action with explicit paths and measures of accomplishment for self and/or others and allocates suitable resources so that objectives are achieved. Strong administration skills.

Technical Competencies for the position: Demonstrate knowledge of all own work role specific issues. This encompasses the technical skills or knowledge required to perform the essential duties as described in this Job Description. Specific technical competencies: quantitative analytical skills including use of appropriate software, results-based management systems, designing tools and strategies for data collection, analysis and production of reports; In-depth knowledge on MIS, M&E and development issues.

Accuracy and attention to detail: High level of accuracy, attention to detail and thoroughness. Ability to maintain a timely and efficient workflow.

Managing Resources: Demonstrates the ability to plan and use resources (people and/or finance and/or physical assets) in accordance with ODA guidelines and delegated accountability so that objectives are achieved in the most effective manner possible.

Coaching and Developing Staff: A demonstrated capacity for working effectively within multi-disciplinary teams for collective success and provide effective coaching and encourage appropriate development activities to support staff in identifying and meeting their training and development needs.

Communication and Interpersonal relations: Exceptional communication skills and ability to represent ODA externally at high levels. Demonstrates ability to maintain lasting, healthy, and effective one-to-one working relationships with colleagues, suppliers, customers, professional peers, etc.

Intercultural Sensitivity and Effectiveness: Demonstrates ability to cross and bridge different racial, cultural, or business cultures. This requires and is exhibited by personal experience of international or cross-cultural business with improved achievements.

Teamwork: Demonstrates productive drive in working with peers, partners, consultants, and others to achieve pre-targeted and measurable business results.