Youth Entrepreneurship Development Specialist VSO

The Youth Entrepreneurship Development Specialist will assess the training needs and support capacity building activities of youth entrepreneurs and youth led MSMES. Specifically, s/he will provide coaching and mentoring to youth entrepreneurs, micro-enterprises and other private sector actors, provide relevant business development services and develop and implement strategies to become self-sustained, competitive and increase jobs opportunities, and skills training services.

Responsibilities:
Working with Implementing partners (IPs), alongside VSO Resilient Livelihoods team, undertake the following:
Youth entrepreneurship support and resilience
• Build the capacity of youth entrepreneurs in business management, financial management, marketing, and customer care skills
• Support youth entrepreneurs to design and implement business plans that are key to their business growth
Connect youth led businesses to established entrepreneurs and Business Development Service providers relevant to their enterprises for mentorship and coaching
• With project team support the Youth entrepreneurs and SMEs to form a network for sharing best practices; enhancing visibility, engagement and reputation with private sector companies

Work Readiness support
• Financial literacy. prepare youth for employment and increased incomes through enabling them understand how to manage money and small investments
• Workplace attitudes and abilities – work to train and inculcate acceptable employment and work ethics and etiquette to enhance their employability. This would include honesty and integrity and customer care.
• Support the training of youth and in skills of developing CVs, interview and pitching techniques
• Provide support to implementing partners in delivering business acumen, guidance and counselling in order to support the youth to develop “personal branding” to enhance their self-confidence and self-promotion.

Research and Knowledge production
• Engage in continuous research to map out opportunities, partners and use this to inform the activities of the hub

Capacity building
• Strengthening skills of implementing partners in conducting labour market assessments
• Supporting with entrepreneurship and skills curriculum development / revision, based on identified related market trends.
• Strengthening the capacity of training providers to deliver hands-on, practical youth-oriented training

Linkages
• Strengthen linkages with various market actors, including creating apprenticeship opportunities with prospective employers, and/or business opportunities with the private sector for youth etc.
• Support with linkages with appropriate research agencies and leaders in innovations and related technology

Internal Reporting:
• Submit activity and monthly plans and reports Program Specialist.
• Document and share success and case stories, best practices and lessons learnt
• Input into quarterly and annual donor reports as needed
• Participate in project planning and review meetings
• Jointly with other resilient livelihoods team identify and share areas of good practice

Essential selection criteria:
• Experience in entrepreneurship development, delivery of business development services
• Expertise in programme design, implementation and MEL with a clear focus on market systems approaches
• Sound experience in organisational capacity building and assessment, advising and coaching
• Strong experience working in multi stakeholder partnerships, developing and expanding partnerships, effective relationship management
• Experience of delivering Training of Trainers
• Experience in gender, economic and social inclusion

Knowledge/qualifications:
• Academic background in a relevant field, e.g. Entrepreneurship, youth engagement development, programme management

Experience:
• 5+ year experience in youth entrepreneurship development, innovations and inclusive skills development, youth engagement and employability programming in livelihoods/youth employment including significant experience in private sector engagements.

Skills/Abilities:
• Working together – successfully works with culturally diverse teams and develops others’ team-working skills.
• Communication & influencing – inspires others by: advocating plans and ideas within and outside VSO; maintaining a wide, influential network; coaching.
• Striving for excellence – leads initiatives to improve agribusiness approaches and practices; is a role model for continuous learning and improvement in M4Y approaches.
• Managing Resources – Organizes own work to meet objectives; clarifies accountability or roles; seeks ways to create value for money in implementation of activities.
• Developing People – is a role model for coaching, mentoring and developing others.
• Delivering Results – effectively working with others including VSO partners to ensure timely, high quality results.

Desired selection criteria:
• Experience with agribusiness business development and market for youth approaches
• Understanding of the some of the key constraints around youth employment in agriculture
• Partner capacity development.
• Youth engagement, gender economic resilience and social inclusion
• Experience in monitoring, evaluation and assessment of youth engagement programmes.