job Description
Company Description:
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.
Overview and Background:
According to the African Development Bank in 2016, over 10 million young people join the labour market in Africa every year. Although Africa has experienced rapid economic growth for over a decade, with general reduction in overall poverty levels, this growth has not been pro-poor. This has particularly affected those young people without foundational education (literacy and numeracy), adaptable or transferable skills (personal skills, leadership acumen, entrepreneurial attitude etc.) and vocational or technical skills. The result has been a large cohort of young people without access to skills and suitable work opportunities. The youth are a vulnerable section of our population, and they need support to start their lives and contribute to the economy.
It is against this background that SNV Zimbabwe, through the Opportunities for Youth Employment Project Phase II, is seeking to connect with this section of the population and guide them through a trajectory that will lead to them finding (self) jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities in agriculture, renewable energy and other related green jobs. The OYE Phase II project will build on the successes and lessons from the OYE Phase I. More specifically the OYE Project will provide skills and economic opportunities to 11,000 youth in Zimbabwe by contributing to and supporting an enabling environment around youth economic opportunities, via private and public sector partnerships; household and community engagement; improved government coordination and implementation and influencing changing of negative norms. The project will be implemented in 11 Districts in Zimbabwe namely Mutare Urban, Mutasa, Murewa, Mutoko, Chikomba, Goromonzi, Mangwe, Umzingwane, Matobo, Harare Urban and Bulawayo Urban.
Role Overview:
The Business and Financial Services Officer based in Mutare will play a crucial role in supporting the development and implementation of protocols for the Youth Savings and Lending (VSAL) under the Scaling Up Youth Employment Opportunities in Agriculture OYE+ project. The ideal candidate should be detail-oriented, proactive, and passionate about community development and youth empowerment.
Duties and Responsibilities
Youth Savings and Lending and Financial Products:
-Support the development and implementation of protocols for the Youth Savings and Lending (VSAL) program.
-Assist in organizing and facilitating meetings and ToT workshops related to YSAL training to ensure alignment to project objectives by LSPs and stakeholders.
-Facilitate the provision of financial coaching to youth establishing their own saving and lending groups with a focus on YLE investment and improved (recognized) financial performances.
-Monitor and report on the progress of the Youth Savings and Lending activities.
-Assist youth to have access to appropriate financial products and services including exploration of Digital YSAL platforms.
Financial Services:
-Matching trained youth with career opportunities (internships, job placements)
-Technical assistance in financial services, employment, and enterprise development
-Identify opportunities for finance for youth-led agri-businesses and RE-businesses
-Leads engagements with financial institutions and other ecosystem actors
-Strategic advice on the application of financial inclusion approaches and financing
-Leads engagement with financial institutions
-Explores initiatives for growing and upscaling Youth Saving and Lending Associations, including digitalization of YSLA
Mentorships and Training:
-Provide mentorship and support to youth participants in the Savings and Lending program.
-Facilitate the provision of regular coaching and mentoring for new youth-led enterprises to ensure effective management of their businesses.
-Assist youth in the program areas by developing and maintaining strong partnerships with employers, training providers, and other relevant organizations to generate opportunities to gain employment and further development of skills; provide specialist advice on Apprenticeships and other learning pathways.
-Work with the project staff, partners, and other stakeholders to develop and implement innovative gender and youth integration and empowerment strategies for all project activities.
-Facilitate to support business start-ups to address challenges, access to markets, and development of business-to-business relations with private sector companies.
-Assist in planning and conducting training sessions for project participants.
-Support the development of training materials and resources especially those related to YSALs.
Data Monitoring and Evaluation:
-Conduct field visits to ensure data collection processes are being followed accurately by all contracted stakeholders including LSPs
-Assist in preparing regular reports on project performance and outcomes.
-Collaborate with the PME office on environment/gender/ youth integration and analysis tools.
-Ensure the regular project data collection and reporting and contribute to the documentation of project lessons from the project. This will also include data quality checks.
Liaising with Stakeholders:
-Work in close collaboration with regional and local government offices to identify target youth for the project and ensure good collaboration in enhancing their skills.
-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 education and training, etc.
-Strategically engage private (and public) sector players for OYE youth-led businesses, products, and services.
-Provide support to and manage Local Service Providers (LSPs) contracted by SNV for implementation of the skills development component of the project.
-Establish and maintain relationships with local communities, partners, and other stakeholders.
-Communicate regularly with stakeholders to provide updates on project progress and address any concerns.
-Represent the project at district and community meetings and other relevant events.
Additional Support
-Assist with other project-related activities as needed.
-Contribute to the continuous improvement of project processes and protocols.
-The position shall require one to travel across the different districts to offer support.
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