National Coordinator for Decent Rural Youth Employment at Food and Agriculture Organization

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The position is located in the FAO Representation in Kenya

Background

The Integrated Country Approach Programme is geared towards sustainable policy change and places emphasis on strengthening the capacities of national institutions responsible for agriculture and labour to promote decent rural employment, including through private-public partnerships and multi-stakeholder mechanisms. At country level, the approach aims in particular at enhancing the employment content of national strategies, policies and programmes for agricultural and rural development in order to optimize the contribution of the sector to improve the quantity as well as the quality of rural jobs. The approach is strongly focused on youth employment creation in agricultural food systems and value chain development, but also takes into account access to agri-finance, occupational safety and health, migration, youth engagement and digital tools.

In Kenya, during the 4 years of implementation, the programme will focus on the following strategic entry points:

• Policy/programmatic coordination around the youth in agribusiness strategy and linked to the forthcoming youth policy
• Support youth organizations, groups and networking
• Identification of youth role models and champions/mentorship
• Youth access to agri-finance
• Alternative means of accessing land for the youth
• Assess VC opportunities, and promote youth access to agribusiness training, market and private sector collaboration (in priority counties to be selected)

Reporting Lines

The National Coordinator for Decent Rural Youth Employment will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Kenya and Assistant FAO Representative (Programmes); direct supervision of the sub-programme team leader - Inclusive Value Chains and technical supervision of the International Coordinator based in the Social Policies and Rural Institutions Division (ESP). The national coordinator will responsible for the day-to-day technical leadership and coordination for the project on “Integrated Country Approach (ICA) for boosting decent jobs for youth in the agri-food system”.

The incumbent will work in close collaboration with the relevant colleagues in the ESP/Decent Rural Employment Team (DRET) and FAO Kenya country office; as well as relevant UN agencies (e.g. ILO, UNDP, etc.) and in close consultation with the Ministries responsible for Agriculture, Labour, Youth, Gender, etc.

Tasks And Responsibilities

• In close coordination with the international Project Coordinator, and based on the results and activities presented in the project log frame, support the implementation and M&E of project activities including contributing to the development of annual work plans, activity requests and calendars;
• Oversee the process of policy dialogue with the national partners of the project and key agriculture, employment and rural development stakeholders;
• Actively participate in meetings, workshops and any other relevant events organized by the national partners of the project and key agriculture, employment and rural development stakeholders;
• Manage the day to day implementation of the project activities, including support to organizing periodic meetings and workshops/trainings, in collaboration with the FAO representation in that country, government, and its institutions, UN agencies as well as other relevant stakeholders;
• Provide technical inputs to key national stakeholders in the processes of revision of existing or formulation of new policies, strategies, plans and programmes around youth employment in agriculture, agribusiness, value chain development, access to agri-finance and private sector engagement;
• Prepare and submit report on progress of project implementation at national level on a quarterly basis, liaising with national partners;
• Coordinate and assist the missions and trainings conducted by international consultants and FAO staff by processing the administrative procedures and coordination with relevant governmental agencies, UN agencies and national stakeholders;
• Ensure the adoption of a sound project communication strategy, including by assisting in the development of information materials, to guarantee adequate access to information for all relevant stakeholders through different communication means;
• Collaborate and support other youth-related Programmes and projects within the FAO work programme and beyond that may bring collaborations and partnerships with the ICA project. The support may range from technical input into the development of related projects and supporting related missions among others;
• Contribute to the FAO Policy Database on Productive Employment and Decent Work by generating new entries and suggesting news;
• Coordinate an assessment of the presence of Indigenous Peoples inside or close to the project area and, if relevant, coordinate, document and act as a focal point for the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process throughout the different phases of the project in compliance with the relevant FAO Internal policies and procedures;
• In collaboration with the Decent Rural Employment Team, coordinate and act as a national focal point for establishing and implementing the project’s grievance mechanism, which is culturally appropriate and compliant with the relevant FAO policies and procedures, including receiving, assessing and registering complaints, interacting with complainants as required, ensuring complaints’ resolution at the project- or higher level of the grievance mechanism (Lead technical Unit, FAOR, or Regional Office), and documenting the process, all in compliance with the rules agreed with stakeholders and with the relevant FAO internal procedures;

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University Degree in Economics, Agricultural or Development Economics, Development Studies, Social Science or related fields.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience working on agriculture and decent rural employment and/or youth employment issues
• Fluent in both written and spoken English.
• National of Kenya.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
  
  

Technical/Functional Skills

• Prior experience around the topics of (youth) employment in agribusiness, agricultural value chain development and private sector engagement;
• Prior experience in policy assistance and/or programme management in the field of agriculture or rural development and/ or employment and entrepreneurship policies and programmes, with a special focus on youth policies and programmes;
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of the principles of results-based management and capacity to develop plans, organize resources and take actions to ensure objectives achieved within realistic time lines
• Good understanding of the government structure and experience in working with the government agencies.
• High degree of team ethic and dynamic personality
• Good communication skills.