The Position
Senior Job Creation and Industrial Economist
The Senior Job Creation and Industrial Economist will join a team of analysts to provide macroeconomic and microeconomic analysis to support strategic planning and decision-making for the organization’s investments for agro-industrialization and economic growth. He/she will provide analytics on social, political, and other factors that affect the economies of AGRA-supported countries.
The Senior Job Creation and Industrial Economist will be responsible for leading economic analysis to inform strategic decision making and policy development related to job creation, entrepreneurship, and agro-industrialization. He/she will apply economic analysis to understand decision-making processes and investments in relation to job creation, entrepreneurship, and agro industrialization. This role will involve evaluating economic trends, assessing the impact of AGRA’s investments, and providing actionable insights to guide AGRAs strategy and future investments to impact AGRA countries. Additionally, working hand in hand with a team of analysts, the Senior Job Creation and Industrial Economist will support AGRA programs and Directorates to identify employment opportunities in agricultural value chains, develop tools and models for youth employment and labor market analysis, including models on how countries can better absorb rural and urban job seekers in IAT and national development. She/he will lead AGRA’s capacity building efforts for key stakeholders on youth employment and institutional and regulatory constraints to youth and womens successful engagement in agribusinesses and contribute towards a comprehensive policy strategy.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conduct comprehensive economic analyses to evaluate the impact of AGRA’s investments related to job creation for the youth, entrepreneurship, and agro-industrialization.
- Conduct in-depth research and analysis of the labor market within the agriculture and food systems sectors. This includes studying seasonal labor trends, the impact of agricultural policies, and workforce demographics.
- Support development of policies and regulatory reforms that promote youth and women agribusinesses, including the domestication and effective implementation of the African Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS).
- Analyze labor dynamics within key value chains and identify job opportunities for youth and women.
- Assess the economic impact of existing AGRA investments, including cost-benefit analyses and economic impact assessments.
- Oversee the collection, management, and analysis of economic data relevant to youth jobs, entrepreneurship, and agro industrialization.
- Communicate complex economic concepts and findings clearly and effectively to non-specialist audiences, including senior management and external stakeholders.
- Development of tools and models for youth unemployment and labour market analysis, including a model for assessing the impact on youth in work from ecosystem strengthening measures.
- Collaborate with AGRA BLs and government stakeholders to provide evidence-based recommendations and support policy development.
- Implement frameworks, metrics, indicators, and tools for tracking youth and women job opportunities in agricultural value chains.
- Identify training needs for mandated institutions, youth groups, and other entities involved in youth and women employment in agrifood systems.
- Examine the impact of international trade agreements and trade initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on youth and women employment opportunities in the agri-food systems sector. Advise on strategies to adapt to changing trade dynamics.
- Environmental and Labor Sustainability: Assess the environmental impact of labour practices in agriculture and recommend sustainable labour practices that align with environmental goals.
- Policy Advocacy in Agriculture: Advocate for labour-related policies that address the unique needs and challenges of the agriculture and food systems sector. Collaborate with industry associations and government agencies.
Key Qualifications and Experience Required:
- A master’s degree in industrial or labour economics, development economics, or related discipline with demonstrated expertise in labor economics, agro-industrialization, Industrial Economics, Applied Economics, or related field with significant statistics element. A PhD in the field will be an added advantage.
- A minimum of 5 years’ experience in industrial economics, labor economics, or related fields.
- In-depth knowledge of labor workforce development and systems strengthening.
- Ability to produce high-quality technical documents on various issues of agrifood systems work opportunities, and job impacts.
- Demonstrated experience in analyzing complex labor market microdata and macrodata (at continental level) using advanced quantitative models in analyzing labor policies.
- Ability to communicate clearly, taking into consideration a working environment which is multi- disciplinary, multi-cultural, and international.
- Excellent interpersonal and analytical skills.
- Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, often under tight deadlines.
- Demonstrated experience working with international development organizations on economic analysis and research.
- Demonstrated experience in modeling job creation and income opportunities in rural Africa.
- Strong knowledge of industrial economics and the economics of private sector development.
- Strong background in quantitative research methods, econometric modeling, and data analysis.
- Proficiency in econometric analysis software (e.g., Stata, R) and experience in data management and analysis.
- Understanding of labour markets, economic transformation and industrial, industrial competition, and political economy economics.
- Knowledge of green jobs creation and related policy frameworks.
- Familiarity with economic modeling and forecasting techniques.
- Experience advising governments, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and other types of organizations preferred.
- Demonstrated understanding and familiarity with Africa’s policy and political economy landscape, including policy issues related to poverty, economic growth, food security, and agricultural or rural development.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical information
clearly and concisely.
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Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Governance Coordination and Documentation
- Coordinate the planning, scheduling, and logistics for all YEFFA governance bodies, including the PSG, SAG, and CCC.
- Prepare and circulate agendas, background materials, and decision briefs to governance members in advance of meetings.
- Record, synthesize, and disseminate meeting minutes, action points, and follow-up trackers to ensure accountability.
- Ensure that governance engagements are structured, well-documented, and contribute to timely program oversight and decision-making.
- Support the Director – GYI and YEFFA leadership in preparing governance presentations and policy briefs for AGRA’s Executive Team and donors
Decision Tracking and Alignment
- Maintain a governance decision log and follow up with responsible parties to ensure action items are completed within deadlines.
- Track progress of resolutions and recommendations from governance forums to ensure strategic coherence and delivery alignment.
- Provide monthly governance performance summaries and updates to the Director – GYI and Head – YEFFA Program Delivery.
- Ensure all governance records and decisions are archived systematically in AGRA’s shared knowledge repository.
Stakeholder Relations and Coordination
- Liaise with PSG, SAG, and CCC members to ensure effective participation and communication before and after meetings.
- Serve as the focal point between AGRA leadership, the Mastercard Foundation, and external partners on all YEFFA governance issues.
- Coordinate cross-departmental inputs to governance forums, ensuring inclusivity and alignment with AGRA’s institutional priorities.
- Support the organization of YEFFA-related learning events, high-level reviews, and partner roundtables to promote transparency and shared learning.
- Ensure that governance communications uphold AGRA’s brand integrity and compliance standards.
Governance Systems and Reporting
- Develop and maintain governance calendars, reporting templates, and dashboards to visualize decision progress and accountability metrics.
- Produce periodic reports summarizing governance engagement outcomes and alignment with program milestones.
- Support the institutionalization of governance best practices by refining templates, checklists, and documentation standards.
- Ensure timely preparation of governance-related reports and briefing notes for AGRA’s management and the Mastercard Foundation.
- Assist in the coordination of external governance events, including the Annual YEFFA Learning Summit and mid-year portfolio reviews.
Key Qualifications and Experience Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, International Development, Project Management, Political Science, or a related field.
- Certification in Project Management (PMP) or Governance and Compliance is an added advantage.
- Minimum of 8 years’ experience in program governance, coordination, or administration within international development organizations or donor-funded programs.
- Demonstrated experience in managing multi-stakeholder governance platforms, program steering committees, or advisory boards.
- Proven ability to track decisions, prepare accurate documentation, and maintain governance compliance in complex environments.
- Experience working with donor-funded institutions such as the Mastercard Foundation, World Bank, or bilateral agencies.
- Strong coordination, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously.
- High proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and digital collaboration platforms (Teams, SharePoint).
- Demonstrate a strong understanding of governance structures, decision-making processes, and policy tracking.
- Skilled in planning, scheduling, and managing cross-functional engagements.
- Must demonstrate excellent writing, synthesis, and communication skills for high-level reports and briefs.
- Ability to design systems for tracking progress and maintaining institutional memory.
- Familiarity with governance frameworks within African agricultural and youth employment programs
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