USAID Project Careers - Private Sector Partnerships Specialist at TechnoServe
Project Name: USAID Uganda Youth Leadership for Agriculture ProgramDuty Station: Kampala, UgandaTechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a nonprofit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities. With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives.USAID Uganda is funding a new five-year Youth Leadership for Agriculture program to increase economic opportunities for hundreds of thousands of Ugandan female and male youth aged 10 to 35, in agriculture- related fields, in order to increase their incomes and build entrepreneurial, leadership, and workforce readiness skills. Pending confirmation of funding, TechnoServe will lead this program in select districts in Uganda, including Northern Uganda, through market systems and facilitative approaches. This program will focus on achieving two specific objectives by partnering with both public and private entities: (1) increased incomes of youth working in agricultural value chains (specifically maize, beans and coffee); and (2) improved skills development (entrepreneurship, employability, leadership, and life skills) obtained through formal and non-formal education and training organizations.Job Summary: The USAID Project Private Sector Partnerships Specialist is responsible for technical leadership and oversight for activities under "Objective One". Objective One will improve relationships and networks among value chain actors (focusing on the maize, bean and coffee value chains) and youth (ages 15-35) and use strategic investments and incentives to encourage private sector actors to provide technical assistance, training, mentoring, as well as increased market (both input and output) opportunities for large numbers of youth. This will involve developing relationships between private sector actors, such as input suppliers or exporters of maize, coffee and/or beans and youth and negotiating to improve their access to markets and enable youth to join and extract benefits from the value chain. With an awareness and keen understanding of appropriate existing agricultural technologies for youth, s/he will lead the investigation of the needs and skill requirements of employers and help link to youth to opportunities.Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The ideal candidate for the USAID Project career placement should hold a Master's degree in economics, agricultural economics, business, international development, public policy, law, or other relevant field. A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with 10 years of experience may be substituted for a Master's degree.At least six years of international experience in business or agriculture development.Possess excellent track record of achieving results in private sector-led development activities, preferably in agriculture. In particular, must have proven ability to establish strong and effective working relationships with private sector actors and solving challenges together.Must have demonstrated high level technical, analytical, and interpersonal skills.Prior experience working in emerging markets.Possess excellent management and communication skills.Demonstrated understanding of and passion for youth economic empowerment and improvement of livelihoods.Demonstrated experience of Uganda's private sector, particularly private sector companies in the agricultural sector; ability to understand, negotiate and strike win- win deals with private sector partnersStrong focus on results.Ability to travel up to 50% of time.Fluent in written and spoken English; fluency in one 'or more local languages is an added advantage.Past experience working in Uganda is desired Preference for work experience in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially East Africa and UgandaPrior experience applying market systems and facilitative approaches is an added advantage Prior experience working with USAID desired tooAll qualified and interested applicants should send a single Word-formatted document consisting of cover letter, resume and salary history to jobs@tns.org. Please identify the position for which you are applying in the subject line. Only applicants meeting minimum qualifications will be considered or contacted.
