Specialist in Youth Employment in Agriculture

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 objective of the project GCP/RAF/254/MUL Creating Agribusiness Employment Opportunities for Youth through Sustainable Aquaculture Systems and Cassava Value Chains in West Africa is to generate relevant employment opportunities for the youth in six West African countries namely Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria and Senegal, through the development of sustainable aquaculture systems and cassava value chains. FAO will partner with National stakeholders of the participating countries to deliver on the project outputs. At country level, the project will directly target 300 individual beneficiaries per country in aquaculture and cassava value chains. Aquaculture development will be pursued in all the countries whilst the development of the cassava value chain will target only Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria. The capacity at the National and regional levels will also be developed to engage in the medium/long term in the promotion of decent youth employment in aquaculture and related feedstock. The Project GCP/RAF/254/MUL would support the Government of Ghana in not only increasing youth employment through the provision of fish-production equipment and cassava-processing equipment and infrastructure (processing plants), but also in strengthening capacity of relevant government departments as well as in improving food and nutrition security. An additional project result will be the contribution to policy deliberations for youth employment in the sub-region.

Reporting Lines

The Specialist in Youth Employment in Agriculture reports to the FAO Representative through the project’s Lead Technical Officer.

Contribution to the effective implementation of Project GCP/RAF/254/MUL, particularly with respect to alternative aquaculture practices, completion of cassava processing plant related infrastructure as well as participation in matters related to policy development for youth employment.

• Coordinate activities related to the establishment of cluster fish tank farms in the Debiso Enclave in the Western Region of Ghana for youth beneficiaries;
• Coordinate activities related to the establishment of a fish processing facility in the Debiso and Assin Fosu Enclaves of Ghana for youth beneficiaries;
• Support the development of training materials for capacity development of youth beneficiaries to promote best practices and job creation in aquaculture grow-out management, fish processing and cassava processing;
• Coordinate capacity building activities in aquaculture grow-out management, fish processing and cassava processing, etc. for beneficiaries and make presentations on assigned topics/activities;
• Support procurement actions to ensure the timely provision of project inputs (i.e. personnel, equipment, supplies);
• Review relevant documents and reports on the Community Development Centres (CDC) in the West Gonja District; identify problems and issues to be addressed and propose way forward to complete at least one CDC; liaise with relevant parties; and track  follow-up actions;
• Participate as resource person to workshops discussing policies on youth employment promotion in aquaculture and related inputs value chains, as requested;
• Support the implementation of planned project activities, including the preparation of mid-term, terminal and ad-hoc reports;
• Perform any other related duties, as required.

• Advanced university degree in business administration, social science, agronomy/rural development or a related field with a good knowledge in aquaculture/agriculture enterprises and youth employment in agriculture.
• At least five (5) years of experience in project management, administration or related area
• Working knowledge of English.

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in the identification, formulation and preparation of programme and project proposals as well as programme/project implementation, monitoring and review
• Extent and relevance of experience in rural poverty reduction and rural development and cassava-processing infrastructure construction management would be an asset
• Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation, editing and revision of technical documents