Employability & Entrepreneurship Skills Development Specialist

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation that applies practical know-how to make a lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty. We use our extensive and long-term in-country presence to apply and adapt our top-notch expertise in Agriculture, Energy and WASH to local contexts. SNV has an annual turnover of €130 million, over 1,250 staff in more than 25 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We are proud to be a not-for-profit organisation that uses project financing to implement our mission. This requires us to work efficiently and to invest in operational excellence.In its new Strategic Plan period (2019 – 2022), SNV will more explicitly aim for systems change during project preparation and implementation - by strengthening institutions and kick-starting markets that help many more to escape poverty beyond our projects. We will continue to position ourselves as a premium organisation, with decentralised management. Our Global Support Unit (70 staff) backstops our teams around the world.For more information on SNV, visit our website: www.snv.orgSNV has been present in Ghana since 1992. SNV has recently been awarded funding from the European Union for the implementation of a Trust Fund project, which aims to promote employment, entrepreneurship and support the greening of businesses for sustainable and climate resilient local economies in Ghana.

Job Description

SNV envisages to integrate its Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE) approach in the employment and entrepreneurship project components. OYE is a market-based methodology, which aims to sustainably reduce (youth) unemployment and underemployment through the provision of access to (self-) employment in project areas of intervention.

Position Summary

SNV currently seeks a full-time Employability & Entrepreneurship Skills Development Specialist for the EU Trust Fund project. S/he will be responsible for the overall Employability and Entrepreneurship Skills Development components of the project at national level, in coordination with the Project Manager. S/he works closely with two regional skills development Advisors, as well as with project partners, service providers and sub-contractors.

Under the supervision of the Project Manager, the key responsibilities of the Employability and Entrepreneurship Skills Development Specialist will include the following:

• Plan and coordinate the implementation of OYE Skills Development activities, in coordination with the selected Skills Development Service providers and the two SNV regional Skills Development Advisors, as per the project key results.
• In close collaboration with the selected Skills Development service provider, coordinate:

• the formulation of selection criteria for service recipients (youth, women and returning migrants), in consultation with project partners and project team members in the regions of intervention;
• the selection of service recipients to participate in the Skills Development  programme.

• Co-facilitate, with the selected Skills Development service provider and the regional Skills Development Advisors, basic life and business skills training aimed at further enhancing service recipients’ motivation, drive, aspirations and plans related to employment and entrepreneurship.
• Supervise the implementation of market opportunity assessments and the grouping of service recipients, based upon their interests and motivation for (self-) employment in selected sectors/thematic areas.
• Facilitate linkages between service recipients and market opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.
• Coordinate the implementation of entrepreneurship trainings and the support for establishing businesses.
• Co-organize training programmes with service recipients/sub-contractors and facilitate the creation of youth saving and lending associations.
• Mobilise and collaborate with multiple stakeholders in Agriculture, Energy, Waste Management, Circular Economy, and Digital themes relevant to employment and entrepreneurship.
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with employers, TVET/training providers and  relevant organisations to generate employment opportunities and skills development.
• Provide specialist advise on internships/apprenticeships and other learning pathways.
• Track and coordinate job placements; maintain log of contacts and performance records.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with at least five (5) years of experience OR Bachelor’s Degree with at least years of experience in a relevant discipline, such as entrepreneurship, inclusive business, agricultural economics, agribusiness, energy economics and business administration;
• Proven track record in employability skills development in projects of similar nature, preferably in international development organizations on the following themes:

•         Entrepreneurship/private sector development;
•         inclusive business/market-based models;
•         multiple stakeholder facilitation, public private partnerships;
•         innovative solutions (digital, circular economy);

• Demonstrated experience in managing capacity building programmes; background in training preferred;
• Proactive and entrepreneurial attitude; exploring and developing innovative approaches that appeal to rural and urban/peri-urban youth and women are considered an advantage;
• Excellent networking skills; ability to engage with the public and private sectors, as well as civil society;
• Excellent (writing and oral) communication skills, reporting and presentation skills;
• Ability, to prioritize multiple assignments in an extremely fast-paced environment, to meet deadlines, to exercise good judgment and to effectively communicate with Management;
• Available for frequent travel in the project areas.
• Language: Excellent command of written and spoken English is required.