Inclusion and Youth Engagement Advisor (Contingent to donor funding)

SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. We are driven by a vision of a better world: a world where, across every society, all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably. To make this vision a reality, we need transformations in vital agriculture, food, energy, and water systems. SNV contributes by strengthening capacities and catalyzing partnerships in these sectors. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises. Building on 60 years of experience, we support our partners with our technical and process expertise and methodological rigor. We do this in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia with a team of approximately 1,600 colleagues. By being adaptable and tailoring our approaches to these different contexts, we can contribute to impact at scale, resulting in more equitable lives for all. 

Our core values of people-centeredness and respect, equity and equality, and diversity and inclusion are fundamental to who we are and what we do. This is reflected in our vision, mission, and strategy, which set out our aspirations and commitments as our compass towards 2030. 

For more information on our operations in Ethiopia and SNV, generally visit our website: www.snv.org  

SNV Ethiopia is recruiting an experienced, Inclusion and Youth Engagement Advisor for an anticipated flagship programme. The programme aims to secure 800,000 dignified and fulfilling job opportunities for rural young women.  The programme will embrace a market system approach in high-potential value chains, (horticulture, poultry, dairy and complementary value chains), grounded in seven regional clusters. It will deliberately integrate Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) transformative approaches and safeguarding mechanisms across all programme interventions, empowering young women to secure jobs through initiatives that aim to address market and socio-economic barriers and location-specific gendered root causes.  

SNV will implement the program jointly with five other Ethiopian/ international NGOs, who will deliver their work in specific clusters. Together, these clusters will integrate technical expertise, and they will support the program’s ecosystem to achieve longer-term systems change for youth employment in agriculture/agribusiness. 

Summary of the Position

This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about promoting youth employment, creating entrepreneurial opportunities for young women in the agricultural sector, and addressing systemic barriers to young women's empowerment and their businesses. We are seeking a professional with considerable experience in inclusion and youth engagement. 

Reporting to the Deputy Program Manager—Partnership and youth engagement, inclusion, and youth engagement advisor will be part of the program team and responsible for leading the development and implementation of youth engagement and inclusion strategy. You will be an advisor to the program team and drive collaborations with consortium partners on inclusion and youth engagement to ensure alignment in all related strategies.

The inclusion and Youth Engagement Advisor will take the lead in designing and overseeing the implementation of inclusive strategies that ensure the active participation of rural young women (RYW), persons with disabilities, returnees, and other marginalized youth groups in all program activities. The role involves designing effective mobilization strategies to mobilize and engage RYW and persons with disabilities in the program.  The advisor will be responsible for setting the strategic direction, providing leadership and capacity-building support to the team and implementing partners, and developing effective platforms for youth voice and engagement. The role will also include assessing and addressing challenges faced by Persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups, ensuring that interventions are inclusive and responsive to their needs. The role will shape the program’s direction on youth engagement, ensuring that rural young women, persons with disabilities, and youth from marginalized backgrounds, are not only included but are empowered to take on active, meaningful roles in shaping their future.

Lead inclusive strategies for mobilizing and engaging RYW, persons with disabilities and other marginalized youth.

• Design a strategy for effectively mobilizing rural young women (RYW) at the community level, focusing on targeted outreach and ensuring access to information, while facilitating their registration at OSSCs for employment opportunities.
• Lead efforts to identify, mobilize, and engage RYW, persons with disabilities, returnees, and other marginalized youth for program participation, ensuring that interventions meet their unique needs and aspirations.
• Oversee the design and execution of inclusive and equitable targeting strategies to guarantee full and fair access for these groups to all program components.
• Spearhead the assessment of barriers faced by Persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups, designing effective strategies to overcome them and ensure their full participation.
• Lead the creation of inclusive strategies and interventions that enable RYW and persons with disabilities to benefit from skill-building, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities in a supportive and accessible manner.
• Facilitate the provision of assistive devices and equipment to ensure Persons with disability can participate in all activities, including training, enterprise development and community engagement.
• Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies to ensure active youth participation, particularly focusing on RYW, Persons with disability, returnees, and other marginalized youth.
• Provide strategic leadership and capacity-building support to staff, implementing partners, and other key stakeholders on youth engagement and inclusive approaches for marginalized groups.
• Drive the establishment and strengthening of Youth Advisory Groups (YAG), youth associations, and other platforms that enable youth voices to be heard and considered in decision-making processes at all levels.

Networking and Collaboration:

• Take the lead in establishing strong collaboration with key stakeholders, including government, OSSCs, local organizations, and the private sector, to strengthen inclusion and youth engagement at the system level.
• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships with youth-led organizations, local governments, and other institutions to drive systemic change for inclusive youth engagement and empowerment.
• Establish strong networks and partnerships with disability organizations to foster a collaborative approach to inclusion, leverage resources, and advocate for policies and initiatives that promote disability inclusion.
• Work closely with other advisors in designing outreach strategy and information materials for RYW.

Knowledge management and learning:

• Oversee the monitoring and evaluation of inclusion strategies, ensuring they are impactful, inclusive, and responsive to the evolving needs of RYW and persons with disabilities.
• Lead the documentation and dissemination of success stories, best practices, and lessons learned to inform program improvements and share knowledge with the broader development community.
• Collaborate with other technical advisors, program staff, and partners to ensure high-quality implementation.

Take other responsibilities within the project that will help the team to achieve the desired results.

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in social development, gender studies, youth development, or related fields.
• At least 10 years of experience in designing and leading youth engagement, inclusion, or social development programs, with a focus on rural young women, persons with disabilities, or marginalized youth.
• Demonstrated expertise in leading inclusive strategies for marginalized groups, particularly rural young women and persons with disabilities, within a development context.
• Proven leadership experience in driving youth engagement initiatives, empowering youth, and building inclusive platforms for youth voice and participation.
• Strong experience in building and managing multi-stakeholder partnerships, including with government, private sector, and development organizations.
• Excellent strategic thinking, facilitation, and partnership-building skills.
• Female candidates are encouraged to apply 
• Flexible and able to adapt to a multi-cultural environment and complex situations. 
• Fluency in English is required. 

Additional Skills & Competencies:

• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities, with a track record of developing creative solutions to overcome inclusion barriers.
• Experience in designing and implementing inclusive programs that prioritize youth empowerment, gender equality, and social inclusion.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
• A proven track record in monitoring, evaluation, and knowledge-sharing, specifically related to youth engagement and inclusion.

Contract Type: National, Full-time

This position will be based on donor funding and approval confirmation.

Expected start date: April/May 2025

Duty Station:  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Contract Duration: One year with the possibility of extension based on performance. 

How to Apply? 
If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and a letter of motivation before/on March 7th, 2025. Please submit your application only via Smart Recruiters. All information will be kept in the strictest confidentiality. 
If your experience and skills match the position's requirements, we will contact you to advise on the next steps in the recruitment process.

Working at SNV  
SNV offers a challenging work environment, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling and diverse working environment. Our staff benefit from and contribute to an internal and global network of experts.

At SNV, inclusivity is at the heart of our ethos. We celebrate the diversity of our workforce and uphold a policy of non-discrimination based on factors such as disability status, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, and more.

Vetting
SNV carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for both national and internationally determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill out a questionnaire regarding misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct.". This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme. 

SNV is an equal opportunities employer, and female candidates are encouraged to apply.

We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.