Consultancy: Youth and Agriculture/Horticulture Expert, Lesotho

Position Description

EnCompass LLC is seeking a consultant to serve as a Youth and Agriculture/Horticulture Sector Expert for the five-year Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Gender and Social Inclusion (GSI) Call Order in Lesotho. Under this project, the EnCompass team will support all GSI activities under MCC Lesotho’s Compact II Improving Capital Investment (ICI) Project including: Institutional Reforms (IR), Market-Driven Irrigated Horticulture Activity (MDIH), Business Environment and Technical Assistance Facility (BETA). The consultant will work closely with a team of staff and other consultants at EnCompass, MCC and local project staff in Lesotho.

This position is remote within southern Africa, expected occasional travel to Lesotho as needed.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will review project documents and related reports – MDIH and BETA projects, conduct interviews, meet with people and institutions of interest to the project, make assessments and identify gaps in youth inclusion in the context of GSI integration objectives. S/he will also review other relevant youth development programs and frameworks and apply his/her prior knowledge of the subject matter as well as that of the project area. The consultant, based on his/her assessments and findings, will produce written recommendations for ongoing development and implementation of youth inclusive approach.

Essential functions:

• Assessing/researching (brief) on the objective realities of youth (male and female) in the project area. This includes their needs, interests, skill sets and priorities; constraints and opportunities for youth participation in agriculture across the value chain; access to productive resources and services; engagement in employment and income generation activities; involvement in household and community leadership and decision making, among others.
• Identifying and applying context and project-relevant frameworks for analysis and realization of youth inclusion. Such frameworks may include but are not limited to the USAID Positive Youth Development framework.
• Ensuring that youth considerations are factored into project M&E plans, including the designing and operationalization of youth-specific indicators.
• Assess and recommend the use of youth participation methodologies in the project activities in order to attract and retain youth in the project activities.
• Identify opportunities for exchange learning on youth engagement in the agricultural sector and facilitate knowledge management and exchange.
• Ensuring youth have voices in all aspects of the projects – requires visit and consultation with youth
• Support youth-driven advocacy for necessary policy reform and the creation of an enabling environment for youth (female and male) participation in agri-business, including access to training, financing, mentorship, and markets.
• Meeting with government, non-government, and private partners of the projects to identify opportunities for youth engagement in the projects and in economic growth of the area, in general
• Identifying capacity building and training needs and opportunities to mobilize the potential of youth and engage them fully
• Identifying and recommending potential areas of youth engagement in the irrigation scheme
• Identifying small/medium business opportunities for youth across horticulture/agriculture value chain
• Assessing and recommending access to loan/ and project finance (especially through BETA facility).

Position Requirements

Qualifications

Academic Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social science, anthropology, sociology, demography, geography, development studies, or closely related discipline.

Experience and Skills

• At least fifteen (15) years of relevant experience in social, gender, youth, and poverty analysis pertaining to agriculture value chains and supporting youth programs in rural livelihoods programs, with at least 5 of these years in sub-Saharan Africa
• Must have knowledge of gender dynamics among younger generations
• Have solid working knowledge and experience related to youth engagement in the agribusiness sector
• Based in southern Africa and able to travel frequently to Lesotho
• Excellent communication (written and oral), reporting and presentation skills
• English language proficiency is required, including both strong oral and written English language skills
• Experience with working with large agencies/organizations and large projects, preferably with MCC or USAID
• Experience in horticulture value chain, cold chain development experience a plus

EnCompass LLC is a progressive Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote, celebrate, and support a diverse and inclusive organizational culture and workforce. We are committed to providing all of our employees with an environment free from discrimination and harassment, where all are treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate, and explicitly prohibit, discrimination or harassment of any kind, at any time, in all aspects of employment. This includes recruitment, hiring, promotions, disciplinary measures, terminations, compensation, benefits, social and recreational programs, and training. EnCompass also does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who report discrimination or harassment. Our continuing commitment to the principle of Equal Opportunity Employment for all means all employment decisions are based only on the job requirements, the candidate’s qualifications, and the needs of EnCompass as a business—not on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, HIV status, family/marital/parental status, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we work.

For US based positions: The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.

The incumbent must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle and prioritize multiple, competing tasks and demands and to seek supervisory assistance as appropriate.

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