TECHNICAL ADVISOR – YOUTH EMPOWERMENT & DIGITAL INNOVATION

Job Summary:

Led by the Gender, Youth and Livelihoods (GYL) team, the FWS team endeavors to leverage digital technology at the level of farmers, focusing on a new generation of agriculturalists. Digital technology for Agriculture — often called mAgri for mobile agriculture — is a mainstay in Digital Inclusion programming, and is a well-funded, well-studied development area. However, women and youth have been excluded from many of the digital interventions and innovations that have been deployed across the agriculture value chain. Women especially have been left behind in digital advancements as they have lesser access to technology at a time when agricultural information is “going digital.” With the advisement of the Digital Inclusion team and their expertise in closing technology divides, the role of the Youth Employment and Digital Innovation, reporting directly to the STA-Youth and Livelihoods, will primarily be as follows:
(1) Support digitalization processes in the FS portfolio for the FWS Programming (30%)
(2) Provide Technical support on Youth Employment and livelihoods in the FWS programs (30%)
(3). Support resource mobilization efforts to scale up and advance CARE’s digital innovations, and youth and livelihoods work in the area of FWS (20%)
(4). Provide leadership, mentorship and coaching on FWS/FFBS digital innovation to country-based staff working on FWS programs, especially on youth and livelihoods (20%):

Responsibilities:

1. Support digitalization processes in the FS portfolio for the FWS Programming
   • Work closely with FWS, GYL team leadership, CARE USA Digital and Digital Inclusion teams, VSLA digital team and other program teams to define and scope opportunities for expanded integration of appropriate and equitable technology in CARE’s FWS programming.
   • Explore and draw innovative approaches around digital innovation in agriculture, FFBS and broader FWS programming and develop and deliver on a plan that increases awareness and the integration of technology in FWS programming, in collaboration with the STA-Youth and Livelihoods.
   • Track and continually surface or help socialize lessons learned from across CARE on how technology is or could support FWS programming.
   • Support the development of tools/products/briefs to facilitate the design and understanding of digital innovations in FFBS and FWS programs/projects in CARE.
   • Support partnership and collaboration with digital innovation experts from CO and digital inclusion in FFBS and FWS programs in order to stay aware of larger industry/mAgri products and trends.
   • Support in the development of strategy and adapted group formation models and digital tools for better access to finance and business development services and mentoring for entrepreneurs.
   • Identify needs and opportunities to recommend adapted digital solutions and tools to advance innovation goals of FWS programming and digital literacy skills outcomes for program partners and participants.
2. Provide Technical support on Youth Employment and Livelihoods in the FWS programs
   • Provide expertise, guidance, and technical support to CARE’s Food and Water Systems projects and programs on youth employment and livelihoods across the agricultural value chain.
   • S/he will ensure that CARE’s gender transformative principles and practices are reflected and integrated in high quality programmatic implementation of youth and livelihoods activities
   • Expected support will include: designing and leading trainings on youth and off-farm livelihoods; the design and implementation of youth needs and labour market analyses and follow-up action plans; supporting youth and livelihoods-related research; youth -related monitoring and evaluation; and providing expert guidance on youth and off-farm livelihoods-related matters. S/he will also lead working group discussions across programs, to further knowledge-sharing and innovation on youth across different FWS programs. S/he will also contribute to cross sectoral learning and innovation with the VSLA, Digital Inclusion, Education, and Health Equity and Rights(HER) programs
   • S/he will ensure consistent use and dissemination of effective Positive Youth Development principles and approaches for youth development such as: Youth as assets and agents of change; Active engagement of young people in all phases of the initiatives; Recognize that youth are not all the same; Promote intergenerational dialogue; Respect of the agency and aspirations of youth and young adults.
   • S/he will encourage application of these principles in advancing on-farm, off-farm and non-farm livelihood activities, workforce development, employment and small enterprise opportunities aimed at improving the livelihoods of youth and women in rural and urban settings.
3. Support resource mobilization efforts to advance digital innovations, and youth and livelihoods work in the area of FWS.
   • Support resource mobilization efforts to advance FWS work. S/he will collaborate/coordinate primarily with the FWS Team, other donor mobilization efforts, and units within CARE to support resource mobilization efforts to advance CARE’s work in digital innovation in FWS and youth and livelihoods within FWS programming.
   • S/he will support proposal development including program design, with focus on youth livelihoods, digital innovation, and off-farm livelihood interventions for FWS programs.
   • S/he will support FWS targeted Country Office’s (COs) to prepare for and position themselves for new business opportunities by supporting capturing and documenting digital innovation and youth livelihoods best practices for increased visibility
   • S/he will actively track the larger “mAgri” sector, evaluating applicable products, trends, and partnership/donor opportunities
   • S/he will develop programming that is not just gender aware, but gender transformative, in order to help CARE close the gender digital divide in agriculture.
4. Provide leadership, mentorship and coaching on FWS/FFBS digital innovation to country-based staff working on FWS programs, especially on youth and livelihoods
   • S/he mentor and support to County Office (CO) staff through strengthening their skills, knowledge, capacity and confidence to build staff capacity to implement gender transformative approaches in youth and livelihood empowerment in FWS programming.
   • S/he will train CO staff to ensure they consistently perform at a high level of quality in the integration of the youth empowerment strategy into the program and that it is implemented effectively by CARE and partner staff.
   • In coordination with the FWS leadership, the Youth and Livelihoods STA, and the Digital Inclusion team, s/he will ensure that staff continue to build on and enhance the impact of digital innovation approaches and deliverables by creating a learning platform for sharing best or promising practices, innovations, and learning, highlighting effective practices at the CO and regional level.

Qualifications:

• Higher education degree (Bachelors/Masters) in agriculture, development, natural resource management, or other relevant disciplines.
• Deep familiarity with digital technology and its application to agriculture, gender, and youth.
• 5+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience building, adapting and/or scaling digital solutions for women or smallholder farmers at the base of the pyramid.
• Track record of managing vendors, developers and other tech and media partnerships to deliver high-quality results on time and budget.
• Ability to “translate” and bridge the divide between technologists and community development specialists.
• Deep awareness of technologies and providers suited to and/or targeting rural low-income markets, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and particularly digital training and awareness building solutions.
• Past success developing and scaling solutions within a large, decentralized organization.
• Strong internal motivation, self-starter and ability to work amid ambiguity.
• Aware of the principles of human centered design (HCD) and the Digital Development Principles.
• Fantastic inter-personal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Commitment to gender equality, women’s empowerment and social justice.