Youth Development Advisor at VSO Nigeria

VSO is the world's leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. Our high-impact approach brings people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action to change lives and make the world a fairer place.

VSO Nigeria is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and competent person to fill the position of:

Job Title: Youth Development Advisor

Job Code: (JOB0038663 )
Location: Kaduna

Job Purpose

• To play a key role in strengthening the AYDF Agribusiness clusters in Madakiya and strengthening the youth development programme of AYDF.

Project Summary

• Goal: Reduce poverty and the vulnerability of youth in Nigeria.
• Abednego Youth Development Foundation (AYDF) is a youth focused organization leading youth targeted initiatives. AYDF has holistic youth development as its focus. AYDF currently plans to strengthen and scale up its youth Agribusiness clusters in Madakiya through youth development activities which includes leadership, community development, managing of co-operative groups, etc.

Objectives
1.)  Support AYDF to promote youth participation and the practice of agriculture as a business.
2.) Strengthen the youth Agribusiness cluster project of AYDF in Madakiya and other communities.
3.) Support VSO youth project partners to establish and develop youth development projects in the north central cluster.

Job Description

• The volunteer will be based with Abednego Youth Development Foundation (AYDF) in Madakiya, Kaduna State and will work to support AYDF and other project partners to implement youth agribusiness projects

Responsibilities

• The volunteer will have a range of tasks and activities;
• Conduct an assessment of youth development and agriculture projects in the project states.
• Strengthen the AYDF agribusiness cluster project in Madakiya and possibly work with key stakeholders to scale up project.
• Support AYDF to strengthen its youth volunteer programme.
• Deliver youth development trainings and activities for the development of the youth beneficiaries in the target areas.
• Train and build the capacity of the partners, volunteers and other project partners on monitoring and evaluation processes for the youth projects and other related programmes.
• Train partners and community volunteers on reporting, sharing success stories and case studies.
• Explore opportunities to strengthen impact such as: build networks and relationships for partners to link with major strategic organizations (e.g. government agricultural department, INGOs, NGOs,) working in a similar field that may be able to support partner intervention through funding/knowledge sharing/joint working/to address major overarching issues.
• Analysis of needs assessment reports and developing action plan for interventions on the identified needs
• Work with partners and all stakeholders to develop monitoring tools for collecting routine data that informs the monitoring and evaluation framework.
• Fulfill an advocacy role for VSO as and when required
• Actively participate in the Monitoring and Evaluation of the programme (baseline, periodic monitoring, gathering data, analysis and reporting).
• Write periodic progress reports as per VSO requirements.
• Due to the nature of our volunteer placements, it is possible that the responsibilities of this role may differ in reality and therefore the post-holder will need.

Key Performance Indicators:

• The Key performance indicators will be measured by the youth development projects the volunteer will work to support. This includes the level of impact of the youth project on the beneficiaries youth as well as the national and community volunteers that have gain new skills and knowledge and are being self reliant.

The Key performance indicators of this placement are:

• Number of beneficiaries reached and supported on the agribusiness project intervention.
• Number of youth who have set up new agric business, actively involved and practicing agriculture as a business.
• Number of youth who have increased their agriculture produce and are able to meet the market demands for supplies.
• Number of youth, volunteers and partners who have increased skills in data collection and analysis.
• Number of partners, volunteers and other beneficiaries who are able to write reports, case studies and success/significant change stories.
• Evidences of monitoring and evaluation support to project partners and VSO, through reports

Skills and Knowledge

• Relevant University degree in International Development, Youth/Community Development or other related degrees with knowledge of implementing and managing community projects.
• Experience in project management and staff capacity building.
• Knowledge of working in the NGO sector and working with the government and other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
• Experience in project data gathering and planning and review (especially agriculture and education)
• Mentoring and coaching; Flexible and adaptable
• Good, clear communication skills; Good facilitation skills
• Resourcefulness and ability to solve problems
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to adapt knowledge and experience to Nigeria
• Ability to support others to adapt ideas to their own context
• Good understanding of agriculture extension services and value chain management

Desirable:

• Proficiency in the use of Word, Excel, Power Point and/or Microsoft Project
• Good report writing skills
• Awareness and sensitivity of cross-cultural settings
• A preparedness to work with limited resources within a challenging environment
• Patience, tolerance and flexibility
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to maintain good working relationship
• Creativity in problem solving & conflict resolution
• Enthusiastic and good team player

Competencies:

Building and Sustaining working relationships:

• The social skills to build and actively maintain working relationships that foster teamwork and collaboration with others for the benefit of a common goal.

Open Minded and Respectful:

• A non-judgemental approach that values other people and culture.

Seeking and Sharing Knowledge:

• Recognition that learning is a two-way and continuous process.

Facilitating Positive Change:

• The ability to analyse problems and develop lasting solutions in line with VSO approaches.

Adaptability:

• A flexible approach and the ability to adapt behaviour to different situations.

Resilience:

• The self-confidence to work with a variety of situations, diverse people and ambiguity.

Application Closing Date
25th August, 2014.

Interview/Assessment date(s)
TBC

Start Date
5th October, 2014.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Click here to download the job description in PDF format