VSO is an international development organization that works through volunteers to create a fair world for everyone. At VSO we pride ourselves on doing development differently. We fight poverty not by sending aid, but by working through volunteers and partners to create long-lasting change in some of the world’s poorest regions. We bring key stakeholders together to co-ordinate collective action, from local organizations to national governments. Our programmes in Africa and Asia focus on health, education and livelihoods, with an increasing emphasis on resilience, peace building, social accountability, gender and social inclusion. We’re not about delivering quick fixes, but instead we focus on long-lasting, sustainable change that will improve the lives of generations to come.

The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE)

The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE , initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), aims to create new jobs and make jobs more accessible for 200.000 youth (half of these for women) in the ministry’s priority focus countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Sahel & West Africa and the Horn of Africa. The fund is open to Private sector and (I)NGO applications (or mixed consortia). VSO will strengthen the work of the selected Implementing Partners through strategic VSO volunteer engagements. The aim of the Fund will be achieved by supporting youth employment initiatives in these regions. Initiatives will offer youth, particularly young women, opportunities for decent work that delivers better prospects for personal development, is productive, and offers a stable income, social protection and safe working conditions.

Role overview

The CFYE Country Lead will be responsible for representing the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment in Ethiopia and will have overall leadership responsibilities for the Fund’s portfolio of Implementing Partners (IPs) projects, in country. The Country Lead will closely monitor the performance of the projects, ensuring the IPs are compliant with the fund’s delivery guidelines. The Country Lead will provide strategic guidance that is required by the IPs to ensure their projects reach maximum impact in delivery.

Qualifications, skills and experience required

• University degree in Business Administration, Economics, HRM or Finance?
• Strong business acumen,?and understanding of?business?support?to private sector entities
• Substantial senior management experience with country or regional portfolio management and performing related strategic and administrative tasks?
• Relevant technical work experience in one of the following areas: youth employment, private sector development, and/or business consulting?
• Proven experience with Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning activities is preferred
• Highly self-motivated
• Strong affinity with youth?empowerment, gender and social inclusion,?and decent work?
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills?in English???
• Strong organizational and planning skills???
• Excellent Stakeholder management skills
• Proven track record of successfully managing customer relationships
• Sound problem-solving and decision-making skills???
• Proficient in ?Microsoft Office???
• Ability to work?successfully as part of a team