Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Specialist at Adam Smith International

Tracking Code: 1109-112
Location: Kano
Department: Private Sector Development
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular

Programme Background

• Mafita is a large-scale, six-year youth employment programme operating in Nigeria’s northern states, funded by DFID and implemented by Adam Smith International. 
• Through a combination of innovative skills development and job creation interventions, Mafita will support over 60,000 marginalised young people to find employment or become entrepreneurs by 2021.
• Within the above scope, Mafita is mandated to support the economic empowerment of Northern Nigerian women, whose economic disenfranchisement has direct and adverse impacts on the country’s economic prosperity and development at the national, regional and community levels.
• Through its work, Mafita seeks to support women to access economic resources both directly by supporting women’s entrepreneurship, employment and access to finance, and indirectly by creating a more enabling environment for women.

Objectives

• In partnership with other Units and sector stakeholders, the Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Specialist will ensure Mafita PSE strategy is refined, adjusted as required and properly implemented along the log-frame targets.

Areas of Responsibility

• Contribute to the implementation of the State Government's economic empowerment and job creation strategies with direct linkages to the private sector.
• Plan and deliver PSE activities and associated responsibilities based on the approved annual Mafita work plans, as well as on quarterly and monthly activity planning.
• Ensure PSE aspects are considered in all Mafita intervention strategies.
• Explore opportunities for specific PSE interventions that align with the overall PSE/Local Economic Development (LED) strategy and Mafita program objectives.
• Identify potential for synergies supporting PSE and resulting in job creation between all Demand Side interventions and discuss them across the Mafita intervention units.
• Build/maintain the relationships with the private sector stakeholders and explore different areas of collaboration as described in the PSE/LED strategy.
• Advise LED/PSE Intervention Unit Manager and Demand Lead on the review of the PSE strategy.
• Advise LED/PSE Intervention Unit Manager and Demand Lead on PSE related activities where necessary.
• Liaise with the Communications Specialist on development and dissemination of relevant PSE related communications material.
• Provide technical expertise to Mafita staff interacting with other stakeholders on PSE-related issues.
• Develop and cultivate good relationships with relevant stakeholders.
• Support STTAs assigned to the PSE interventions in accomplishing their missions.
• Ensure PSE milestones are met.
• Document the PSE inputs and outputs and forward them to LED/PSE Intervention Unit Manager and MRM.

Main tasks for organizing and implementing PSE activities:

• Generate interest and appetite among private sector companies for the program.
• Introduce and communicate broader program interventions to private sector companies.
• Provide technical advice for PSE activities and ensure their timely delivery.
• Liaise with other intervention units to ensure synergy and PSE coherence across the work plan.
• Closely liaise with PECA/State Coordinators on stakeholder mapping and all aspects of PPD/PPP.
• Contribute to the development and review of PSE-related communication materials.
• Make suggestions as regards the coordination of PSE activities across the Mafita intervention units.

Required Skills
The expert should have the following preferred qualifications and skills:

• University degree in Management, Business Administration, Economics, Social Sciences or other related field
• At least 7 years of working experience in entrepreneurship, PPP/PPD and/or youth empowerment and employment promotion programs
• At least 3 years of working experience in Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects in Nigeria
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• Excellent written and oral English and Hausa skills
• Working experience in other sub-Saharan African countries would be an asset

Required Experience:

• The expert should possess the following specific professional experience:
  • At least 5 years of professional experience in PSE projects (PPD/PPP)
  • Deep knowledge and understanding of PPD/PPP strategies
  • Sound understanding of the challenges in MSE growth and practice in the facilitation of a business enabling environment (BEE)
  • Experience in institutional capacity building in PPD/PPP (e.g. collaboration with key private and public institutional stakeholders)
  • Work experience as an entrepreneur in Nigeria would be a strong asset.