Private Sector and Financial Institution Liaison Officer, Nigeria Ag Youth Lab Program at IITA - International Institute of Tropical Agriculture

Contract Type: One-Year Renewable Contract

Program Summary

• Ag Youth Lab will focus on major food shed areas in Oyo, Ogun and Osun States. The primary objective is to assist more than 10,000 unemployed, out-of-school, disadvantaged youth ages 18 to 24 to access higher-wage jobs or start their own businesses in high-potential horticulture, aquaculture, poultry, cassava or oilseeds sectors.
• The program will aim for equal representation of young men and women across its programs.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Working with the Ag Youth Lab Country Coordinator, lead the development of, maintain and grow a vibrant network of private company, financial institution and other public and non-profit program leaders who will contribute to Ag Youth Lab in various ways - including as mentors, expert resources for training, sources of employment, start-up capital for youth enterprises and buyers of their products.
• Work with Ag Youth Lab partner organizations to manage and monitor ongoing private sector and financial institution contributions to curriculum development, internship, and incubation placements.
• These include working with Ag Youth Lab partners and the gender expert to develop and oversee training for private sector and incubation hosts.
• Lead the identification of sources of startup capital for trainees from public, private and NGO sources, and work with Ag Youth Lab country partners to match them with viable trainee businesses and set up mentoring and oversight.
• Work with Nigeria-based IT partner to develop and implement online system for Ag Youth Lab trainees to access information about and respond to relevant employment opportunities in the agrifood sector.
• Work with the Country Coordinator to develop a communications strategy and campaign to attract youth to agrifood sector opportunities.
• Bear major responsibility for implementing the strategy and campaign, working with youth and private sec tor partners to Develop interviews, case studies, blogs, etc. which can be used on the Ag Youth Lab e-platform and in outreach to print, broadcast and electronic media outlets.
• The Private Sector and Financial Institution Liaison will be directly accountable to Country Coordinator, Ag Youth Lab Nigeria. S/he will provide written bi-weekly progress reports, and use program management software to track task completion on a weekly basis.

Education and Experience

• A Bachelor's Degree in a Business or Agriculture-related field is required.
• Three to five years of private sector or financial institution experience with responsibilities including business development, communications or public relations.
• Previous experience in the agribusiness sector desirable.
• Previous experience with communications and public affairs desirable.
• Must be a self-starter, with exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Three professional references should be provided with the application.