Women, Youth & MSMEs Lead

Fabskill is recruiting, on behalf of one of its partners based in Accra, Ghana, for a Women, Youth & MSMEs Lead. This strategic position aims to ensure a positive impact on women, youth, and SMEs through targeted programs and interventions across various value chains.

Job summary:

The Women, Youth & MSMEs Lead job is responsible for ensuring that programs and interventions across all value chains have a positive impact on women, youth, and SMEs by supporting value chain leads in the design and implementation of their programs, providing key insights and subject-matter expertise, liaising with private sector stakeholders, building relationships with key stakeholders to measure impact. The Women, Youth & SMEs Lead will report to the Head of the Private Sector Unit, and work with the Value Chain Officers, and pool of Analysts within the Private Sector Unit. She/He will direct the Officers and Analysts within the unit on all matters related to inclusivity, on a need basis. The Women, Youth & SMEs Lead will also own and lead the program-based relationship with stakeholders from other public and private partner organizations.

Roles and responsibilities:

Main functions

• Support value chain leads in the design and implementation of their programs to include specific objectives and approaches to support women, youth, and MSMEs
• Ensure the delivery of programs and interventions have a measurable and substantial positive impact on women, youth, and MSMEs.
• Act as a key contact for liaising with counterpart team members of private sector stakeholders collaborating with the Secretariat to deliver the women, youth, and MSME agenda.
• Oversee building relationships with key stakeholders that can implement/measure impact on women, youth, and MSMEs from interventions.

Specific responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies to promote the economic empowerment of women, youth, and MSMEs across all value chains.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to design and deliver targeted interventions that address the specific needs and challenges faced by women, youth, and MSMEs.
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of interventions on women, youth, and MSMEs, and use data-driven insights to continually refine program delivery and improve outcomes.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with private sector partners, NGOs, government agencies, and other stakeholders to leverage their expertise, resources, and networks in support of the women, youth, and MSME agenda.
• Provide thought leadership on issues related to women, youth, and MSMEs, and represent the African Union in relevant forums and conferences.
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing and capacity-building activities to enhance the skills and capabilities of women, youth, and MSMEs.
• Manage a team of professionals, providing guidance, mentoring, and support to ensure that they can meet program targets and deliverables.
• Work closely with the Secretariat to ensure that all program activities are aligned with the overall strategic objectives and priorities of the African Union.
• Prepare regular reports, including program updates, financial reports, and impact assessments, and present these to relevant stakeholders, including senior management, donors, and partners.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant policies, procedures, and regulations, including those related to gender equality, youth empowerment, and SME development.

Academic and professional qualifications:

Degree or Master’s degree in relevant fields (e.g., Management, Economics, or Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) related).

Work experience:

• For those with degree will possess plus twelve years’ relevant professional experience and those with postgraduate degree will have plus ten years’ relevant professional experience preferably in the private sector development and supporting Regional Economic Communities private sector engagements.
• Five years of leadership and management experience.
• At least eight (8) years of relevant professional experience in a similar position, preferably in the gender and inclusivity, human capital development, or similar field with past technical advisor experience.

Technical skills and behavioural competencies:

• Proven track record of successfully driving transformation and/or operational priorities.
• In-depth understanding of marginalized groups including women, youth, and MSMEs, including main barriers to trade and production in Africa as well as the role of the private sector’s role in delivering and monitoring interventions
• Ability to navigate AU systems and culture within the AU organizations while driving transformation

• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and strategic thinking skills
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Extensive knowledge of the transport & logistics and in-depth technical expertise
• Good understanding of political and governance issues
• Good project management skills
• Stakeholder management skills
• Proven ability to inspire, coach and develop others from different backgrounds
• Mental toughness, resilience, and the ability to cope in demanding environments
• An entrepreneurial, can-do attitude to overcome barriers and enact change
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals.
• Strong leadership skills to motivate and lead a team.
• Excellent problem-solving skills to identify and manage risks associated with the delivery of programs and interventions.
• Knowledge of policies, procedures, and regulations related to women, youth, and SMEs.

Work location: Accra, Ghana

Informations

Requirements

Skills:

Empowerment Capacity building Strategic Program Development and Implementation Stakeholder Engagement Relationship Building