AATF and Michigan State University (MSU) through its WorldTAP program is in the process of developing a youth initiative focusing on agripreneurship that will be implemented across Africa.
About AATF
The African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) is a not-for-profit technology transfer organisation that embraces a mission of making available, to smallholder farmers, agricultural technologies that were previously not accessible to them. AATF facilitates public-private partnerships and works in 23 African countries with the governments, private and public technology owners and developers, seed companies, other value chain players and African farmers to identify, access, adapt and commercialize technologies that address farmers’ key problems and empower them to generate wealth and health for their families and communities. AATF has developed the Youth in Agribusiness and Smart Agriculture (YASA), which is an intentional, pro-social approach that identifies and develops youth in agribusiness for employment creation, food and nutrition security and income generation in Africa.
About MSU WorldTAP
The World Knowledge and Technology Access Program (WorldTAP) is a training, outreach, technology transfer, and capacity strengthening program in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University. WorldTAP draws upon expertise from Michigan State University and around the world to offer short-term and long-term training programs, advisory services, and technical consultations in diverse areas of agricultural research and development. WorldTAP helps strengthen human and institutional capacities, provides access to global information resources, and facilitates technology transfer to enhance agricultural productivity, food and nutritional security, and livelihoods globally.
About the Agribusiness Youth Initiative
Africa’s population will double by 2050 to reach over 2 billion people. The current demography indicates that over 70% of the African population is under 30 years of age yet the average farmer age on the continent is about 60 years. Agriculture remains the engine of economic growth in most of the African countries. With the population rising rapidly, the pressure to enhance agriculture productivity in a sustainable manner is constantly increasing and youth employment will be an increasing issue in the future. The amount of arable land available to farmers to produce food in Africa is decreasing.
Functions / Key Results Expected
- Mobilize African and international partners towards the initiative.
- Coordinate/support the building of a consortium of major partners that will commit and support scaling of the initiative.
- Coordinate resource mobilization initiatives to raise funds/seed money to launch the initiative.
- Identify appropriate events where the initiative can be presented/marketed to potential partners and funders including side events and conferences in agricultural and youth forums
- Organize an AATF-MSU joint forum with potential donors and partners to seek funds to expand the programs and the resource network.
- Carry out any other duties as may be assigned.
Qualifications
Education: The candidate should have an advanced graduate degree in business development or related from a recognized university.
Experience:
- A minimum of 10 years of professional work experience in agribusiness, youth programming, partner mobilization and coordinating of youth initiatives or accelerator programs.
- Relevant work experience in project management, especially in youth or agribusiness will be an added advantage.
- Experience in leading projects that are involved in public-private partnerships.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and French (desirable).
- Demonstrated ability to write concepts notes, reports and craft promotional materials.
- Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, and multi-cultural environment.
AATF is an equal opportunity employer; committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious and ethnic backgrounds and any other diversity groups to apply and become a part of our organization.
Submission of Applications
Qualified candidates are invited to visit our website via the link, for the full job description and send their applications on or before 11 October 2024 to aatf- [email protected] and clearly indicate on the email subject Youth Engagement and Agripreneurship Mobilizer. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
