Cuso International Agribusiness Advisor

PROGRAM:	‘Diasporas for Development Initiative’ (DfD)
PARTNER NAME:	Ithiani, Kathivo and Matinyani (3) Youth Polytechnics
LOCATION:	Kitui, Kenya
LENGTH OF PLACEMENT:	3 months in-country followed by 2-3 months distance support
Assessment & Training:	Must be available for full day assessment in Chicago in May And for 5-day training in Washington in June (see below for travel support offered)
FUNDING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:	Must be an American Citizen or Permanent Resident withsignificant personal or professional ties to the country or region of the placement. **
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS:	Fluency in English and working knowledge of Swahili

*This placement is conditional upon availability of funds from our donors

**Significant personal ties include persons having immediate or extended family relations or ancestry in the country of the placement.  Significant professional ties include persons who have lived and worked in the specific country of the placement preferably for a period of 2 or more years.

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE 

The ‘Diasporas for Development Initiative’ is a public private partnership generously supported by USAID and Accenture, implemented by Cuso International. 

The ‘Diasporas for Development Initiative’ is a two year pilot project designed to address the challenge of human resource gaps in developing countries, often due to ‘brain drain,’ by engaging US-based volunteers to share their skills with Cuso’s local program partners.

The program takes a two pronged approach to promoting diaspora engagement in countries of ancestry:

1. Developing partnerships with Diaspora Partner Organizations (DPO’s) in the U.S. through reciprocal exchange of support; and,
2. Recruiting US-based professionals from the diaspora to share their skills in support of projects that build employability and entrepreneurship skills in their countries of ancestry (focus on Secure Livelihoods).

  

ABOUT THE PARTNER ORGANIZATION 

The aim of the three youth polytechnics (Ithiani, Kathivo and Matinyani) is to provide technical training for marginalised youth and enhance the standards of the vocational training departments. The 3 youth polytechnics have also benefitted from the government supported greenhouses; and the greenhouses are used for enriching the student’s/rural youths’ skills in Agribusiness and enable financial sustainability of the polytechnics.

THE VOLUNTEER’S ROLE: 

Overall placement purpose: 

To support one of our local partners in Kenya as they expand and strengthen programs that build skills in employability and entrepreneurship.  The ideal candidate will support the development and implementation of strategic plans, develop and deliver training modules on topics related to developing employability and/or entrepreneurship skills, build organizational capacity, and provide advice and coaching on gaining employment and starting businesses to the local partner organization and their beneficiaries. 

Specific Objectives: 

• Provide training and coaching to staff of the local partner organization on design and implementation of programs for enterprise development and building employability skills
• Provide training and support to individuals in planning and developing micro-enterprises and employability skills
• Mentoring and coaching on various topics of organizational development and livelihoods programming as required by the local partner organization
• Assist in collecting and promoting information resources on employability and entrepreneurship
• Support fundraising efforts that contribute to enterprise development
• According to technical guidelines, develop 2 separate e-volunteer Scopes of Work that allow remote e-volunteers to support the local partner in their livelihoods programming
• Provide additional remote support to partner organizations after their return to the US through e-volunteering and/or e-mentoring for a period of between 2 and 3 months following their return. 

Duties & & Responsibilities include:

• Training, mentoring youth in accessing skilled trade and employment
• Support/strengthen green house/agribusiness management

  

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS: 

Essential requirements

• Degree in Business, Economics, Marketing, Human Resources or related field and experience working in an entrepreneurial environment or as owner/manager of a small business
• Experience in training, teaching or mentoring role
• Experience in marketing, market research and management
• Experience in project evaluation and conducting monitoring activities
• Resourcefulness, strategic thinking, creative problem solving and basic financial management skills
• Proven ability to follow through on objectives and produce timely results with little supervision
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
• Basic computer skills and the ability to communicate effectively by email 

Desirable

• MBA with focus on developing countries, social entrepreneurship, small business and/or Certificate in Project Management, Leadership, Communication, or similar.
• Experience in innovative product development
• Knowledge or experience in value chain development

TRAINING AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT: 

Our training and support package covers the costs of being an overseas volunteer, allowing you to enjoy a modest but healthy lifestyle while you volunteer abroad. This includes: 

• Attendance at a Cuso International assessment day (candidates must cover the first $150 of the most cost-effective travel expenses and accommodation costs).
• Travel and accommodation costs associated with pre-departure training.
• Return airfare and visa/permit (this includes a return flight in the case of a family emergency).
• Coverage for required vaccinations, medications and comprehensive health insurance.
• Accommodation while overseas.
• A modest living allowance during the overseas placement, which varies depending on the country where you are placed
• In-country payment at end of placement

APPLICATION PROCESS 

Please apply online, quoting referral code K1230/0003/0001 and the name of the placement.  Pleasedemonstrate clearly how you meet the funding eligibility requirements in your statement of interest.

Organization Description

ABOUT USAID

The U.S. Agency for International Development provides economic, development and humanitarian assistance around the world in support of the foreign policy goals of the United States. Spending less than one-half of 1 percent of the federal budget, USAID works in over 100 countries to promote broad-scale human progress at the same time it expands stable, free societies, creates markets and trade partners for the United States, and fosters good will abroad. For more information, visit www.usaid.gov.

ABOUT ACCENTURE

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with approximately 259,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. The company generated net revenues of US$27.9 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2012.

ABOUT CUSO INTERNATIONAL

Cuso International is a non-profit development organization that works through volunteers. Each year, we send hundreds of global citizens to work on collaborative development projects in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. We are one of North America’s leading international development organizations that works through volunteers.