Function
In 2021, Heifer International launched the Agriculture, Youth and, Technology (AYuTe) Africa Challenge as an initiative that empowers young entrepreneurs across Africa to forge paths to agricultural transformation in Africa.
The AYuTe Africa NextGen is an annual competition that awards Grants to promising young AgriTech innovators, social enterprises across the continent — professionals who are using technology to reimagine farming and food production in Africa. The competition is a catalyst for growth, combining a cash incentive with business development initiatives to translate the energy and ideas of young African innovators into meaningful impact for African farmers.
Along with the grant prize, the companies will also receive ongoing support from a team of expert advisers — accomplished business veterans — to help them translate their funding into an aggressive expansion strategy that addresses challenges faced by African smallholder farmers at scale, creates jobs for the future, and elevates as a desirable career for the youth.
While we have the AYuTe Africa at the regional level for growth stage companies we have also designed the country level competition for early stage companies to identify and promote great start-up agritech businesses – creating opportunity, mentorship, exposure, and environment for young African agro-innovators to succeed; and attracting more young people into agriculture, creating tech enabled rural jobs and addressing challenges faced by smallholder farmers.
The Regional Project Coordinator – AYUTE is responsible for the ownership and execution of the AYuTe NextGen at the regional level and providing support for the country competitions. And would be responsible for the management of all projects in the Youth and Innovation department, to ensure that project goals and objectives remain on track. Areas of focus include efficient management of project resources; project plans and budgets; engagement with relevant stakeholders; ensuring quality control and timeliness of all deliverables as required.
The role may be located in any of the following countries: Nigeria, Senegal, Malawi, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia or Tanzania.
Responsibilities & Deliverables
Leveraging Technology (10%)
Support Heifer in the identification of new technology to the benefit of small holder farmers.
Leverage AYuTe programs to stimulate the interest of youth in the agriculture sector.
Support the integration of key technologies into Heifer programs across the region to boost the productivity of smallholder farmers at scale.
Leverage AYuTe to create meaningful technology-based jobs targeted for unemployed youth in the agriculture sector.
Effectively design and deliver impactful tech-driven programs and projects.
Strong knowledge of innovative technology platforms.
Strategic Support (10%)
Support the conceptualization and design of regional and country-specific methodologies for the creation of tech enabled rural jobs for the youth at scale.
Support the development of strategies for the leveraging of technologies to address challenges faced by smallholder farmers at scale.
Support the development and management of Heifer Regional partnerships.
Engagement with regional and country teams on AYuTe.
Engagement with innovators and winners on the process.
Engagement with consultants providing support on the AYuTe process.
Travel for monitoring visits and trainings on AYuTe programmatic integrations.
Project Management & Effectiveness – Competition Planning & Execution (45%)
Ownership and accountability for the AYuTe Challenge at the process.
Implement annual regional AYuTe Challenge.
Ownership on the design and stakeholder engagement process for the planning of the annual Heifer AYuTe Africa challenge.
Ownership on the procurement and engagement of technical consultancies for the execution of the annual challenge.
Drive the execution of annual work plan, management of resources, and overall project management plan inclusive of risk management plan.
Monitor and review progress on project tasks within the context of agreed project deliverables and timelines.
Work closely with Heifer colleagues to manage designated aspects of the process.
Ensure timely communication of project information and reports.
Lead the early identification and engagement of judges for the annual challenge.
Manage the contracting and engagement process for winners as well as Heifer investment and post investment management processes.
Manage project steering committees and report on progress.
Coordinate cross-country collaborations and provide oversight on country specific competitions.
Support Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning.
Quality and Risk (15%)
Ownership and accountability on AYuTe post-investment process.
Standardization of processes and procedures.
Carry out all necessary activities for the review, documentation and optimization of processes that will enable seamless project execution.
Provide project performance highlights and communicate major issues, slippages and suggested remedies and escalations as required.
Track and assess the effectiveness of projects.
Provide project status reporting and updates of progress, dependencies, issues, and risks.
Compile and present research findings and recommendations as may be beneficial to the project.
Country Support for AYuTe (15%)
Support Country level AYuTe Challenge processes.
Attend all Country AYuTe competitions.
Standardization of all AYuTe processes and procedures.
Engagement and coordination with regional and country teams on AYuTe.
Travel for monitoring visits on AYuTe programmatic integrations.
Support Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning.
Provide training to country teams.
Provide update reporting.
Manage end-to-end risks.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned (5%)
Any other job-related tasks assigned by the supervisor.
Minimum Requirement
Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, computer science or relevant field.
A minimum of 5-7 years of experience.
Business startup incubation/accelerator experience; Experience working in the youth entrepreneurship space; Experience managing Tech competitions.
Preferred Requirements
Experience in project/program management, development, and reporting.
Experience developing and executing strategies and programs that inspire youth and enable them to innovate.
Experience building relationships and working effectively with businesses across the Africa Region.
Experience working with sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.
Key Behavioural Competencies
Accountability
Professional Excellence
Humility
Customer Orientation
Empathy
Innovation
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