Agrifood Workforce Development & Employer Engagement Expert at Expertise France: (Deadline 21 February 2025)

Agrifood Workforce Development & Employer Engagement Expert at Expertise France: (Deadline 21 February 2025)

Terms of Reference / Job Description

Agrifood Workforce Development & Employer Engagement Expert for Expertise France

 “TVET Agri – Ubuhinzi Skills+” project

Job title: Agrifood Workforce Development & Employer Engagement Expert

Reports to: Project Manager

Location: Kigali, Rwanda, with regular travel to other regions in Rwanda

Type of contract: full-time, fixed-term contract

Contract duration: 1 year, with possibility of renewal (local contract)

Job Level: senior level

Overview

Expertise France is the French agency for international cooperation, under the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. The agency develops and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in low- and middle-income countries and focuses on four priority areas:

• Democratic, economic and financial governance;
• Stability of countries in crisis/post-crisis situations and security;
• Combating climate change and favouring sustainable urban development;
• Strengthening health systems, social protection and employment.

In these areas, Expertise France engineers and implements capacity-building projects, mobilises technical expertise and acts as a project coordinator, bringing together public expertise and private know-how. With an annual business volume of 390 million euros and over 400 projects in 145 countries, Expertise France’s activities are part of France’s international cooperation policy and official development assistance.

Project description

The “TVET Agri – Ubuhinzi Skills+” project aims to contribute to the National Strategy for Transformation and Vision 2050 established by the Government of Rwanda to guide the socio-economic development of the country towards a prosperous and high-income economy by 2050. Representing 25% of GDP and 70% of Rwanda’s active population, agriculture is a key sector targeted in order to boost the country’s economy and create jobs. The development of agricultural skills is one of the priorities for the sector’s transformation, with the national objective of establishing Centres of Vocational Excellence for technical and vocational education and training in agriculture. These centres will help develop a new generation of qualified workforce, capable of stimulating sustainable agricultural development, contributing to food security, economic growth and improved livelihoods for rural communities in Rwanda.

The “TVET Agri – Ubuhinzi Skills+” project is implemented by Expertise France to support the national agency Rwanda TVET Board (RTB) in the establishment of Centres of Excellence in agriculture. In line with national priorities, the project aims to increase the sustainability, climate resilience and inclusion of agricultural practices by strengthening the skills of women and youth in Rwanda.

The project is structured around two specific objectives:

1. Improve access of women and youth to quality skills and formal certification in agricultural practices.
2. Improve the effectiveness of mechanisms for integrating women and young people into the agricultural labour market, with an emphasis on sustainable agriculture.

In Rwanda, 77% of farmers are women, mainly in subsistence agriculture, vulnerable to climate change. Gender is a key cross-cutting theme for the project which aims to implement transformative and sustainable actions for women, young girls and their communities.

The project will be implemented over a period of five years, with a budget of +16 million euros financed by the EU and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It will include technical assistance at the national level in support of RTB, and two TVET schools will also be supported with technical assistance, infrastructure rehabilitation and procurement of agricultural equipment. The project will be implemented in collaboration with the beneficiary partner RTB, as well as with donors and project partners, such as LuxDev.

The project will be led by the Project Manager, with direct support from the Deputy Project Manager, and the team will consist of 4 Technical Experts, a MEAL Officer, and 2 Project Advisors based in targeted TVET schools. The team will be supported by Expertise France’s Kigali-based Project Support Unit (PSU) for admin, finance, HR and procurement, as well as Paris-based HQ.

The role

The Agrifood Workforce Development & Employer Engagement Expert will be based within the project team in Kigali, under the direct supervision of the Project Manager. He/she will be responsible for the full implementation of a package of activities and will play a pivotal role in enhancing the employability of students, and farmers adult learners, particularly youth and women, by ensuring that TVET programmes and short courses align with the evolving needs of the agrifood sector. Through close collaboration with TVET institutions, private companies, and public employers, he/she will strengthen partnerships and build pathways that connect students and learners to real-world market opportunities. The Expert will work hand in hand with the project team, private and public partners and RTB to successfully implement all related activities, with the overarching goal of making TVET Centres of Excellence in agriculture more responsive, inclusive, and sustainable in meeting agrifood workforce demands.

The main responsibilities of the Agrifood Systems and Climate-Smart Agriculture (AFS-CSA) Expert will be:

To provide strategic and technical advice in TVET

• Offer strategic and technical guidance to the Project Manager, project team, and RTB on TVET programmes, ensuring alignment with evolving labour market demands and workforce management in the agrifood sector.
• Analyse and refine curricula, pedagogy, and assessment methods in agriculture, livestock, and agro-food pathways to ensure students and adult learners acquire in-demand skills, including job-search techniques and entrepreneurial competencies.
• Conduct market-oriented assessments to identify gaps between current training offerings and workforce needs, and recommend adjustments that enhance graduates’ employability (e.g. practical modules on CV writing, interview skills, or setting up small agrifood enterprises).
• Engage stakeholders (government, private sector, NGOs) to align national priorities—such as food security, employment, and inclusivity of women and youth—with training delivery in agrifood TVET institutions.
• Support the execution of studies and surveys on employment trends and skill requirements, providing strategic insights to guide interventions and strengthen the TVET-labour market nexus.

To lead the Project’s Workforce Development and Employer Engagement Activities

• Plan, coordinate, and oversee activities to prepare learners (students, adult trainees, women, youth) for agrifood job opportunities, ensuring coherence with project objectives and optimal resource use.
• Develop or update training curricula and materials that explicitly include labour market orientation (job-search techniques, professional communication, career guidance), employer outreach strategies, and practical experience (e.g. field visits, on-the-job learning).
• Facilitate employer outreach by identifying potential hiring partners (private companies, cooperatives, public agencies), organising recruitment events, and brokering agreements or Memoranda of Understanding between TVET institutions and employers.
• Strengthen internship and placement frameworks: Support the design of internship programmes and conventions de stage within TVET institutions; Establish guidelines on roles, responsibilities, and expected outcomes for both students and employers; Ensure robust follow-up and evaluation of internships to capture lessons learned and improve future placements.
• Offer post-graduation support through career counselling, job-matching services, and networking events that connect recent graduates with prospective employers.
• Develop communication tools and employer guides that articulate the benefits of hiring TVET graduates, highlighting the skills, competencies, and practical experience learners gain through the programme.
• Monitor and evaluate progress by tracking key metrics such as job placement rates, employer satisfaction, and overall graduate outcomes, recommending improvements for continuous learning.
• Report regularly on achievements, challenges, and recommendations linked to workforce development and employer engagement, contributing to learning, capitalisation, and dissemination (e.g. reports, workshops).

To support targeted TVET schools’ transition to Centres of Vocational Excellence

• Assess and plan the technical, pedagogical, and infrastructural needs required for TVET institutions to become Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in the agrifood domain according to the labour market needs.
• Contribute to feasibility analyses for upgrading facilities and equipment (laboratories, demonstration sites, processing units), ensuring they support real-world learning and labour market readiness.
• Identify and address skill and resource gaps, including teacher training in career guidance, internship coordination, and effective employer engagement.
• Strengthen institutional capacities by training management and teaching staff on best practices for career placement, alumni networks, and building durable partnerships with agrifood actors.
• Develop or adapt governance, accreditation, and evaluation frameworks to guide the transformation into CoVEs, with a clear focus on workforce relevance, employability outcomes, and private-sector collaboration.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing among TVET institutions, promoting peer learning, best practices, and innovative approaches to workforce development within the agrifood sector.

Profile

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in agricultural economics, agribusiness, rural development, human resources, or another relevant field, ideally with a focus on workforce development, labour market analysis, or agrifood systems.

Professional experience

• At least 10 years of experience in workforce development, career guidance, or labour market interventions within the agrifood sector or closely related fields (e.g. rural development, youth employment, public-private partnerships).
• Proven track record managing or advising on donor-funded projects, preferably in education, agricultural transformation, or economic inclusion contexts.
• Solid project management skills, including planning, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation of programmes aimed at improving employability, private sector engagement, or TVET outcomes.
• Experience in strategic advisory roles, providing technical support to government agencies, TVET institutions, private-sector entities, or NGOs on bridging the gap between training provision and market needs.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multi-stakeholder initiatives, collaborating effectively with local authorities, businesses, academic institutions, and community organisations to facilitate job placements and career pathways.

Skills

• Workforce Development and Capacity-Building. Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering training, workshops, or capacity-building sessions focused on employability, career guidance, and job-market readiness within the agrifood sector.
• Understanding of TVET and Agriculture Sector Challenges. Familiarity with labour market dynamics, skills development strategies, and barriers to employment, especially regarding women, youth, and marginalised groups in agriculture and food processing.
• Employer Engagement and Partnerships. Ability to build collaborative relationships with government, NGOs, private-sector actors, and professional associations, championing work-based learning, internship schemes, and employment pathways.
• Communication and Facilitation. Strong capacity to translate technical and sector-specific concepts into accessible language for a variety of audiences; skilled at facilitation, negotiation, and cross-functional teamwork.
• Analytical and Problem-Solving Mindset. Adept at identifying workforce gaps, proposing evidence-based solutions, and adapting strategies based on employer feedback, graduate outcomes, and evolving labour market conditions.
• Proactive and Accountable. Takes initiative, demonstrates responsibility, and ensures timely, high-quality outputs, including stakeholder coordination, reporting, and follow-up actions.
• Language Proficiency and Digital Literacy. Fluency in English (spoken and written) and Kinyarwanda is required; French is an asset. Proficiency in standard office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with digital learning or job-matching platforms is desirable.

Additional information

Desired start date: April 2025

Application deadline: February 21, 2025

Remuneration: competitive remuneration will be offered according to Expertise France’s salary scale and the candidate’s qualification and experience.

Please upload your CV and cover letter (no longer than 2 pages each), photocopies of diplomas and certificates of employment, as well as three professional references with contact details on this link only:

https://expertise-france.gestmax.fr/apply/12631/1

Candidates are invited to submit their application as soon as possible. Expertise France reserves the right to pre-select candidates before the application deadline.

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