Under the supervision of the Vocational Skills Development Manager, the Business Development Support (BDS) Coordinator & Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Focal Person will be responsible for supporting youth upskilling, enterprise growth, vocational skills development, and private sector engagement across the project.

Responsibilities or duties

• Lead the facilitation of youth upskilling and enterprise growth support programmes under outcome 3, including developing annual work plans and budgets.
• Support the implementation of Youth Vocational Skills Development Programmes under outcome 2 in Morogoro.
• Facilitate private sector engagement across the project and its interventions.
• Identify barriers to the growth of youth-led enterprises and co-create solutions with the SET technical team.
• Lead the design of the upskilling and enterprise growth support model, and adjust the model based on evidence.
• Lead the design of activities that strengthen linkages to upskilling and business development service providers, markets, and financial services.
• Potentially support the development of a financial product for youth.
• Lead the identification of suitable training providers and business support organisations as potential partners for the upskilling and business growth support programme.
• Manage procurement and tender processes in line with project guidelines.
• With the support of the Youth Training Coordinator, implement the upskilling and business growth support programme through guidance, technical backstopping, and project partner coordination.
• Together with the M&E Coordinator, develop tools to monitor progress in outcome area 3.
• Support the identification of vocational skills development and self-employment or employment opportunities through training providers in the Morogoro region.
• Support procurement and tender processes for training providers in Morogoro in line with project guidelines.
• Manage contracts with training providers in Morogoro.
• Ensure training providers submit reports as scheduled.
• Quality assure the implementation of youth trainings.
• Ensure that training providers in Morogoro implement monitoring in line with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) procedures of Swisscontact.
• Conduct regular joint monitoring visits with training providers.
• Mainstream private sector engagement into SET and apply a private sector lens throughout all steps of project cycle management.
• Identify private sector enterprises as potential partners for the project.
• Support training providers in linking with the private sector.
• Develop, facilitate, and supervise private sector project activities.
• Implement training on private sector engagement concepts and analysis for SET stakeholders, where required.
• Ensure that private sector engagement activities are monitored.
• Ensure data is disaggregated accordingly.
• Ensure private sector engagement activities are reported on.
• Regularly follow up on the latest innovations in the area of private sector engagement in vocational skills development.
• Provide inputs for SET project reports, budgets, and work plans for submission to the Government and SDC.
• Share insights, challenges, and learning with the Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) unit.
• Contribute to cross-project learning and the development of knowledge products.
• Contribute to internal learning sessions, partner exchanges, monitoring, and technical workshops.
• Work with the MEL unit to ensure monitoring data is accurate.
• Participate in MEL meetings as required.
• Support mainstreaming of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and climate change across project interventions.
• Follow Swisscontact’s rules and procedures, including the Code of Conduct (CoC) and Country Manual.
• Perform other tasks in line with the job description and as requested by the Vocational Skills Development Manager.

Qualifications or requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in economics, community development, entrepreneurship, or a related subject.
• Basic understanding of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and environmental or climate considerations in youth or vocational programmes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team under minimal supervision.
• Ability to supervise and mentor junior staff.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills with attention to detail.
• Good level of written and spoken English and Kiswahili.
• Results-oriented professional with empathy and drive.

Experience needed

• Minimum of five years of progressive experience related to business development support, entrepreneurship, private sector engagement, and/or youth or livelihood development.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing youth upskilling and business development support programmes.
• Proven experience working with training providers and MSMEs.
• Demonstrated ability to engage private sector actors, build partnerships, and facilitate market linkages and employment opportunities.
• Proven ability to coordinate multiple partners, facilitate trainings and workshops, and manage relationships across public and private sector actors.
• Practical experience in monitoring project implementation and collaborating with MEL systems and teams is an advantage.
• Experience contributing to project planning, budgeting, and reporting to donors or government counterparts is an asset.
• Experience working with youth, young mothers, or other marginalized groups is a distinct advantage.

Any other provided details

The main place of work will be Morogoro, with regular visits to other places in Tanzania.

• Lead the facilitation of youth upskilling and enterprise growth support programmes under outcome 3, including developing annual work plans and budgets.
• Support the implementation of Youth Vocational Skills Development Programmes under outcome 2 in Morogoro.
• Facilitate private sector engagement across the project and its interventions.
• Identify barriers to the growth of youth-led enterprises and co-create solutions with the SET technical team.
• Lead the design of the upskilling and enterprise growth support model, and adjust the model based on evidence.
• Lead the design of activities that strengthen linkages to upskilling and business development service providers, markets, and financial services.
• Potentially support the development of a financial product for youth.
• Lead the identification of suitable training providers and business support organisations as potential partners for the upskilling and business growth support programme.
• Manage procurement and tender processes in line with project guidelines.
• With the support of the Youth Training Coordinator, implement the upskilling and business growth support programme through guidance, technical backstopping, and project partner coordination.
• Together with the M&E Coordinator, develop tools to monitor progress in outcome area 3.
• Support the identification of vocational skills development and self-employment or employment opportunities through training providers in the Morogoro region.
• Support procurement and tender processes for training providers in Morogoro in line with project guidelines.
• Manage contracts with training providers in Morogoro.
• Ensure training providers submit reports as scheduled.
• Quality assure the implementation of youth trainings.
• Ensure that training providers in Morogoro implement monitoring in line with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) procedures of Swisscontact.
• Conduct regular joint monitoring visits with training providers.
• Mainstream private sector engagement into SET and apply a private sector lens throughout all steps of project cycle management.
• Identify private sector enterprises as potential partners for the project.
• Support training providers in linking with the private sector.
• Develop, facilitate, and supervise private sector project activities.
• Implement training on private sector engagement concepts and analysis for SET stakeholders, where required.
• Ensure that private sector engagement activities are monitored.
• Ensure data is disaggregated accordingly.
• Ensure private sector engagement activities are reported on.
• Regularly follow up on the latest innovations in the area of private sector engagement in vocational skills development.
• Provide inputs for SET project reports, budgets, and work plans for submission to the Government and SDC.
• Share insights, challenges, and learning with the Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) unit.
• Contribute to cross-project learning and the development of knowledge products.
• Contribute to internal learning sessions, partner exchanges, monitoring, and technical workshops.
• Work with the MEL unit to ensure monitoring data is accurate.
• Participate in MEL meetings as required.
• Support mainstreaming of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and climate change across project interventions.
• Follow Swisscontact’s rules and procedures, including the Code of Conduct (CoC) and Country Manual.
• Perform other tasks in line with the job description and as requested by the Vocational Skills Development Manager.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team under minimal supervision.
• Ability to supervise and mentor junior staff.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills with attention to detail.
• Good level of written and spoken English and Kiswahili.
• Results-oriented professional with empathy and drive.

• A bachelor’s degree in economics, community development, entrepreneurship, or a related subject.
• Basic understanding of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and environmental or climate considerations in youth or vocational programmes.