Apply now for new YEP positions

Young Expert Programmes (YEP) is looking for Dutch candidates for no less than eleven different YEP positions. Main goal of YEP, consisting of YEP Agrofood and YEP Water, is to offer young professionals the opportunity to kickstart their international career and become part of the YEP Global Network.  The current vacancies offer positions in Burundi, Ethiopia, Malawi, Kenya, Myanmar, Ghana or Bangladesh. Application for the new YEP positions is open until November 18, 2018.

Since 2013, more than 350 Young Experts have already been employed through YEP Programmes in 38 countries by more than 115 different organizations. The current new job opportunities, of which six in the agrofood sector, are open for Dutch nationals only; local Young Experts are selected through the selection process of the specific companies.

The current eleven positions include three positions under the Talent Pool programme at Netherlands Embassies. The one in Benin is an extension, two new agrofood vacancies are open at the Embassies in Burundi and Ethiopia. The Talent Pool programme connects Dutch Embassies working in the Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) field with young professionals who have ambitions in this sector. The Young Experts support the implementation of the FNS agenda at the Embassies and link Embassy practice to Dutch education.

Please find below the current vacancies for which candidates can apply. More specific job details and information on the application and selection procedure are available at the YEP website.

YEP AGROFOOD POSITION EKN BURUNDI

Country: Bujumbura, Burundi
Project Title: PIP coordination
Position: PIP support officer
Duration: 1 year

Background
Since 2011 Burundi has been one of the 15 focus countries in Dutch development cooperation. The country is one of the poorest countries in the world facing big challenges in the areas of governance and development. In Burundi, the Netherlands is active in three –complementary- thematic areas: (1) Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), (2) Stability and Rule of Law and (3) Food and Nutrition Security. Burundi is part of Africa’s Great Lakes Region. The embassy is therefore also involved in the implementation of the strategic plan for this region, in close collaboration with the Dutch embassies in Kigali, Kampala and Kinshasa.

YEP AGROFOOD POSITION EKN ETHIOPIA

Country: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Project Title: Strengthening results based policy implementation
Position: Policy officer food security
Duration: 1 year

Background
The Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) goals for the Dutch share in the SDG 2 for 2030 are (1) 32 million people lifted out of undernourishment, (2) 8 million family farms that have doubled their productivity or income and (3) 7,5 million hectares of farmland that have been converted to sustainable use. For Ethiopia specifically, the ambition for the next 4 years is to contribute to the realisation of ‘a sustainable and inclusive agricultural and food system, based on integrated water resource management and sound environmental management, all of which are adapted to climate change’.

YEP WATER POSITION Smart Centre/MetaMeta Holding

Country: Malawi, Mzuzu
Project Title: SMART CENTRE TRAINER – innovative, high quality, and low cost water and sanitation
Position: Technical Project Officer
Duration: 2 years

Background
In June 2012 the SMART Centre was established by the CCAP Development Department in cooperation with the Centre of Excellence in Water and Sanitation of Mzuzu University. In 2015 the SMART Centre was located outside the University and it is now an independent Centre under the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia’s Development Department (SOLDEV). As a Training Centre, the SMART Centre offers demonstration of a range of low cost technologies and capacity to train local entrepreneurs in water and sanitation technologies with a focus on Rural water supply and ‘Self-supply’. Training also includes business skills, linking them and their customers to micro-financing institutions.

The implementing partner; the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Synod of Livingstonia’s Development Department, has a coordinating role in partnering with both the Malawi Government and other Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) focusing on sustainable development issues and is a valuable part of the SMART Centre work.

YEP AGROFOOD POSITION ICCO Cooperation

Country: Kenya, Nairobi
Project Title: Enhancing food security and deepening community resilience in Kenya and South Sudan
Position: Emergency Food Security Advisor
Duration: 2 years

Background
ICCO Cooperation (ICCO) is a Dutch founded organization for international development cooperation with 50 years of experience and global presence in Africa, Latin America and Asia. ICCO also holds office in the USA and Middle East. We connect, promote and strengthen the work of local civil society organizations (CSOs), producer organizations, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), national/multinational companies and governments.

YEP WATER POSITION Wetlands International

Country: Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
Project Title: The Sustainable Water Fund – Ziway Shalla
Position: Technical Officer, Water Resources Management
Duration: 2 years

Background
The Basin in Balance programme aims to address key problems causing the decline in water quantity and quality in the Ziway-Shalla basin, namely:

• Unchecked and inefficient use of irrigation water by smallholder horticultural farmers;
• Lack of transparent and fair water allocation and sharing model;
• Limited institutional framework and capacity for basin management;
• Poor watershed management causing erosion and sedimentation.

YEP AGROFOOD POSITION Financial Access Capital Management B.V. (FACM)

Country: Nairobi, Kenya
Project Title: Financial Access Capital Management B.V. (‘’FACM’’)
Position: Junior IT Business Analyst
Duration: 2 years

Background
FACM role is to promote and facilitate SCF in emerging markets and we see it as our mission to help SME clients to bridge this trade cycle gap and getting access to finance. FACM has established the Netherlands-based FACTS East Africa B.V. (FACTS EA), as a finance company to attract and channel offshore finance into FACTS entities in Kenya, Uganda and (soon) Tanzania.

YEP AGROFOOD POSITION Satelligence

Country: Ghana, Accra
Project Title: Satellite insights for food & water security in Ghana
Position: Liason West Africa
Duration: 2 years

Background
Large scale production of palm oil, cocoa, coffee and rice faces enormous risks: deforestation, harvest loss, pest and disease, flooding, fires, etc. Stakeholders in the supply chain know this and initiate action. However, it remains unclear what is happening exactly and where?

Satelligence is a social enterprise making earth observation more beneficial to society and the environment. The team delivers actionable information to manage performance and risks to natural capital. This includes weekly updated information on (smallholder) plantation distribution, crop growth, performance, and supply chain risks such as deforestation, flooding and drought impact at high detail over large areas in tropical regions.

Satelligence has rapidly expanded in Ghana and West Africa over the last couple of years. The focus of the Young Expert will be both on existing programmes and clients and on expanding the business where possible. The main focus will be on supporting ongoing projects aiming to improve the livelihoods of cocoa and oil palm smallholder farmers through a geodata-driven farmer development plans.

YEP WATER POSITION One to Watch

Country: Myanmar, Yangon
Project title: One to Watch Myanmar
Position: Business and Financial Analyst
Duration: 2 year(s)

Background
One to Watch (OTW) is a Dutch company that implements and manages impact investments in SME companies in Nepal and Myanmar. Founded in 2011, it is now operating in Nepal for 8 years and in Myanmar since 2 years. 5 years ago OTW started with a yearly 100-day business accelerator program, to professionalize entrepreneurs and their businesses, so that they become ready to receive an investment. By supporting these entrepreneurs, the agricultural and water sector is professionalized in a sustainable and inclusive manner. In Myanmar, OTW is currently taking a central place within the development of the Myanmar SME sector, by organizing trainings for SMEs throughout the country, linking SMEs to investors, managing these investments and by linking the companies to all kinds of development programs that are helpful for them.

YEP AGROFOOD POSITION eProd Solutions & GDK Software

Country: Kenya, Nairobi
Project Title: Smart ERP to build trust in African agricultural sector
Position: Product Development Officer
Duration: 2 years

Background
eProd Solutions Ltd offers an ICT management system (ERP) for farmer cooperatives, food processors and agricultural commodities in the agricultural sector named eProd. The solution is optimized for areas with poor internet connectivity and therefore ideal for Africa. The coding for eProd is done by a Dutch company named GDK Software. The company is expanding fast and requires strategic and operational support for the management of its expansion.

YEP WATER POSITION MAX Foundation

Country: Bangladesh, Dhaka
Project Title: MAX Water Social Business
Position: Max Water Social Business Product Development Manager
Duration: 2 years

Background
Max Foundation is a Dutch based NGO founded in 2005. Since the start, Max Foundation’s mission is to prevent child mortality in the most effective and efficient way. Our approach is focused on ‘community managed implementation of WASH’, meaning that local involvement, capacity building and ownership are key words to obtain a sustainable effect.

Since our start in 2005, Max Foundation has been contributing to a healthier future of children in Bangladesh. With our main program Max Value for WASH (Max-WASH I) which started in 2012 and is now in its final stages, we focussed on the hard-to-reach areas of the south coastal belt of Bangladesh. Max-WASH II is an integrated 4 years programme that continues to put WASH & Health at the heart of community-led efforts to reduce levels of diarrhoea and other water- and faecal-borne diseases to contribute and better child health, towards preventing stunting and ending infant and child deaths. The programme will work with communities, local government, local entrepreneurs and partners in the South Coastal areas of Bangladesh to achieve sustainable access to safe water, hygienic sanitation and good hygiene practices for all in the programme areas.

The aim of the project is to support on new program & business development (business driven opportunities) and link with possible International Partner organizations (INGO’s) and donors which enables Max Foundation to optimize and expand their impact on the reduction of child mortality through WASH (Water & Sanitation and Hygiene education) and Health (safe motherhood, nutrition) programs.

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Up to now, more than 250 Young Experts have kickstarted their international careers through YEP Programmes. Main goal of YEP is to offer young Dutch and local professionals the opportunity to take their first steps in an international environment in the water and/or agrofood sectors. YEP Programmes is carried out jointly by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Netherlands Water Partnership and the Food & Business Knowledge Platform.

For more information about the programmes and the current and alumni Young Experts, please visit the YEP website.