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:

1.     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.

2.     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).

3.     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.