Project Name: Reducing the Burden of HIV/AIDS and Health Systems Strengthening Requirement for MCC Lesotho Compact Development
Location: Lesotho/Remote
Type: Consultant
Reports to: Team Leader
University Research Co., LLC (URC)
URC is a global company dedicated to improving the quality of health care, social services, and health education worldwide. With a non-profit affiliate, the Center for Human Services (CHS), URC manages projects in over 45 countries, including the United States.
Established in 1965, URC offers a range of technical assistance to strengthen health and social systems and service quality by empowering communities and health workers to identify and scale up locally appropriate solutions to critical problems. Internationally, we expand access to and improve the quality of services addressing maternal, newborn, and child health; infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria; reproductive health and family planning; food and nutrition; and vulnerable children and families. In the US, we focus on improving communication related to issues like substance abuse, with a particular focus on reaching underserved populations.
URC’s mission is to provide innovative, evidence-based solutions to health and social challenges worldwide. Please join us in carrying out our mission (http://www.urc-chs.com/).
Project Overview:
The Reducing the Burden of HIV/AIDS and Health Systems Strengthening requirement will support MCC to conduct formative research and landscape analyses, collect and analyze data to identify barriers for disadvantaged populations from participating in the labor market, assess and develop appropriate responses and interventions, and conduct due diligence of proposed interventions to strengthen private sector growth by increasing he effectiveness and accountability of policy planning, coordination and execution. Activities will be carried out in Lesotho and internally within MCC.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The Business Development/Entrepreneurship Expert will be responsible for the following:
- Analyze available literature and data on gender, value chains, growth potential, and the main challenges and opportunities for women and youth entrepreneurs in the context of Lesotho.
- Support formative research and analysis, including market analysis, on opportunities for business development, growth, and entrepreneurship in Lesotho, particularly among women and youth. The focus will be on identifying barriers for women, youth and other disadvantaged populations with respect to participating in the agriculture, creative, manufacturing and/or tourism economy in Lesotho and analysis of sectors to identify potential opportunities for women’s and youth economic empowerment.
- Support prioritization modeling and mapping the potential for employment of different groups within key productive sectors (agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and creative industries, and the digital economy).
- Identify specific needs of women and youth for market development, employment and job entry.
- Support development of recommended interventions designed to address and reduce barriers to entrepreneurship and formal and informal employment, with a focus on women and youth, including identification of specific sectors where sustainable economic opportunities for women and youth can be fostered.
Required and Preferred Qualifications:
- A minimum of a Master’s degree or equivalent of a U.S. University Master ‘s degree (equivalency accreditation if a non-U.S. institution) in economics, business, public health, gender studies, or a related field.
- A minimum of 10 years work experience in designing, implementing and evaluating business development and entrepreneurship focused programs related to women and youth in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a preference for Southern Africa.
- Experience analyzing and modeling sociocultural, economic and policy drivers of poverty and unemployment, particularly among women, youth and other disadvantaged populations.
- Experience proposing policy reforms and designing programs that address and reduce barriers to entrepreneurship, employment and participation in the labor market, particularly for women and youth.
- Experience with the above issues in Southern or Eastern Africa is required. Experience in Lesotho highly desirable.
- Possess strong project management and interpersonal skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Proven working knowledge and fluency in written and oral English.
To Apply:
For immediate consideration, please visit URC’s Career Opportunities page at www.urc-chs.com/careers.
You must upload your CV/Résumé and your Cover Letter where indicated. Also, please complete your application form and attach a completed USAID Form 1420 Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet as well.
Due to the large number of inquiries we receive, only candidates who have met the required experience & qualifications for this position will be contacted. No phone calls please. However, since we are active around the world in the field of public health, we may wish to retain your CV in our database for other/future opportunities, unless you direct us otherwise. Thank you very much for your interest.
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We value and seek diversity in our workforce.