Youth Engagement and Program Insights Intern

AGRA and its Work

AGRA is an African-led institution that actively supports the drive towards inclusive agricultural transformation and sustainable food systems. We do this by empowering the continent’s 33 million small-farming households to transform their agriculture from a struggle to survive to profitable businesses. The continent’s farmers regularly face challenges, and we aspire to provide uniquely African solutions that respond to their agricultural and environmental challenges, leading to increased harvests for reduced hunger and more income. Working in alignment with the development priorities of our focus countries, we enable farmers to access improved and high-yielding seeds, gain knowledge on sustainable farming, and link to profitable markets.

In our work, we aspire to build the alliances, partnerships, and networks required to drive an inclusive agricultural transformation. We work with our partners to create an equitable, youth-friendly environment that harnesses the youth dividend on the continent to drive growth and facilitate open employment opportunities for young women and men. We achieve our key objectives through a focus on the following four areas of intervention:

• Policy and state capability – We support governments in creating an enabling environment for private sector involvement in agricultural transformation.
• Seed systems – We trigger higher productivity by increasing the availability and access to improved seeds by farmers, allowing them to increase their harvests for food security and better incomes.
• Sustainable farming – We support farmers in building resilient farming systems for sustained high yields through interventions such as mechanization and irrigation.
• Inclusive markets and trade – We work to increase the linkages between farmers and other market actors for a positive, sustained cycle of commercialization and reinvestment.
• Youth, Gender, and Inclusiveness – We enable women and youth to contribute to and benefit from agriculture for their economic empowerment.

Implementing Our New Strategy Through People

People are the heart of our organization and remain the true drivers of our delivery and our impact. We work with incredible people and partners who have roots in farming communities across the continent, combined with an inclusive and diverse workforce from over 24 nationalities. Our commitment to a call to action goes beyond ourselves as we arise to catalyze African Food Systems’ transformation by being Deeply collaborative, Executing Excellently, Sincerely Constructive, and Increasingly Entrepreneurial, aligned with our values of (I-RISE; Integrity, Respect, Innovation, Stewardship, and Equity).

Role summary

The intern will play a vital cross-functional support role within youth-focused agricultural and employment initiatives. Working closely with the GYI colleagues and other teams, the intern will contribute to the design and implementation of youth employment programs by supporting aspiration mapping, gathering youth feedback, and documenting success stories. They will assist in managing databases of youth-led SMEs and youth networks, facilitate youth consultations, and support communities of practice. The role also involves tracking donor opportunities, mapping potential partners, monitoring youth events, and contributing to storytelling and communications. Additionally, the intern will provide logistical and administrative support for policy dialogues and training evaluations. This internship offers hands-on experience in youth engagement, program implementation, and strategic coordination in the agri-food system.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The roles are clustered to streamline the focus of tasks and ensure clarity in responsibilities. The first cluster, Youth Engagement & Program Support, centers on direct interaction with youth and stakeholders, focusing on data collection, feedback, and active program participation. The second category, Research, Coordination & Strategic Support, addresses tasks that involve managing data, mapping partners, monitoring funding, and supporting policy and strategic activities.

Cluster 1: Youth Engagement & Program Support

These tasks are focused on directly engaging with youth, gathering data, and supporting the implementation of programs and consultations:

• Aspiration mapping support – Assist in analyzing how aspiration data is used to design youth employment programs that reflect career goals and interests.
• Communities of practice – Support the activities of SME Development Community of Practice and Youth Community of Practice as may be directed by the community leads.
• Youth network mapping – Identify, map, and track youth networks and platforms relevant to the program’s objectives to enhance engagement and collaboration.
• Youth event tracking – Monitor and maintain a calendar of key global, continental, and regional youth-focused events relevant to agriculture, employment, and development to support strategic engagement and participation.
• Youth feedback & consultation support – Help organize and assist with youth consultations, focus groups, and surveys to gather feedback. Also, assist in documenting success stories to showcase program outcomes.

Cluster 2: Research, Coordination & Strategic Support

These tasks involve research, data management, partner mapping, and strategic planning for the program’s overall direction and sustainability:

• SME Database management – Work with country colleagues and D&A team to update and maintain a database of SMEs for tracking and engagement.
• Partner mapping – Assist in identifying and mapping potential partners supporting youth in the food and agriculture sector.
• Funding and donor tracking – Monitor and compile information on funding opportunities and donor priorities to support strategic planning and resource mobilization.
• Policy dialogue support – Assist in organizing policy meetings, taking minutes, and tracking action items.
• Training evaluation support – Contribute to training assessments by formatting tools, entering data, and summarizing results.

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in any of the following fields (A Master’s Degree is an added advantage): Development Studies, Economics, Agricultural Economics or Agribusiness, Communications or information science, Public Policy, or other related disciplines
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required; knowledge of French or other regional languages is an added advantage.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with basic research, data entry, and analysis
• Previous involvement in youth programs, clubs, student leadership, or volunteer initiatives is desirable
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Familiarity with online tools for collaboration (e.g., Zoom, Teams, Google Workspace)
• A demonstrated interest or passion for youth development, agriculture, or inclusive economic development is a strong advantage.
• Effective communication & youth engagement – Ability to engage with youth, gather feedback, and communicate clearly in written and verbal forms (reports, success stories, social media).
• Organizational & event coordination – Strong organizational skills to support planning and facilitation of consultations, focus groups, and youth events.
• Research & analytical thinking – Ability to conduct research, analyze data, and draw insights to inform program decisions.
• Collaboration & interpersonal skills – Good teamwork and relationship-building skills with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Attention to detail & time management – Strong attention to detail in tasks like database management and funding tracking, while managing multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Adaptability & problem-solving – Ability to adapt to changing priorities, think critically, and proactively contribute to program improvements.
• Cultural sensitivity & inclusivity – Awareness and sensitivity to diverse youth groups and the importance of inclusivity in program design.