Country Lead - REAP Programme (Egypt or Morocco)

About the role

ICARDA is recruiting a Country Lead for the Rural Employment through Animal Feed Production (REAP) programme, which aims to give 1 million young people aged 18 to 35 access to work in sustainable feed and livestock value chains. Two positions are available: one in Cairo, Egypt and one in Rabat, Morocco. The Country Lead reports to the Team Leader, Social, Economy and Policy Research, and turns programme objectives, results, budgets and partnerships into an accountable country plan covering performance, partner coordination, delivery quality, financial and risk management, safeguarding, inclusion and youth employment.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and review annual and multi-year country delivery plans, and hold deliverables, budgets, forecasts and youth outcomes accountable
• Coordinate CGIAR, ICIPE, government, research, private-sector, financial, civil-society and delivery partners, and lead partner selection, contracting and monitoring
• Represent REAP at country level and engage with Mastercard Foundation, the Program Management Unit, government and communities
• Support youth entrepreneurship pathways, incubation, enterprise readiness and inclusive financial ecosystems
• Ensure accurate MEL reporting and adapt workplans and partners using evidence and feedback
• Oversee country budgeting, procurement, grants, contracts and risk controls
• Embed inclusion for young women, youth with disabilities, refugees and other underserved groups, and oversee safeguarding standards and complaints
• Lead country teams and prepare evidence-based country and donor reports

Required profile

• Advanced degree, preferably a PhD, in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Business Administration, Agribusiness, Entrepreneurship or a related field
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in international or agricultural development, youth employment, enterprise development, market systems or related fields
• Significant experience managing complex donor-funded programmes, including planning, budgeting, implementation, grants, contracts, procurement and reporting
• Experience coordinating government, research, private-sector, financial, civil-society and local partners, preferably with strong networks in Egypt or Morocco
• Fluent English for Egypt; fluent French and strong professional English for Morocco

Required skills

• Expertise in MSME business development, business incubation and acceleration, and enterprise advisory services
• Development of financial ecosystems, inclusive financial products and risk-sharing mechanisms
• Agribusiness value chains, SME development, finance, market access and private-sector partnerships
• Business incubation models, enterprise ecosystems and Agribusiness Park operations
• MEL systems, results frameworks and evidence-based adaptation
• Gender equality, social inclusion, safeguarding and participant accountability

What we offer

• Competitive salary, medical insurance, 30 days' annual leave, five months' maternity leave and 15 days' paternity leave
• Three-year contract renewable subject to need, funding and performance; first year is probationary