Terms of Reference (ToR) – Project Officer, YEA-R Program

Position Title: Project Officer

Locations: Nyamasheke and Ngororero Districts
Reports to: Project Manager
Contract Type: Fixed-Term (Renewable)
Application Deadline: 21st September 2025

About Afro Ark

Afro Ark is a youth and women-led organization established in 2018 to tackle the intersecting challenges faced by women, girls, and children in Rwanda and across Africa. Guided by the Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2063, and Rwanda’s Vision 2050, Afro Ark promotes gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), protection from gender-based violence, youth and women economic empowerment.

Through advocacy, capacity building, and social support, Afro Ark works with adolescent girls, teenage mothers, women with disabilities, and mobile women entrepreneurs. Its work focuses on transforming communities by advancing equal rights, health, and economic opportunity. Afro Ark collaborates with stakeholders across government, civil society, and international development agencies to amplify the voices of young women and support inclusive community transformation. As a partner in the YEA-R program, Afro Ark brings grassroots expertise to Pathway 3 – empowerment, voice, and agency ensuring young women and vulnerable groups actively participate in Rwanda’s agricultural transformation.

About the YEA-R Program

Afro Ark is a consortium partner in the Youth Entrepreneurship in Agriculture in Rwanda (YEA-R) Program, funded by the Mastercard Foundation and led by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation. The five-year program aims to create 40,000 dignified and fulfilling work opportunities for youth (70% women, 5% persons with disabilities) in Rwanda’s poultry and horticulture value chains. Through three interlinked pathways; skills building, market linkage, and empowerment. YEA-R equips youth with technical, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills to thrive in the agrifood sector.

This position supports Pathway 3: Empowerment, Voice & Agency, which focuses on gender equality, social inclusion (GESI), and building youth leadership and agency within the agricultural ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

Community Mobilization and Engagement

Mobilize young women, men, and PWDs into youth groups/cooperatives.
Conduct participatory GESI and youth empowerment sessions using tools like “My Voice My Power” and other curricula.
Engage community leaders, parents, and other influencers to strengthen support for youth and women in agribusiness.

Training and Facilitation

Deliver empowerment and leadership training to youth groups.
Train GESI Champions and support the transfer of learning within groups.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

Support the implementation of GESI strategies in the SMEs and ensure inclusive practices in all their operations.
Organize and facilitate GESI dialogues engaging men, couples, and community gatekeepers.

Youth Leadership and Voice

Facilitate the identification and training of youth,men and women champions on GESI championship and men engagement.
Support youth groups in documenting success stories and participating in youth panels and advocacy forums.

Coordination and Reporting

Coordinate with local authorities,YAOs, and other program partners.
Document and report on activities, success stories, challenges, and lessons learned.
Ensure safeguarding standards, gender-sensitive approaches, and data disaggregation in all reports.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in , Gender Studies, Rural Development, Education, Community Development, or related field.
Minimum of 3 years of experience in community mobilization, GESI, youth/women empowerment, or related roles.
Proven experience in conducting trainings on gender equality, and community facilitation.
Familiarity with rural and youth-centered development programming
Experience working with women and people with disabilities in inclusive programming.
Fluency in Kinyarwanda and working knowledge of English.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and within diverse teams.
Willingness to be based in and travel frequently within the assigned district.
Desirable Skills

Experience with participatory tools and approaches such Human-Centered Design and others.
Experience in handling sensitive gender-related issues and safeguarding concerns.
Application Instructions

Qualified candidates are invited to submit their applications including:

A cover letter
Curriculum Vitae (max 3 pages)
Copies of academic and professional certificates
At least two references (one of them must be a former direct supervisor)

Submit applications by email to the form: https://forms.gle/usjXetU3H2mpDfzn9

In case of any inquiries please email us on: [email protected] cc: [email protected]

Note: Women, persons with disabilities, and youth from the listed districts are strongly encouraged to apply. Young women are highly encouraged to apply.