Junior Project Officer – Inclusive Capital Markets for Youth and Women Entrepreneurs Full Time NEW

Job Description

Mission description

As the Junior Project Officer for the project “Inclusive Capital Markets for Youth and Women Entrepreneurs in Ethiopia”, you will support the Team Leader and technical experts in the effective implementation of the project. The JPO will contribute to technical coordination, stakeholder engagement, and progress monitoring. This role is ideal for a motivated early-career professional with a strong interest in capital markets development, financial inclusion, and international cooperation. This position will be reporting to the project Team Leader.

Key Responsibilities include:

Project Implementation Support

• Assist in the day-to-day coordination of project activities across outputs and stakeholders;
• Support the planning and logistical organisation of events, workshops, trainings, and missions across the three components of the project;
• Ensure that all technical assistance, training activities, and advisory services systematically integrate a gender-sensitive and ESG lens, promoting inclusive and sustainable capital market development;
• Assist in drafting and updating work plans, technical reports, and meeting minutes;
• Track progress against project deliverables and timelines using appropriate monitoring tools.
• Design and lead project-wide brainstorming sessions, strategic planning, and internal workshops;
• Support the Team Leader in alignment of all activities with project goals, stakeholder needs and cross-component coordination.

Stakeholder Coordination & Outreach

• Facilitate communication between the project team and key stakeholders, including ECMA, ESX, AABE, MSMEs, private sector actors, and development partners;
• Support the organisation of stakeholder consultations;
• Assist in ensuring timely dissemination of project information, updates, and outcomes.

Technical & Research Assistance

• Support the design and implementation of capacity-building initiatives for national institutions and ecosystem actors.
• Assist with data collection, documentation, and reporting for project evaluations and donor updates.
• Contribute to technical reports, donor updates, and visibility materials highlighting progress and outcomes.

Project or context description

Expertise France is France’s public agency and interministerial actor in charge of international technical cooperation, the second-largest in Europe. As a subsidiary of Agence Française de Développement Group (AFD Group), it designs and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in developing and emerging countries. Expertise France works in key areas of development: governance, security, climate change, health, education, and more. Alongside its partners, it contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The project “Inclusive Capital Markets for Youth and Women Entrepreneurs in Ethiopia” is co-financed by the European Union (EU) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and implemented by Expertise France. The total budget of the project is EUR 10 million.

This project aims to enhance the Ethiopian capital market to better support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly those owned or led by youth and women. By addressing barriers to finance, improving market infrastructure and financial literacy, and fostering inclusivity, the initiative seeks to empower these underserved groups, drive economic growth and decent work, and promote sustainable development in Ethiopia.

The expected outputs are:

• Output 1: Strengthened skills and capacities within the capital markets authority and other relevant institutions in serving MSME needs;
• Output 2: Increased knowledge among women and youth owned and led MSMEs, including startups, in participation in the stock exchange and alternative means of financing;
• Output 3: Increased knowledge and financial education among international and local investors to participate in capital markets.

The main stakeholders benefiting from the project include the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA), the Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) and the Accounting & Auditing Board of Ethiopia (AABE), alongside the entrepreneurship ecosystem and SMEs to drive economic development, innovation, and job creation.

Required profile

Qualifications and Skills:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as international development, economics, development studies, public policy or finance;
• Knowledge of financial market regulations or SME financing mechanisms;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;
• Fluency in English and French;
• Willingness to travel within the country and internationally, as required.

Professional Experience:

• 1 to 3 years of professional experience in international development, public sector reform or project management
• Experience in Eastern Africa, especially in Ethiopia, is an asset
• Experience in financial inclusion, financial sector development, financial sector regulation or SME finance is an asset
• Experience in development cooperation and international partnerships is an asset

Additional information

Location: Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia
Duration of the mission: initial 12 month-contract, renewable up to 24 months
The contract is expected to start on January 1st, 2026.
Applications should include a CV and a cover letter.

How To Apply 

In order to apply to this International Volunteering in Administration (VIA) position, you must:

• Be under 29 years old at the beginning of the contract;
• Be French or a national of a country of the European Economic Area (EEA)
• Comply with national service obligations (defense and citizenship day)

Further information about the VIA status can be found here: https://www.service public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F13279?lang=en

Deadline for application: 2025/11/12 09:00 AM (CET).

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