Are you passionate about mentoring youth, advancing gender equity, and building sustainable agricultural ecosystems in Kenya? Do you have proven experience supporting smallholder farmers, especially in the avocado value chain? If yes, this opportunity is tailor-made for you.
SokoFresh, in partnership with the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE), is on the lookout for a Consultancy – Mentorship Expert (Avocado Value Chain) to play a pivotal role in our youth-focused agricultural transformation initiative. This is your chance to make an impact by shaping livelihoods, promoting mental well-being, and building agribusiness capacity in Kenya’s rural communities.
About the Project: CFYE and SokoFresh Partnership
The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) is a €134 million, 7-year program funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its mission is to create dignified and fulfilling employment opportunities for over 230,000 young women and men across the Middle East, North Africa, Sahel & West Africa, and the Horn of Africa.
The Fund supports innovative solutions from private sector and civil society institutions that tackle youth unemployment through sustainable and demand-driven job creation, especially for women. Each funded initiative takes a holistic approach, bridging the gap between skills (supply) and job opportunities (demand), aiming for long-term economic and social benefits.
SokoFresh, a Kenyan social enterprise launched in 2019, is committed to improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by reducing post-harvest losses through cold storage solutions and market linkages. By doing so, farmers access premium markets, improve their produce quality, and secure higher incomes.
Together, CFYE and SokoFresh are implementing the SokoFresh AgriHub Project—an initiative focused on creating over 2,000 youth jobs in agriculture, especially in the avocado value chain. The program centers on women’s chamas to enable better income generation and employment opportunities while ensuring inclusivity, equity, and access to markets.
Consultancy Opportunity: Mentorship Expert – Avocado Value Chain
SokoFresh seeks a Consultancy – Mentorship Expert to design, implement, and oversee a youth mentorship program tailored to the avocado value chain. The ideal consultant will be Kenya-based and bring demonstrated experience in agribusiness mentorship, psychosocial support, and gender-focused training.
This consultancy will directly contribute to building capacity among youth farmers, bridging the certification gap (Global GAP & GRASP), promoting mental wellness, and fostering gender equity.
Key Responsibilities
The consultant will undertake the following tasks during the assignment period:
1. Needs Assessment
- Conduct focus groups and surveys with youth farmers to understand their mentorship and support needs.
- Analyze findings to design a structured mentorship framework that aligns with the goals of the AgriHub project.
2. Program Design and Execution
- Create a peer-to-peer and expert-led mentorship model tailored to rural youth engaged in avocado farming.
- Embed elements of psychosocial support, agribusiness training, career development, and skill-building.
- Ensure 50% female participation through gender-responsive engagement strategies.
3. Mentorship Activities
- Host mentor-mentee matching events across the AgriHubs.
- Train local Hub Operators and Hub Associates to sustain mentorship activities beyond the consultant’s engagement.
- Facilitate a peer learning summit to promote sharing of success stories and best practices.
4. Monitoring and Evaluation
- Develop feedback and performance measurement tools to track progress and impact.
- Analyze youth engagement, mentorship outcomes, and areas for improvement.
- Prepare reports detailing lessons learned and provide strategic recommendations for future scaling.
Expected Deliverables
Throughout the consultancy period (16th June–30th October 2025), the consultant will be expected to deliver the following:
- Inception Report: A comprehensive framework outlining the mentorship program’s design and objectives.
- Monthly Progress Reports: Updates on youth participation, training effectiveness, feedback, and ongoing improvements.
- Training Sessions: Co-facilitate a series of mentorship and capacity-building sessions with SokoFresh teams.
- Final Report: A complete summary of the consultancy’s work, outcomes, challenges, and actionable insights for long-term adoption.
Timeline and Duration
- Level of Effort: Up to 7 working days spread across three months
- Period: 16th June – 30th October 2025
- Reporting: The consultant will report directly to the CFYE Country Lead and coordinate closely with SokoFresh’s management team.
Who We’re Looking For
We’re seeking a dynamic individual who is committed to youth empowerment and agricultural development in Kenya. The ideal candidate will possess:
- A deep understanding of mentorship ecosystems and agribusiness networks in Kenya.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, particularly in rural and youth-centric environments.
- Experience in participatory training and facilitation techniques.
- Familiarity with mental health challenges in agriculture and the use of grievance frameworks such as GRASP.
- Ability to coordinate and deliver impact-driven mentoring relationships.
- Proficiency in English and local languages.
- Competence in digital tools for monitoring, data collection, and reporting.
Note: Only residents of Kenya are eligible to apply for this consultancy.
Why This Role Matters
Youth engaged in the agricultural sector—especially women—face multiple barriers, from mental health challenges and limited access to markets to a lack of certification and career guidance. This mentorship consultancy plays a vital role in addressing these systemic issues, paving the way for more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous rural communities.
By fostering psychosocial well-being, career clarity, and skills development, this program aims to unlock long-term economic stability for Kenya’s youth, particularly those working in the avocado value chain.
This is more than a consultancy—it’s an opportunity to build a legacy of mentorship, social equity, and agricultural transformation.
Equal Opportunity Commitment
SokoFresh is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and consultants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, age, or disability.
How to Apply
If you are passionate about youth empowerment and have the expertise to lead a mentorship initiative in Kenya’s agricultural sector, we would love to hear from you.
Application Deadline: 4th June 2025
Location: Kenya (Local applicants only)
For more details about the assignment and requirements, please refer to the attached PDF: “Consultancy – Mentorship Expert – Avocado Value Chain.”
