Youth employability private sector outreach consultant

From other contexts, we know that disruptions in a skills-building journey now will have consequences on education attainment and earning potential that lasts decades. In addition, the consultations revealed that many youths are engaging in labor that is not only low-skilled but also exploitative, with many youths working without contracts in the “gray economy.” Youth who are experiencing this disruption will have trouble integrating into the Czech Republic, and they will also be less equipped to support a post-conflict economy in Ukraine. Conversely, programmes which empower these youth with skills now will create a double advantage: first, to fill critical labor gaps in the Czech Republic, and second, to equip the next generation currently displaced due to the war with skills and experience that can support the post conflict economy in Ukraine upon return.

In this context, UNICEF has launched Cesty Initiative, a multi-stakeholder partnership designed to support youth to engage in one of three skills-building pathways: (1) paid internships and apprenticeships; (2) low-skilled labor which supports access to professional development opportunities and language acquisition; or (3) scholarships which cover basic needs while youth study full time. At the heart of the Cesty Initiative is the Cesty Pledge to encourage the private sector to commit to providing opportunities for youth that meet these goals. Private sector companies joining the pledge must commit to provide opportunities for at least 50 youth. The pledge is designed to be very flexible so that companies can develop opportunities that fit within their existing employment modalities. To support this, UNICEF is currently seeking a consultant with strong private sector experience to engage with companies to join the pledge, with a goal of creating 1,500 opportunities within a year.

Under the overall supervision of the Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) Specialist the consultant will engage in the following key activities: