Youth Empowerment and Engagement Specialist - Tenders Global

Youth Empowerment and Engagement Specialist

Plan International

tendersglobal.net

JOB DESCRIPTION

Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
The Mali country office supports the government to translate economic growth into long-lasting, inclusive human development, working with partners, businesses, communities and regional organizations, helping the country to develop capacity, share knowledge and mobilize funds for sustainable development. The approach leverages cutting edge advice, partnerships, innovation and programme support in six strategic impact areas including structural economic transformation, natural resource governance, climate change, affordable and sustainable energy, women and youth empowerment, peace and security. This includes investing in youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and employment through upscaling successful youth initiatives including YouthConnekt and other similar initiatives that recognize the centrality of youth for Africa’s development and socioeconomic transformation. UNDP’s six signature solutions provide the framework for an integrated response to poverty eradication, inclusive and accountable governance, recovery and resilience, gender equality, energy, and the environment.

As the Sustainable Development Goals Integrator, UNDP Mali’s ambition is to convene stakeholders for establishing multi-agency integrated youth program which combines strategies and actions to ensure strong agency necessary for young people to participate in and benefit from the development process. In this context, UNDP, in collaboration with other agencies, benefited from a grant from the Peace Building Fund to implement the Youth and peacebuilding project, designed as a component of the Youth integrated programme.

Position Purpose

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative/Programme (DRR/P), the incumbent primarily supports the implementation of the Youth and peacebuilding project pipeline, but also provides technical expertise to the country office on the coordination, designing and/or implementation of youth engagement and empowerment programmes.  S/he fosters collaboration within and outside the team, with programme  and operations staff and with other UN Agencies and demonstrates exemplary client orientation. S/he works in close collaboration with programme, operations, and project teams in the CO and other UN agencies, UNDP HQs staff and local Government officials to successfully deliver services.

The youth empowerment and engagement specialist based in Bamako, will support UNDP’s work on Youth affairs in the country, with a particular focus on youth civic engagement and political participation, youth peace and security, youth economic empowerment, youth and climate, youth and the prevention of violent extremism, youth and gender equality, youth and innovation.

S/he is contributing to research and analysis to support the team’s efforts to provide policy and programme advisory, advocacy, partnership-building, and knowledge to the thematic area of Youth empowerment within UNDP. S/he liaises across relevant units on these issues, with youth organizations, movements and networks and other agencies and partners at the national level.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Coordination and management of the PBF project on youth 

  • Ensure the general coordination of project activities on a regular basis. Coordinate the development of various progress reports on the implementation of activities and use of delegated resources, in accordance with Peacebuilding Fund PBF rules;
  • Ensure the proper implementation of the project and the proper management of funds; Write a consolidated work plan during the first month of project implementation;
  • Ensure joint implementation of the project; Plan and organize general monitoring of the project and its implementation; Supervise the effective monitoring and evaluation of all fund activities to ensure their success and transparency; Submit progress reports on the implementation of planned activities;
  • Ensure, under the coordination of UNDP, the drafting and quality of a joint report, narrative and financial, to be submitted to the Peace Building Support office twice a year; Approve amendments to the project, if necessary.

2. Policy development, analysis and research 

  •  Provide advisory services on youth empowerment, as well as the provision of technical guidance to, and substantive collaboration with global, regional and country focal points.
    Develop policy documents on youth empowerment in Mali – youth civic engagement and political participation, youth peace and security, youth economic empowerment, youth and climate, youth and the prevention of violent extremism, youth and gender, youth and innovation;
  • Contribute to the implementation of national and sub-regional initiatives UNDP is leading or part of, on and with youth;
  • Support the development and updating of databases of UNDP projects and initiatives advancing youth empowerment in the country;
  • Contribute to the analysis of data, case evidence and research findings to distill relevant lessons learned on youth. Contribute to the development of new research, policy and UNDP knowledge products/tools on themes e.g. related to youth entrepreneurship and youth, peace and security;
  • Develop and contribute to the research, development and dissemination of knowledge-based tools, such as UNDP and UN-wide guidance notes for the use of UNDP Country Offices/UN country teams;
  • Develop and design publicity and communication materials, including contributing to / drafting power-point presentations, speeches, and press releases as well as developing advocacy strategies for disseminating and raising awareness of knowledge products.

3. Programme implementation for youth empowerment 

  • Support the implementation of the annual workplan of the regional youth team in Africa.
    Coordinate the implementation of the UNDP Mali program on youth empowerment;
  • Coordinate the preparation of workplans and operational and financial management of youth activities;
  • Provide substantive inputs to the regional governance and peacebuilding team’s yearly work plans, events, presentations and other programme-related documents and correspondence as may be required.

4. Effective support to Partnerships and resource mobilization 

  • Mobilize resource and partnership including through the development and technical inputs to funding proposals and partnership agreements;
  • Develop and maintain a database of institutional partners, including youth organizations and philanthropy, and mapping of potential donors and partners;
  • Support any other relevant tasks related to partnerships and resource mobilization, as required.

5. Knowledge management and contributions to the Global Community of Practice 

  • Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country Contribute to the continuous analysis, documentation, codification of regional results/lessons learned;
  • Produce content for corporate spaces on youth and the UNDP-hosted www.youth4peace.info global platform;
  • Support/coordinate the development, organization and coordination of youth events, webinars and platforms;
  • Support inter-agency advocacy and knowledge activities on youth in the country;
  • Represent UNDP Mali at the UN task force on youth.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Provide supervision and performance management of Youth empowerment staff. 7 staff

Competencies
Core competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration.

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies

Business Direction & Strategy – System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management – Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.

Business Management – Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.

Business Development – Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, particularly externally .

Business Management – Commnication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience; Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media, and other appropriate channels.

Business Development – Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.

2030 Agenda: Peace – Effectiveness : Youth / Youth Leadership and Participation

 2030 Agenda: Peace – Conflict Prevention, Peacebuilding and Responsive Institutions: Youth Peace and Security

Required Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in local governance, law, development studies, human rights, public policy, economics or a related field is required.
  • A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned fields in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
  • A minimum of 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of working experience in a relevant field, including professional experience of working on development issues, with focus on youth empowerment, youth project management, local governance, civic engagement, livelihoods, and inclusive peacebuilding is required.
  • A relevant experience in coordination of multi- UN agencies / partners initiative/project is desired
  • Excellent negotiating and communication skills/experience and ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners (public, private, academic, civil society, business community leaders) is desired.
  • Proven track record of management and resource mobilization skills is desired.
  • Demonstrable understanding and experience on youth empowerment issues in Mali is an asset.
  • Experience as a young activist, young leader is an asset.
  • Demonstrated track record in designing, implementing and monitoring youth projects and programmes is an asset.
  • Knowledge of computer standard applications (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint) is required

Language:

Proficiency in oral and written French is required.

Proficiency in oral and written English is desired.

Note: Please upload copies of your academic qualifications and 3 latest UN Common System performance evaluations (if applicable).

Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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