Community Youth Engagement Specialist (Volunteer) at VSO

Job Purpose

• CFYE requires an experienced Youth Engagement Specialist to support our Implementing Partner in community sensitization, developing strategy to engage youth within given localities.
• Expert to stimulate the inflow of youth to the Implementing Partner. Improving processes to attract, select and retain youth in the jobs created by the Implementing Partner (private sector business).

Programme Information

• The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE) https://fundforyouthemployment.nl/, initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), aims to create new jobs and make jobs more accessible for 200.000 youth (half of these for women) in the ministry’s priority focus countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Sahel & West Africa and the Horn of Africa. The fund is open to Private sector and (I)NGO applications (or mixed consortia). VSO will strengthen the work of the selected Implementing Partners through strategic VSO volunteer engagements.
• The aim of the Fund will be achieved by supporting youth employment initiatives in these regions. Initiatives will offer youth, particularly young women, opportunities for decent work that delivers better prospects for personal development, is productive, and offers a stable income, social protection and safe working conditions.
• Youth Engagement Specialist will work closely with the local CFYE team to support our Implementing Partner (IP) – PadUp, in identifying youth and stimulating them to take up jobs created by the Implementing Partner. 

Role Overview

• Working from home and at project location - In this role, you will spend some time providing part-time remote support (e.g. from your home) to VSO projects or partners, and alsoa set period working full-time in the project location and/or VSO office.

Expected Responsibilities
As a Community Youth Engagement Specialist you will:

• Conduct an assessment of the Implementing Partner’s needs and requirements;
• Map out the different groups, networks, associations that are linked to young people in local communities;
• Develop a networking strategy for the Implementing Partner and facilitate introductions and linkages between the IP and these groups;
• Analyse and develop the most appropriate route for engagement of youth in these communities;
• Support the development of youth engagement strategy;
• Support the pilot of the strategy in the recruitment of one cohort of youth and assess the appropriateness of those networks;
• Make recommendations for improvement following the review of the pilot; revise the recruitment strategy;
• Develop knowledge products (marketing/positioning) and toolkits for improvement of youth engagement;
• Bring youth perspective to HR strategies;

Deliverables:

• A high level report on the assessment of Implementing Partner’s need and requirements;
• Database of relevant associations, networks and groups that engage/ support youth and young women and a strategy for engaging them;
• Established connections and working relations between the Implementing Partner and these associations, networks and groups;
• Report on the pilot with recommendations for improvement;
• Reviewed recruitment strategy;

Skills, Qualifications and Experience
Knowledge / Qualifications:

• You have a Bachelor / Master’s Degree in Behavioral and Social Science, Gender, Development, International relations or related field.

Experience:

• You have extensive (5+ years' work experience) with youth engagement, community outreach.
• You have experience and demonstrated result in strategizing recruitment in the private sector.
• A demonstrated understanding of issues and challenges related to employability, gender, and youth in Nigeria.
• You are well networked with associations, local communities, and youth networks in Nigeria.
• Ability to work independently as well as take an advisory role with multiple stakeholders in a time-pressured environment.
• Cross cultural awareness and ability to work amongst a diverse group of staff, volunteer and partners.
• Good understanding of developing training modules and facilitation.
• Analytical skills and strategy development experience is essential, as well as experience in a private sector.
• Understanding of gender inclusion in community outreach.

Competencies and Behaviour:
At VSO we believe progress is only possible by working together. Whether you want to join us as an employee, or as a volunteer working in your own country, overseas or online, our selection process includes an assessment based on these core competencies:

• Ability to be open minded and respectful
• Ability to be resilient and adaptive to new situations
• Ability to facilitate positive change and build sustainable working relationships
• Ability to seek and share knowledge.

Accommodation:

• VSO works with some of the poorest communities in the world which means accommodation varies and will be basic.

Allowance:

• As a VSO volunteer, you will be sharing your skills with local communities on a full time basis. VSO will cover your travel, vaccinations, accommodation, and medical insurance costs, along with a local living allowance which will be paid in local currency.
• This allowance meets reasonable living expenses in country, but will not be enough to send money home. You will also receive some financial support to contribute to your on-going expenses at home.