National Professional Volunteer: Youth Engagement Specialist at VSO

Type of role: Advocacy Policy and Research
Start Date: 15th April, 2020
Duration: 13 months: March, 2020 to March, 2021
Responsible to: Head of Programs

Job Purpose

• The role will involve mobilising youth, identifying and engaging youth organizations, identifying youth employment and empowerment opportunities and challenges, developing initiatives for inclusive youth programming and building relationships with key actors to look at barriers within government policies and programs that hinder youth engagement and development
• The role will involve field travel, organizing meetings, engaging with stakeholders at community, and State levels; Identify, establish and, strengthen youth platforms and providing support in gathering both primary and secondary information in the process of developing youth programmes.

Responsibilities
Program implementation:

• Facilitate the development of the youth engagement strategy. This will be done in consultation with the education, livelihood, health and SPARC program leads
• Develop a youth engagement implementation plan for the strategy. Participate in youth activities organised by VSO and stakeholders including youth organisations, communities and government.
• Identify and reach out to different stakeholders that are involved in order to provide inclusive youth employability and enterprise opportunities.
• Work with the regional youth officer and regional knowledge for impact team to develop a monitoring and evaluation plan to monitor the progress of inclusive youth platforms in VSO Nigeria communities
• Planning, Facilitating and Organising Meetings/workshops
• Position and organise high level stakeholder meetings where VSO can take leadership and share learning from youth work being done in collaboration with key actors and possible consortium partnership.
• Liaise with other stakeholders at local levels with a view to stay abreast of new trends and contribute to ideas in key government and other stakeholders meetings where youth empowerment and employment is being discussed.
• Support in planning and dissemination of the outcomes of youth engagement platforms achievements/outcomes
• In collaboration with policy and SA advisors, support the Country Program (Livelihoods, Education, Health and SPARC) to plan, organize and conduct internal and external consultative and validation meetings for engaging and strengthening youth accountability platforms and generating ideas for youth engagement
• Facilitation during youth meetings/events/workshops

Research / Data Collection:

• Dissemination from primary actors in rural and urban areas on youth issues/challenges.
• Provide support in collecting and reviewing secondary information on youth development plans, strategies and other relevant reports
• Provide insights or recommendations for interventions to support youth in accessing employment opportunities, strengthening accountability, engaging with communities and relevant stakeholders

Reporting:

• Prepare progress reports on youth program activities and update Head of Programs.

Key Performance Indicators

• Identify and reach out to youth and youth organisations and activities on which to collaborate or provide support
• Organise meetings and workshops for: youth programme development and youth engagement
• Report on key issues affecting youth involvement social accountability.
• Identify opportunities for an inclusive youth employment and enterprise platforms
• Report on progress of youth employment in VSO Nigeria communities

Skills and Knowledge
Successful candidates will be a Nigerian and would have the following skills, knowledge and experience:

Essential:

• Young persons with a Bachelor's Degree or Advanced Diploma in Social Sciences, Management, Business, Economics or other related courses
• Dynamic diploma holders with ambition, youth engagement skills, and exposure are eligible
• Leadership experience in the community or in a business setting
• Meeting facilitation skills
• Familiar with Youth programmes and initiatives in Nigeria
• A good level of spoken and written English
• Ability to use MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Desirable:

• A good network with youth organisations in Nigeria
• Previous experience or current involvement in youth sport and entertainment clubs or organisations
• Previous or current involvement in volunteering work in the community
• Experience in facilitating meetings and group discussions.
• Experience in Youth Mobilisation and Training
• Knowledge of current issues and best practices in Child Protection, Disability and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Competencies:

• Self confidence
• Analytical and communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Open Minded and Respectful:
  • A non-judgemental approach that values other people and culture.
• Seeking and Sharing Knowledge:
  • Recognition that learning is a two-way and continuous process.
• Facilitating Positive Change:
  • The ability to analyse problems and develop solutions in line with VSO approaches.
• Adaptability:
  • A flexible approach and the ability to adapt behaviour to different situations.
• Resilience:
  • The self-confidence to work with a variety of situations, diverse people and ambiguity.