Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), is the world's leading independent international development organisation that works through volunteers to fight poverty in developing countries. Our high impact approach brings people together to share skills, build capabilities, promote international understanding and action to change lives and make the world a fairer place.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: National Professional Volunteer: Youth Engagement Specialist
Location: Nationwide
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.