Senior Advisor, Adolescents and Youth (AY) at the Population Council

The Population Council (The Council) is an international, non-profit, non-governmental institution that seeks to improve the reproductive health and well-being of populations around the world and to achieve a humane, equitable and sustainable balance between people and resources.

Working in partnership with government and community-based organizations in Nigeria since the 1960s, the Council established a country office in 2006 to facilitate an expansion of its research portfolio to address HIV and AIDS among key and vulnerable populations, maternal mortality and morbidity, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, as well as generate evidence for improving access to family planning and reproductive health services, and child marriage.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Advisor, Adolescents and Youth (AY)

Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Reporting to: FP2030 Executive Director  
Assignment Length: Yearly, renewable by mutual consent

Overview

• Family Planning 2030 (FP2030) is a global partnership of governments, civil society, multilateral organizations, donors, private sector, and researchers committed to supporting the rights of women and girls who wish to use contraception to achieve a vision where women and girls everywhere have the freedom and ability to lead healthy lives, make their own informed decisions about using contraception and having children, and participate as equals in society and its development.
• In pursuit of this vision, the global family planning community reached a consensus that the gains attained since 2012 needs to be consolidated and sustained by extending partnerships and consultations with family planning stakeholders from around the world.
• Together, the community created a shared vision for 2030 that builds on progress achieved to date, adapts the partnership in response to the lessons of the last nine years and positions us to achieve the future women and girls around the world are asking for.
• Towards this end, the FP2030 Support Network was created as a key element of FP 2030’s new structure, which will be put in place in 2022.
• The FP2030 Support Network, which will be led by an Executive Director includes five regional hubs: North, West and Central Africa; East and Southern Africa; Asia and the Pacific; and Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America and Europe each of which will be headed by a Managing Director supported by a small team. The North, West and Central Africa regional hub will be hosted by the Population Council in the Abuja, Nigeria Country Office.
• The Council seeks an experienced professional to fill the position of Senior Advisor, Adolescents & Youth of the FP2030 North, West and Central Africa Hub based in Abuja, Nigeria

Position Summary

• The Senior Advisor, Adolescents and Youth (AY) will lead and supervise all adolescent and youth related engagements and partnerships for the FP2030 Support Network through various technical and advisory support.
• They are responsible for developing, leading, and executing the FP2030 Support Network’s efforts related to addressing and reaching adolescent and youth contraceptive needs in line with the principles of rights-based family planning.
• In addition to leading the Support Network’s efforts, the Senior Advisor will play a leadership role on adolescent and youth FP issues among external stakeholders and partners.

Working Relationships

• The Senior Advisor, Adolescents and Youth will report directly to the FP2030 Executive Director and will be co-located in the North, West & Central Africa Regional Hub.
• They will work closely with the Regional Managing Directors of all the hubs, and across the FP2030 Support Network, including with the Advocacy and Partnerships team on youth advocacy and partnerships components, and with the Gender Advisor on social norms components.
• As the Senior Advisor builds out the strategy and workplan for adolescents and youth, they will provide technical support to relevant staff members to support the AY work, including youth partnerships point person at each regional hub.

Responsibilities

• Setting the strategic direction and implementing the execution of FP2030’s efforts related to meeting the contraceptive needs of adolescents and young people across FP2030’s regional hubs.
• Expanding and improving FP2030’s country-facing adolescent and youth activities, including constructing a more effective response for FP2030 regarding regional and country needs.
• Establishing and maintaining key relationships among adolescent and youth-focused stakeholders at global and local levels.
• Helping to equip global and local advocates with the space, skills, and connections they need to effectively advocate for and with adolescents and youth.
• Provide technical support to relevant staff member(s) across FP2030 regional hubs, focusing on ensuring effective engagement with youth advocates, networks, and movements regarding access to and use of contraception.
• Establish innovative ways for programming youth and adolescent focus across other technical areas such as gender and emergency preparedness and response.
• Identify and follow through sources of funding that would help in ensuring sustainable funding for youth led programs across the regional hubs.

Essential Functions
Strategic Planning/Execution & Internal Collaboration:

• Develop, lead, and execute  FP2030’s strategic efforts, engagement, and work to address and meet the  family planning/contraceptive needs of adolescents and youth (A/Y), guided  by FP2030’s Rights and Empowerment Principles for Family Planning and  framing of Positive Youth Development
• Engage internal and external  FP2030 Support Network partners and networks to leverage collective  influence and identify and address global and regional gaps and  opportunities regarding A/Y contraceptive access and use, including those  related to adolescent data, financing, and technical assistance needs.
• Lead on activation of key  partnerships for brokering relevant technical assistance to the Regional  Hubs, in collaboration with country governments.
• Working closely with FP2030’s  regional hubs to respond to regional and country needs and requests  regarding A/Y. This may include liaising with external stakeholders to  align efforts to address specific regional or country needs.
• Work across the Support Network  to accelerate efforts and focus on A/Y issues, including increasing and  improving A/Y data, strategic communications, and global advocacy  opportunities.
• Contribute  to the development of FP2030’s global advocacy and accountability  infrastructure, especially as it relates to integrating CSO and youth  engagement.
• Serve as thought partner to the  FP2030 Governing Board, Executive Director, Managing Directors, and  Director, Advocacy and Partnerships as FP2030 develops work plans for the  Support Network.
• Along with youth & CSO partners in regional hubs, serve as support for the WeTrustYou(th) Initiative while supporting FP2030’s commitment to the challenge.
• Conduct quarterly and annual work plan reviews and provide timely reports on progress/challenges.

Expand and invigorate FP2030’s regional support model to better address A/Y contraceptive needs, with an emphasis on adolescents and youth:

• Build/reinvigorate a process to collaborate and provide targeted support to FP2030 regional hubs with clear political will to tackle AYSRHR, including by identifying blockages to progress and activating an effective multi-stakeholder response.
• Provide technical support to the youth & CSO partnerships point person at each regional hub to strengthen existing and build new partnerships with youth networks and organizations, including through the existing FP2030 focal point structure and around key engagements, such as Regional Focal Point Workshops.
• Build common understanding of existing and emerging evidence/lessons learned among the FP2030 partnership, technical experts, government decision-makers, implementing partners, young people, and donors to shift away from ineffective practices towards proven practices.
• Improve country understanding of how significant investments in AY can help countries create conditions for a demographic dividend.

Engagement with Key Stakeholders and External Relations:

• Develop, deepen, and align FP2030 efforts and understanding with external A/Y stakeholders, including in donor, multilateral, and implementing organizations, and other efforts with a focus on:
  • Integrating A/Y issues into broader frameworks (SDGs, UHC, GFF, EWEC, SRHR, SRMNCAH, girls’ empowerment, HIV/AIDS, and other global development agendas) as relevant.
  • Identifying opportunities and gaps with respect to stakeholder investments, including regarding resource needs, technical assistance, network development, A/Y data, and direct A/Y engagement.
  • Deepening relationships - align the Support Network A/Y-related work and proactively identify collaborative opportunities with existing major A/Y partners, including but not limited to WHO, USAID, IPPF, UNFPA, EWEC, PMNCH, RHSC, GFF, OPCU, HP+, IBP, and other bodies.
  • Building linkages and collaborations between the FP2030 community and those working on issues related to integrating services to holistically meet the needs of adolescent girls and young people, including as related to HIV/AIDS, HPV/cervical cancer, and avoiding teenage pregnancy, as well as ending child marriage, eradicating FGM/C, and keeping girls in school, etc.
• Represent FP2030 at external events, meetings and on task teams.

Communications & Community Exchange:

• Drive common understanding referenced above through FP2030 platforms and other communications tools.
• Deepen understanding and use of SDGs, UHC, GFF, PMNCH, EWEC, the OPCU, and other platforms to promote access to FP for adolescents and young people.
• Oversee efforts to deepen A/Y engagement, including those led by the youth & CSO partnerships point person at each regional hub
• As strategic, develop public and partner events, tailored information and messaging, and talking points to raise the visibility of A/Y issues among development partners and in global,  national, and local fora.
• In collaboration with the FP2030 regional hubs, facilitate regional and country-level sharing of effective best practices for lessons learned, and available tools across all FP2030 regions
• Collaborate with relevant FP2030 staff to develop content for internal and external communications for FP2030, including the annual progress report.

Programmatic Oversight:

• Oversee a portfolio of A/Y across the  organization, working with the youth focal points and the FP2030 youth  portfolio managers who will be based in the regional hubs.
• Ensure optimal allocation of resources,  proper documentation, tracking, and monitoring of A/Y-related activities  with other relevant grants administration, finance, and development staff.
• Manage all day-to-day program and  administrative activities within the A/Y portfolio, and manage processes  to implement work plan objectives, including quarterly and annual  reporting to funders.
• Draft relevant A/Y content to meet reporting  requirements for donors.
• Solicit proposals for additional work as  needed.

Selection Criteria
Education & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree (strongly preferred) in Public Policy, Public Health, International Development, Business Administration, or other directly related field.
• 12 to 15 years of technical, research and professional experience at the regional or global level related to AYSRHR programming, data, and advocacy is essential.
• Proven record of leadership and experience working with multi-stakeholder partnerships including donors, multi-lateral agencies, developing countries, and civil society organizations.
• Strong experience building collaborations between a variety of stakeholders; experience doing so around AY-responsive systems preferred.
• Clearly held value and demonstrated experience in working with young people collaboratively, equitably, and intentionally.
• Ability to think strategically and help drive projects from inception to implementation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and cultural competencies.
• Excellent writing, editing, communications, and research capabilities.
• Strong spoken, analytical and writing skills with advanced knowledge of and proficiency in the MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Fluent in English. Proficiency in French a plus.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.  
• Ability to meet regular attendance/tardiness policy.
• Ability to work under pressure and handle stress.

Application Closing Date
28th February, 2023.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Resume and Cover Letter to: [email protected] using the Job Title as the subject of the email.

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Note

• The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for performance of the position responsibilities. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities or requirements nor meant to exclude other duties as assigned.
• Applications are particularly encouraged from women, persons living with disability, and candidates openly living with HIV.
• FP2030 values equity-centered leadership and commits to furthering its racial and social justice values and commitments by integrating them into the organizational culture and weaving them into its global partnership work.