World University Service of Canada
Background:
Mastercard Foundation is on a journey to include refugee and displaced youth in their initiatives and the programming they support. The Foundation is supporting programming that strengthens the resilience of refugees and displaced young people, their host communities, and the institutions which support them in their educational journey and transition into employment. This contributes to the Foundation’s Young Africa Works Strategy and the refugee inclusion commitments made at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum.
As part of these efforts, since 2020, the Foundation has collaborated with WUSC to fulfill its commitment to meaningfully include refugee and displaced young people across the Foundation’s work. The Displaced and Refugee youth Enabling Environment Mechanism (DREEM) is a five-year project that works towards greater inclusion of refugees and displaced young people across the Foundation’s programming, particularly the Scholars Program and Young Africa Works Strategy in Kenya. An Advisory Committee composed of individuals with lived experiences was formed to advise and provide guidance to WUSC, Mastercard Foundation, their stakeholders, and program partners in order to meet the Foundation’s objectives and ensure that DREEM activities are designed and delivered to meet the needs of refugees and displaced young people. The Advisory Committee provides support and guidance to WUSC and the Foundation on the three DREEM pillars, namely:
- Pillar A – Scholars Program: The inclusion of refugee and displaced youth in the Mastercard Foundation’s Scholars Program;
- Pillar B – Young Africa Works: Refugee and Displaced Persons’ inclusion in economic opportunities that are dignified and fulfilling;
- Pillar C – Strengthening Economic Opportunities for Refugees (SEOR): Pilots to provide innovative funding and grants to refugee- and host community-owned businesses.
As the Mastercard Foundation works to develop and implement a framework strategy for refugee and displaced young people, the DREEM project and Advisory Committee ensure that the Foundation’s work is informed by and continues to reflect the unique perspectives of displaced and refugee youth. Purpose and Key Functions The Advisory Committee’s mission is to ensure that the perspectives, experiences, needs, aspirations, and guidance of refugees, displaced youth, and host community members are included in the design, development, delivery, and evaluation of activities undertaken by DREEM, the Foundation and its partners. The Advisory Committee has the following responsibilities:
● Providing overall strategic guidance to ensure project alignment with the refugee framework, Foundation objectives, and expected outcomes as they relate to the inclusion of refugee and displaced young people, as well as host community members.
● Advising and providing feedback on the design and implementation of initiatives and broader system change to ensure that they are informed by and reflect the perspectives and experiences of refugees and displaced young people and host communities in the country.
● Providing recommendations on the content and delivery of training and workshops.
● Attending events and occasionally participating as guest speakers/facilitators.
● Supporting information dissemination and establishing connections and opportunities with other existing networks of refugee and displaced youth.
Refugee Advisory Team members can expect:
● To receive complete, accurate, and relevant information in a timely manner
● To be given adequate time to make important decisions
● Feedback and open and honest discussions
● Commitment to incorporating feedback into the design and implementation of initiatives (within the limitations of project scope) ● Opportunities for professional development in project-identified areas of interest. Composition:
● The Advisory Committee’s membership is determined in an open and transparent process.
● WUSC makes its selection based on the qualifications and backgrounds of the nominees.
● The Advisory Committee should be composed of up to 15 people with diverse perspectives and backgrounds, with at least 50% of the Team made up of young women and people with disabilities. The current composition is twelve people. Considerations include but are not limited to:
○ Gender
○ Country of origin
○ Country of asylum
○ Current geographic location
○ Area of expertise
People appointed to the Advisory Committee must meet the following requirements:
○ Have lived experience in East, Central, or West Africa as a forcibly displaced person or member of the host community;
○ You must be between the ages of 18 and 35;
○ Must be able to demonstrate relevant experience or knowledge, abilities, and skills related to the advisory body’s mandate;
○ A proven track record of personal and professional conduct.
Administration:
● WUSC will be in charge of convening the Advisory Committee and working with members to facilitate participatory processes.
● The Advisory Committee will report to the WUSC DREEM Senior Project Manager and Project Director and will provide advice to the Foundation and its partners on the implementation of the refugee and displaced populations strategy.
● WUSC will be in charge of creating an agenda and taking minutes at each meeting. Prior to each meeting, members of the Advisory Committee will be asked to recommend agenda items.
● All Advisory Committee documents will be kept in a shared space for each member to access as needed.
● WUSC’s Code of Conduct will be trained to team members, and they will be expected to comply with it.
● WUSC and Mastercard Foundation have the right to dissolve the Committee or remove and reappoint members as needed.
Term and Commitment:
● Each membership term will be for two years and can be renewed for the duration of the project (5 years) if both parties agree.
● The Advisory Committee members will be expected to attend at least six regular meetings per year, including one in-person meeting that may necessitate travel.
● The time commitment will vary depending on the team member, but Advisory Committee Members will be asked to contribute an average of 10 hours per month, depending on the events planned.
● Members may be asked to review publications and other documents developed throughout the project, as well as to participate in additional Foundation working sessions throughout the year.
Key events for which advisors may be asked to be available include:
○ Scholars Program Partners Inclusion Working Group Meetings
○ Scholars Program Partners annual summits
○ Young Africa Works learning workshops
○ Refugee and Displaced Youth Leadership Fora
○ National and regional research mobilization for policy convenings
○ Mastercard Foundation Alumni network events or any other Mastercard Foundation events or activities
Remuneration and costs:
● Membership is entirely voluntary
● Members will receive a small honorarium of $50 USD per month in recognition of their contributions to the DREEM project’s strategy, work plans, research, policy, and communications products, and convenings
● Members will receive a small communications stipend to allow them to join virtual meetings
● Travel and lodging expenses incurred as a result of participation in meetings and/or project activities will be reimbursed
● During their term, members will be given opportunities for professional development
Key competencies:
● Ability to provide critical, constructive feedback and advice
● Capability to work in a team environment
● A strong desire to give back to their communities
● Commitment to youth leadership
● Demonstrated leadership in their communities
For any questions, please contact [email protected]
How to apply
Applicants are encouraged to submit their CVs and letters of interest here by November 3rd 2022.