Events Assistant

POSITION TITLE

Events Assistant

PROJECT TITLE

DREEM

POSITION LOCATION

Nairobi, Kenya

REPORTS TO

DREEM Deputy Project Director

Background:

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian international development organization that works with and through its southern partners to promote sustainable development. Founded in 1957 and currently working in more than 20 countries worldwide with an annual budget of approximately $45 million dollars, WUSC fosters youth-centered solutions for improved education, economic, and empowerment opportunities to overcome inequality and exclusion. We believe youth have the potential to provide for their families, build strong communities, and create positive social change for future generations. Globally, WUSC has a network of higher education institutions, civil society organizations, private sector partners, professionals, students, volunteers, faculty, and community leaders that can be leveraged to support our work.

WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference for youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, employment and empowerment.

Displaced and Refugee youth Enabling Environment Mechanism (DREEM) project

WUSC through the DREEM project plays a unique role as a technical assistance and strategic learning partner to the Mastercard Foundation and its partners. The DREEM project contributes to the Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to meaningfully include refugee and displaced youth in their Scholars Program and Young Africa Works strategy.

The DREEM project focuses on three key pillars:

1. Higher Education Inclusion:
   1. Support Scholars Program (SP) partners and staff with the knowledge, capacity and networks to meaningfully recruit and serve refugees and displaced youth in higher education and transition to work and to work towards more inclusive societies;
2. Economic Inclusion:
   1. Support Young Africa Works (YAW) country partners and staff primarily in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia and also in other countries around the continent to gain the knowledge, capacity and networks to meaningfully include and develop programming that meets the unique training and employment needs, opportunities and aspirations of refugee and displaced youth, especially young women;
   2. Strengthening Economic Opportunities for Refugees (SEOR) to complement WUSC’s existing Learning through Education and Access to Employment Pathways (LEAP) project and provide refugee entrepreneurs, especially young women with improved access to market-oriented business support services that improve business and employment outcomes in Kenya.

The Role

Under the supervision of the Deputy Project Director, the Events Assistant will play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth execution of our project events from conception to completion. You will work closely with the project, operations and finance team to provide support in various aspects of event coordination and management (both virtual and in-person) across the various countries that we work in. Your ability to multitask, communicate and pay attention to detail will be essential to your success in this role.

Responsibilities:

• Provide logistical support for online and in-person events for the project staff and the DREEM Youth Advisory Committee;
• Assist in the planning and organization of events, including researching venues and suppliers;
• Coordinate logistics such as transportation, catering, audiovisual equipment, signage, and communications materials;
• Be present at events to assist with set-up, registration, troubleshooting, and to serve as the primary point of contact for vendors;
• Provide excellent communications support to partner organizations and invitees;
• Provide travel logistical support to participants including visa preparation, flight and accommodation bookings, provision of allowances, etc.;
• Assist in budget tracking and expense management for each event;
• Support project communications efforts as needed (development of materials, badges, etc.);
• Assist in the evaluation of event success, gather feedback, and contribute to post-event reports;
• Provide coordination and administrative support to the DREEM Deputy Project Director and DREEM Project Director as needed.

Qualifications

The ideal applicant will combine technical expertise in one or more of DREEM’s sectors (higher education, durable solutions for refugees, vocational and technical training, support to entrepreneurs and businesses), a familiarity with the East African refugee context, an ability to get things done, and strong organization, coordination, and communication skills.

Specific competencies:

• A bachelor’s degree in event management or a related field is a plus;
• Previous experience in event planning or a similar role in an NGO environment;
• Excellent organization and time management skills, with the ability to work under minimal supervision;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Detail-oriented and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office;
• A proactive and flexible attitude, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Availability to work occasional evenings or weekends, dependent on event schedules;
• Complete fluency in English is essential, both written and spoken;
• Language skills in French are desirable;
• Demonstrated commitment to gender equality and social inclusion principles; proven knowledge of and commitment to the concept of gender equality and intersectionality within programming.

Other requirements

• This role may require travel across Kenya and to countries across the region;
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence, and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check where appropriate.