Regional Programme Lead

BACKGROUND

Y-ACT, Youth in Action is a multi-country youth-led initiative established in 2017 at Amref Health Africa. With current presence in over 21 countries in Africa, Y-ACT mentors, supports, and increases the capacity of youth advocates and youth-led organizations to influence youth health policy and resource priorities. Y-ACT believes that Africa’s youth have a huge opportunity to shift policy landscapes to address challenges that the youth face and subsequently achieve their full potential. Y-ACT’s network comprises youth-led organizations in 21 countries. Since inception Y-ACT has been funded at a total of US $11.5M from various partners, contributing to movement building, youth advocacy and capacity strengthening of youth-led organizations in the region.

JOB PURPOSE

The Regional Programme Lead will coordinate Y-ACT Multi country and Regional advocacy initiatives in Zambia, Sierra Leone and South Africa and manage relations with government agencies, partners and donors and Amref regional offices as well as manage a team of 6 staff. The Regional Programme Lead will have demonstrated understanding of youth policy advocacy priorities and strategies in African countries, youth led social accountability, meaningful youth engagement, capacity development approaches and provide overall coordination of movement building of youth led organization and partners in the region. S/he will oversee the implementation of work plans and budgets, and review donor financial and programmatic reports.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Regional Coordination and Partnership Management

• Identify and manage strategic partnerships with key regional bodies to achieve advocacy and youth programming objectives.
• Convene and Coordinate partner meetings and proactively share updates and relevant information in team meetings
• Enhance Y-ACT’s technical leadership as a recognized regional voice on youth programming among donors, government counterparts, and partner organizations
• Work with other members of the Senior Management team on project strategy and operations related to policy advocacy for the project.
• Attend and participate in strategy meetings and reviews on policy advocacy

Technical Leadership and Project Management

• Provide insights and recommendations for strategic direction in terms of digital advocacy and campaigns, advocacy curriculum advancement, social accountability, policy advocacy strategy development on youth initiatives.
• Identify knowledge and evidence-generating gaps and collaborate with partners on developing policy guidance to influence policy formation

Financial Management

• Monitor and review the annual budget and operational plans to support the program.
• Ensure compliance with donor and institutional reporting, tracking, monitoring and documentation.
• Implement activities in accordance with established rules and regulations to ensure the project achieves satisfactory financial and operational audit results.

Project Planning and Team Leadership

• Ensure timely and effective implementation of all project interventions as well as the successful achievement of project outcomes, outputs and intended impacts
• Work with the project director to Develop and submit timely reports to the relevant stakeholders.
• Provide leadership to the implementation of tracking systems for program, human resource and financial processes.
• Ensure ongoing coaching and mentoring of project staff in order to ensure that they are able to perform and achieve the desired results

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Social Studies, Public Policy or relevant field. Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Strong and passionate commitment to and knowledge of youth policy and programmatic priorities in Africa.
• Results-based programme management for (I)NGOs and donor-funded initiatives of similar scope.
• Knowledge in tobacco control policies will be an added advantage.
• Team leadership and management of teams for high-performance.

Experience

• At least five (5) years hands-on project experience in NGO sector, management, and coordination of partners will be an added advantage.
• Experience implementing/leading successful youth and adolescents’ advocacy initiatives in the region (Africa).
• Experience in policy formulation process.

Competences and Skills

• Passionate about youth in all their diversity.
• Proven experience effectively leading and mentoring teams for high performance.
• Demonstrated experience fostering and strengthening relationships and partnerships with targeted stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise confidentiality, integrity, tact and discretion when dealing with diverse groups of people and processes.
• Good negotiation skills, patience, diplomacy and tact
• Excellent written and verbal communication, negotiation and networking skills
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task.
• Demonstrated excellent decision making and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work and report to multiple partners.
• Ability to work under minimal supervision