Youth Engagement Team Lead (Macedonia YACO Activity)

Location: Skopje, Macedonia

Please Note: This position is contingent upon award and USAID approval with an anticipated start date of November 2022.

Overview:

Global Communities works at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, and financial inclusion to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We support communities at the forefront of their own development in more than 35 countries, partnering with local leaders, governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve a shared vision of a more just, prosperous and equitable global community. We work with government, non-government, private sector, and community stakeholders to promote transparency, foster accountability, and access the channels they need to make their voices heard, promote change, and realize their full potential.

Global Communities seeks a Youth Engagement Team Lead for the anticipated USAID Macedonia Youth Actively Create Opportunities (YACO) project. This five-year $7M million program will increase youth’s positive contributions to society and collective leadership by creating partnerships in support of attractive economic opportunities, strengthening youths’ competencies for jobs, progressive careers, and civic life, and promoting values and experiences that underpin self-reliance.

The Youth Engagement Team Lead is responsible for promoting values and experiences for youth for proactive civic engagement, strong ethics, independence, social responsibility, and a positive impact on society. They are accountable for partnering to expand the network and influence of young leaders that engage positively in their communities through volunteerism, research, and advocacy, contributing to addressing issues such as corruption, climate change, government accountability and transparency, and other youth-identified priorities.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate partnerships with industry experts to promote youth-led research and advocacy to raise awareness and provide evidence for climate change, green agenda, pollution, corruption, and other issues of interest to youth
• Strengthen the capacities of youth groups, youth-led organizations, and networks to create a group of active leaders that work to hold the government accountable.
• Advocate for youth-focused policies through the development of youth councils
• Connect youth already in leadership groups or networks, including connections with global networks such as Generation Unlimited
• Support youth-led initiatives for changing cultural values about what constitutes corruption and how it harms society (e.g., have youth educate their families, peers, adults and seniors).
• Engage youth in overseeing funds available for youth-led research and action efforts (e.g., YouthBank)
• In collaboration with youth, oversee the development of rapid response grants to support promising youth-led initiatives (e.g., research, projects partnerships)
• Support youth-led events such as hackathons, design thinking events, and innovation for social change through art, music, multimedia, and sports that help shape-up youth’s skills and values (like the Big Idea Challenges by Ukraine UNITY)
• Support youth’s life and leadership skills and values through experiential learning, community service, and volunteering practices at the community level (e.g., green and eco-activism, climate change, support to elderly and disabled), encouraging participation in innovation hubs and use of social media for promoting youth as social change agents.
• Encourage youth voluntary services that link youth to jobs, service corps, youth civic internships, civil society ‘watchdog’ activities, and civic incubators.
• Create mentorship opportunities between youth and peer or adult mentors that offer immediate youth opportunities for active participation in their community
• Work to connect internal and external stakeholders for information exchange, program development, and ensuring the overall quality and impact of youth programming.
• Ensure strong and coordinated communication and information sharing processes between staff in the field.
• Develop strategies and tools to increase the engagement of the targeted youth and other
• partners.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in social studies, business, international development, or a related field.
• At least seven years’ relevant experience to qualify as the Team Lead.
• Deep understanding of the best practices, approaches, and methodology in programming related to civic engagement, service learning, and/or youth engagement, with an understanding of Positive Youth Development best practices and approaches strongly desired.
• Proficiency in addressing factors that maximize youth social inclusion in economic and civic activities. Understanding of and/or experience with gender integration, engaging youth with disabilities, rural youth, LGBT youth, and/or other marginalized youth groups desired.
• Experience working in institutions with a focus on serving the needs of youth, particularly workforce-aged youth
• Technical knowledge and experience in youth development, training, group facilitation, and related support services for youth from various backgrounds, as well as proactive engagement with youth networks and organizations in the planning and implementation of project activities
• Deep appreciation for youth energy, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit
• Demonstrated experience in working effectively in advance complex, politically sensitive activities.
• Demonstrated experience in working effectively with partner and government representatives, donors, and other stakeholders.
• Experience with USAID approaches including Positive Youth Development; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility; Climate Change/Green Agenda; Innovation, Technology, Research; and Collaborating, Learning, Adapting framework desired.
• Fluency in English and Macedonian or other local language required.
• Knowledge/Experience with USAID Cooperative Agreement rules and regulations strongly preferred.
• Experience in the Balkan Peninsula, with preference for recent work in Macedonia; e working with youth populations in the Balkan Peninsula desired.
• A passion for the mission and values of Global Communities.
• Citizenship of North Macedonia or residence and legal authorization to work in North Macedonia highly preferred

Global Communities positively welcomes and seeks applications from all sections of society. We are committed to a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of everyone and offers equal opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.