BACKGROUND:

The IRC Child and Youth Protection and Development (CYPD) Unit currently has programs in conflict and post conflict situations in over 20 countries around the globe. Our programming approach is one that promotes and supports the realization of the rights of children and young people. Programs include formal and non-formal education, life skills, vocational training and enterprise development for youth, as well as holistic support for children involved in the worst forms of child labor. All programs adopt an approach that is designed to promote the psychosocial well-being of conflict-affected children and young people and include expanding opportunities for participation.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The Technical Advisor for Youth & Livelihoods will take a lead role in providing technical support, guidance, and training to a number of IRC country programs, particularly in the Middle East and Horn and East Africa, to improve and develop IRC’s work with children and youth in conflict affected populations, both in the immediate emergency phase through to our post-conflict work. He/she will be responsible for enhancing the scope, impact and quality of IRC’s programs involving technical and vocational education and training, youth micro-enterprise development, life skills and youth participation. Improved design, monitoring, publication of strategies and tools, staff training and capacity building are considered key components in achieving these objectives.

By working closely with the country teams, through regular field visits and communication, the Technical Advisor will support the development of new proposals and planning for program growth to effectively address the needs of this sector of the population. He/she will also play a role in liaising with and influencing donors, in terms of recognizing and funding activities to address the needs of children and youth.

The Technical Advisor will work with staff from other sectors such as health economic recovery etc, to improve access and relevance of all services for young people.

The Technical Advisor will report to the Senior Technical Advisor for Youth and Livelihoods. The location for this position is NewYork/ Washington DC.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• PROVIDE ON-GOING DIRECT TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO YOUTH & LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS
  • Be the primary provider of Technical Support and guidance for youth and livelihood programming in selected Field Programs (in 6-8 countries), in accordance with IRC’s Technical Support package, with a particular emphasis on design, monitoring and resource publications. This will be done through:
    • Regular communication with the field through phone and email;
    • Field visits, to monitor implementation, deliver technical support to field staff, conduct trainings, provide resources, make clear recommendations on ways to strengthen programs and share learning across programs.
    • Writing and publishing resources for field programs in relation to design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
  • Support HR in recruitment for positions in the field (international staff, interns and consultants): assist with developing job descriptions, conduct technical interviews and provide feedback.
• DEVELOP STRATEGIES AND TOOLS:
  • With the full participation of field programs, contribute to the development/ revision of best practice guides, manuals and other technical resources to improve the quality of IRC’s youth & livelihoods programs;
  • Solicit feedback from field staff about their resource needs, and research and identify relevant support materials for field staff and expand the resource library and promote improved access to this material for field staff;
  • Work with other technical units to support the development of guidance and resource materials, which ensure other sectors and cross cutting programs explicitly recognize children and youth and incorporate their participation.
• FUNDRAISING/ PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT
  • Lead the development of the business development strategy for Y&L in the Middle East, and contribute to business development in the Horn and East Africa, including, conducting stakeholder analysis and identifying potential partnership opportunities; developing sound technical designs proposals; identifying research and evaluation priorities;
  • Supporting design of proposals and the development of good monitoring plans; directly engaging in the design and development of large RFAs, RFPs, IQCs and other proposals, and drafting, reviewing and edit other proposals on an on-going basis.
• REPRESENT IRC AT RELEVANT FORA
  • Identify priority networks and external fora on Youth and Livelihoods issues.
  • Represent IRC in selected internal IRC meetings and in selected interagency and donor meetings, workshops and conferences
  • Regularly provide briefings on CYPD programs, emerging issues and political developments in our areas of operation, to a range of audiences, including IRC staff, donors, the media, UN agencies, inter-agency networks, and new recruits.
• CYPD TECHNICAL UNIT SUPPORT/ DEVELOPMENT
  • Participate in CYPD TU strategic planning, special projects, meetings, communications material development, intra-net content development.
  • Respond to requests for information about CYPD programs from IRC colleagues from various departments and field programs;
  • Undertake special projects as requested.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Masters degree in Education, Economics, Social Work, Psychology, Anthropology, or another, related, social sciences field (International Affairs, etc.);
• 5 years related work experience;
• Proven technical expertise in delivering and managing youth and livelihoods programs, including some significant experience in implementing programs overseas, preferably in conflict or disaster affected environments;
• Proven technical expertise in one of more of the following areas: enterprise development, ICT, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, microfinance;
• Knowledge of youth development-focused work in both humanitarian and post-conflict settings;
• The ability to travel extensively to developing countries;