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We’re hiring: Youth Engagement Officer – HCDExchange Project

Dec 23, 2021

Location: Work Remotely, East Africa, South Asia or Nairobi, Kenya
Position Category: Local hire, paid in country
Posting Date: 23/12/2021
Deadline Date: 10/01/2022

About HCDExchange

The HCDExchange is a community of implementers, funders, designers, evaluators and youth committed to advancing learning and practice related to the integration of human-centered design (HCD) and adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) in low-resource settings, with a particular focus on countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The HCDExchange aims, through our learning community, to accelerate the field of HCD+ASRH and thereby elevate young people’s agency and transform sexual and reproductive health outcomes for youth and adolescents.

In 2018, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation funded a convening in Tanzania bringing together people and organizations working at the intersection of HCD in ASRH. This gathering showcased best practices, generated interest, and resulted in the launch of working groups to advance this field. More importantly, those  involved started to see themselves as a community with a shared agenda.

In 2021, this same set of funders supported the next phase of this work – the HCDExchange – a community built on a collaborative model and dedicated to (1) establishing a supportive  infrastructure, and (2) facilitating commitment amongst key actors. We envision: a democratized (inclusive of diverse participants), localized (contextually relevant ), and mutualized (jointly owned) HCD+ASRH field. During this phase, we are accelerating the development of a robust, efficient, and transparent HCD+ASRH field by increasing access to learning and networks and generating evidence about good practices, models, and effectiveness.

Learn more about the HCDExchange

Purpose of the role

As an integral member of HCDExchange team and an experienced youth ASRH professional, the Youth Engagement Officer (YEO) will lead HCDExchange’s charge in the practical integration and meaningful engagement of youth towards our main focus of building an HCD+ASRH learning community. The YEO will be dedicated to increased youth engagement and capacity in HCD+ASRH program design and implementation. She/he will coordinate the activities of the Youth Leadership Hub (YLH) to ensure integration with the broader priorities of learning and community building. The YEO will increase the voice of youth within HCDExchange, and in the community of practice and will champion the value of HCD approaches and the mission of the HCDExchange.

Key Relationships

The YEO will work under the direction and supervision of the HCDExchange Director based in Nairobi. The Officer is expected to work closely with the Youth Leadership Hub, HCDExchange Secretariat, Advisory Committee and various HCDExchange Working Groups established to advance community building and the learning agenda. S/he is also expected to collaborate with a team of advisors, staff and consultants based in East Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa, South Asia, and Washington DC.

Responsibilities

  • Work with the Senior Community Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation Lead and HCDExchange Director to develop an activity schedule for 2022 that contributes to increased learning and networks related to HCD+ASRH among the CoP through youth engagement. Key references will be: the Youth Leadership Hub Strategic Plan and other HCDExchange strategic and operational documents. Key metrics from the results framework to observe and include will be:
    • Networks and connections being made between youth/youth organizations and ASRH organizations by Youth Leadership Hub and HCDExchange
    • HCDExchange youth-targeted communication materials/events are being created
    • HCDExchange youth-targeted communication materials/events are being accessed by youth
    • Curated and co-created HCD/ASRH tools, resources & standards to guide and facilitate the application of HCD in ASRH among youth
  • Support the HCDExchange Secretariat to raise awareness of and learning about the integration of HCD into ASRH programming by using HCD approaches and creating space for learning and experience.
  • Work with the ASRH Advisor and the communications specialist to create resources towards establishing a better understanding of HCD, ASRH, and MYE for different stakeholders targeted by the HCDExchange community of practice.
  • Encourage and advance Meaningful Youth Engagement (MYE) across HCDExchange’s activities
  • Work with the Secretariat team to adapt the YLH program by embedding associates into work streams of HCDExchange Secretariat.
  • Support the recruitment and oversee the mentorship of the YLH members
  • Manage the YLH activities across the HCDExchange pillars and as required by the Activity and Line Manager

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as public health, development studies, international development, or nonprofit management, experience in human-centered design is a plus.

Required skills and experience

  • Demonstrated strong management, coordination, teamwork, and planning skills as well as an ability to multitask, meet deadlines, and work effectively in a complex environment
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including excellent facilitation skills and demonstrated technical writing skills for publication.
  • Ability to work effectively with diverse international teams.

Skills and experience that provide an added advantage

  • Experience and comfort levels in the adolescent and sexual and reproductive health field, and especially nuances around rights, gender, safeguarding, and ethics
  • Experience in coaching, mentoring and building the capacity of networks of people and organizations such as youth, governmental systems, and NGOs.

Language

Preference is for a bilingual (French and English) candidate. English is the working language for this assignment; excellent oral and written communications and presentation skills in English are required. Working knowledge of French will be an added advantage.

Application process

Click here to apply and submit your CV and a short cover letter outlining why you’re an excellent candidate for this role.

Note that this is a “local hire” — candidates must be nationals of a country located in East Africa or South Asia.

The application deadline is 5pm on January 10, 2022 (EAT time). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please note that:

  • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
  • We do not solicit for any fee payment at any stage of recruitment.

Salary commensurate with experience.

Interested candidates should submit their resumes and cover letters online by 10/01/2022.

Click here to apply