| POSITION TITLE | Economic Inclusion Officer |
| PROJECT TITLE | Displaced and Refugee youth Enabling Environment Mechanism (DREEM) |
| POSITION LOCATION | Any country on the African continent – applicants must have authorization to work from their country of residence. The headquarters of the DREEM project is located in Nairobi, Kenya; the candidate is expected to be based on the African continent and must already possess the relevant work authorizations in the country they are/will be residing |
| REPORTS TO | DREEM Deputy Project Director |
| CONTRACT TERM | 1 year with possibility of renewal |
| APPLICATION DEADLINE | November 19, 2023 |
| EXPECTED START DATE | January 15, 2024 |
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.
THE 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:
- Higher Education Inclusion: 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
- Economic Inclusion: 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
- 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
Mastercard Foundation recently approved an enterprise-wide Refugee and Displaced Persons (RDP) Strategy aiming to invest in young Africans who have faced forcible displacement—and in the host communities, they become part of—by enabling access to high-quality education and training and supporting young people’s pathways to dignified and fulfilling work as employees or entrepreneurs and job creators. The Foundation also works with multiple stakeholders across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, particularly young people themselves, to address systemic barriers inhibiting the economic prospects of forcibly displaced youth.
NATURE AND SCOPE
Under the supervision of the Nairobi-Based Deputy Project Director, the Economic Inclusion Officer will work closely and in collaboration with the WUSC Team in Kenya, the WUSC Team based in Canada, and the Mastercard Foundation Team.
The Economic Inclusion Officer provides essential support to the DREEM project’s day to day operations. Working closely with the DREEM Team, they will support in the coordination of various aspects of the project as outlined below:
Responsibilities
- Work collaboratively with DREEM team members to provide technical, programmatic, and coordination support to ensure the economic inclusion goals of the Mastercard Foundation under DREEM are met
- Support the Economic Inclusion Managers (East Africa and Pan-Africa) in the provision of technical advice, capacity building, and advisory support for Young Africa Works partners and programming in the various countries
- Support the Economic Inclusion Managers in the design, development and delivery of resources and training for Young Africa Works staff and partners across the countries of focus (where relevant)
- Coordinate and support the planning and implementation of key convenings within the Economic Inclusion portfolio of work, in collaboration with the Events Assistant
- Support the management of research projects that are building evidence for further interventions and partnerships
- Identify promising practices and ways to share learnings across the network
- In partnership with the DREEM Senior MERL Officer, support MERL activities for the economic inclusion portfolio; this includes documenting learnings, success stories, and other relevant information
- Attend and participate in relevant internal and external events
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Education
- At minimum, a bachelor’s degree in a related field (International Development, Public Policy, International Relations, Refugee Studies)
Experience and Competencies
- Three to five years of relevant working experience; the person 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
- Experience working on displacement issues in East Africa
- Relevant experience on projects that promote livelihoods and economic inclusion for displaced/ refugee youth, entrepreneur support within a refugee setting, tertiary or technical education for displaced/ refugee youth
- Adherence to gender equality and social inclusion principles; proven knowledge of and commitment to the concept of gender equality and intersectionality within programming
- Complete fluency in English is essential, with the ability to write articulately and cogently, and to edit at a similarly high level
- Fluency or professional competencies in French is preferred
- Strong planning, organization and problem-solving skills with ability to work hands-on, independently, and within team in a fast-paced work environment
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations between programs and support
- Commitment to WUSC’s mission of building a better world for all young people, particularly displaced and refugee youth
Other requirements
- The headquarters of the DREEM project is located in Nairobi, Kenya; the candidate is expected to be based on the African continent, and must already possess the relevant work authorizations in the country they are/will be residing in
- The role requires regular travel across the African continent and occasional international travel for conferences, workshops and meetings
- Ability to work a flexible schedule
APPLICATIONS
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.
WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
Please submit your application here by November 19, 2023, at the latest.
Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
WUSC does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.