YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS’ INITIATIVE LEGACY AND LOCALIZATION
SUMMARY
Arizona State University seeks qualified candidates to serve as the Communications Director on a USAID project supporting the next-generation expression of the Regional Leadership Centers (RLC) component of the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI), the United States’ premier investment in young African leaders. As the on-continent component of the YALI program, in 2015 USAID launched four YALI RLCs at higher education institutions in Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, and South Africa. The RLCs have provided access to leadership and functional training to 22,000 young leaders aged 18–35 from 49 sub-Saharan countries in three tracks: business and entrepreneurship, public management, and civic leadership. YALI 2030 will build on the RLC foundation to create an expanded pan-African youth development model that will harmonize training curriculum, serve underrepresented/underserved youth, build alumni network capacity and professional development opportunities, and develop new program-related partnerships with the private sector and other stakeholders and donors. ASU has hosted YALI Mandela Washington Fellows annually since 2014, led public management cohorts at the East Africa Regional Leadership Center, collaborates with the Mastercard Foundation on an eLearning Initiative with African universities, implemented higher education projects for USAID with multiple universities on the continent, and maintains an African hub and a network of alumni through ASU-Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Position location: We are looking for candidates based in Accra, Ghana; Dakar, Senegal; Pretoria, South Africa; and Nairobi, Kenya.
This is a full-time position that will require approximately 25% of travel across the continent.
Main Purpose of Job
We are seeking to recruit results-oriented Regional Coordinators.
The holders of this position will report to the Deputy Chief of Party and will be responsible for coordinating YALI L &L Activities within their respective Regional Leadership Center in Pretoria, South Africa; Dakar, Senegal; Accra, Ghana; and Nairobi, Kenya**.**
Key Responsibilities
- Overall oversight and coordination of YALI L&L regional activities.
- Take the lead in participating in regional donor events, including developing briefing documents to prepare YALI L&L leadership for donor discussions.
- Support technical leads in analyzing regional priorities and context to craft interventions that are appropriate to the context and in line with donor agreements.
- Ensure quality and timely reporting.
- Prepare briefings and other planning documents for YALI L&L leadership as requested and needed for participation in regional events and/or to provide project briefings to ASU and donors.
- In liaison with YALI L&L leadership, take the lead in planning all meetings and events in their region.
- Oversee and supervise regional staff assigned to them to ensure they achieve their respective mandates.
- Responsible for all assigned YALI L&L assets and equipment.
- Represent YALI L&L leadership at the regional level and across the continent as requested.
- Participate in the preparation of annual and quarterly work plans that contribute to the overall delivery of the YALI L&L strategy.
- Support the Senior Director of Partnerships and Communications to identify potential regional partners for joint implementation activities; draft MOUs as appropriate.
- Represent YALI L&L in discussions and working groups and articulate YALI L&L’s leadership perspective in close consultation with the Deputy Chief of Party.
Key competencies
- Demonstrated leadership and management skills.
- Expertise delivering performance excellence
- Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Business technology acumen and technical competencies in project management and coordination
- Excellent strategic planning skills; Strong judgement and decision-making skills.
- Excellent verbal communication skills and excellent report writing skills.
- Experience with the use of the internet, including social media for fundraising purposes.
- Experience in convening partnership and donor events.
- Ability to work in a team and be a self-starter.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree or work experience equivalent, preferably in youth development, public affairs, management, social sciences or related discipline.
- Minimum of 10 years’ successful experience in coordinating development programs, preferably 5 of these coordinating or leading USAID programs.
- Ability to communicate effectively (oral and in written) in English. Proficiency in Portuguese is a requirement for the South Africa position. French is a requirement for the West Africa position.
- Demonstrable planning and organizational skills and ability to meet tight deadlines.
- Flexibility and initiative, as well as the ability to work independently, combined with the skills for thriving in a team environment to achieve institutional goals.
- High professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information.
- A willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed.
How to apply
How to Apply
Interested qualified candidates are invited tosubmit their application and Curriculum Vitae indicating full contact details of three professional referees to [email protected] by 24th October, 2023.
Applicants must include the POSITION TITLE in the subject line of their email. Please do not attach copies of certificates.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview. YALI L&L is an equal opportunity employer.