Supporting BRAC’s Youth Empowerment Technical Advisory Services
| Dates of Assignment: | October 2020-February 2021, dependent on securing of contracts |
| Duration of Assignment: | Part-time & Intermittent, working days may vary per month |
| Scope | BRAC is recruiting multiple consultants for the project and will sign individual SOWs with consultants to match skills and qualifications to tasks required for the project |
Background
BRAC is a global leader developing and implementing cost-effective, evidence-based programs to empower the most marginalized in extremely poor, conflict-affected, and post-conflict states. Founded in Bangladesh in 1972, BRAC now works across 11 countries in Asia and Africa. BRAC takes a holistic approach to alleviate poverty, running programs in education, healthcare, microfinance, women and girls’ empowerment, agriculture and food security, and human and legal rights.
Since its inception, BRAC has understood that including women and girls at the forefront of its development initiatives are critical in achieving our mission and vision. We are determined to root out the systemic causes of poverty, particularly through the empowerment of marginalized women and girls. Centering AGYW in our youth work is done through curriculum development designed with youth and community input, through designated peer groups and mentorship approaches, and by targeting the enabling environment for AGYW, including trainings and advocacy with men, boys, and custodians of power systems, who tend to be male in BRAC’s target areas.
BRAC’s signature youth programme in sub-Saharan Africa is its Empowerment and Livelihoods for Adolescents (ELA) model. The ELA model is a three-pillared approach concentrating on education, social empowerment, and economic empowerment. Young women meet in groups of 20-30 with a peer mentor from the community to engage in a year-long program and AGYW are split by age: 10 to 14 and 15 to 22. The content delivered by mentors includes intra and inter personal skills, sexual and reproductive health, soft skills, planning ahead and community
leadership. Sexual and reproductive health rights are emphasized to reduce teenage pregnancy and violations of rights such as forced/early marriage and gender-based violence. BRAC is increasingly focusing on menstrual hygiene management and eliminating associated barriers to education for girls at this critical transition age, particularly barriers related to stigma and the lack of facilities, policies, and access to products, information and medicines to manage menstruation while attending school.
Additionally, wage or self-employment is a key intervention within BRAC’s ELA programme, especially for those who are in the older age group, out of school, unemployed and young mothers. This includes financial literacy and economic empowerment training modules as well as support for technical training and access to financial services, including BRAC microfinance loans.
To measure ELA’s impact, a randomized control trial (RCT) in Uganda conducted by independent researchers found that, four years post-intervention, AGYW in villages with ELA clubs had delayed pregnancy and marriage or cohabitation, reduced sex against their will and were more likely to participate in income-generating activities. RCTs from South Sudan and Sierra Leone have further demonstrated ELA’s effectiveness in making girls more resilient in the face of crisis, which is particularly important given the growing risks related to COVID-19 around the globe.
Description of Assignment
As part of BRAC’s expansion into technical advisory services for Youth Empowerment, BRAC will be adapting and creating assessment tools, guides, Train the Trainer (ToT) materials and curriculum and then implementing advisory packages designed in partnership with clients.
BRAC’s advisory services methodology begins with an assessment and is followed by a training design process in partnership with the client. Following the implementation of training, in-country support is offered along with remote follow up. Monitoring and learning take place throughout the process and lessons are shared with clients.
These services facilitate DREAMS program implementing partners to integrate BRAC’s economic empowerment approach for stronger financial independence outcomes for youth participants.
Phase 1: The assessment phase serves to assess operational readiness, opportunities and existing resources and conditions. Services in this phase include: a field assessment, secondary research, an assessment report and a capacity assessment. Following this phase, BRAC and the client will determine a path forward for Phase 2.
Phase 2: Following the assessment, BRAC works with the partner to select an advisory package that includes program design support, training and implementation advising. Services in this phase can include: design validation workshops, train the trainer sessions, provision of curriculum, support of operational tools development, development of monitoring mechanisms and frameworks and advising. All implementation support includes hands-on training, advising on community mobilization plus advising and/or support for creating employment linkages. All advisory packages include learning activities to measure progress and impact throughout and/or after the project to integrate findings into refinement of operations and dissemination of learning to wider audiences.
For Phase 2, BRAC offers four standard packages of advising services that include training of trainers (ToT) on economic empowerment (EE) and can include longer term advising services on implementation. The package options are to be determined in partnership with the client following the assessment and can be customized.
Consultants hired may support tools and materials development, assessments and/or implementing advisory packages. Some consultants may complete field visits, depending on location, and travel may be required for training delivery, depending on travel restrictions and safety protocols.
We are hiring a pool of qualified consultants working remotely. We are also looking for consultants who are based in each of the following countries: Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho and Rwanda.
Scope of Work
The Youth Empowerment TA Services Consultant SOW will include the following tasks:
- Provide inputs in the creation of the assessment tools, guides and reports for Phase 1
- Implement Key Informant Interviews and analysis of materials and research during Phase 1
- Complete field visits for assessments (if travel is possible or for consultants hired in countries where clients are operating) in Phase 1
- Draft reports and recommendations as the final step of Phase 1
- Participate in presentations to clients on recommendations and advisory package selection following Phase 1
- Provide inputs into the creation of ToT materials, curriculum and other program resources provided during Phase 2
- Draft reports and recommendations during Phase 2
- Support delivery of training and translation services, as needed (if travel is possible or for consultants hired in countries where clients are operating) during Phase 2
- Support remote advising during Phase 2
- Participate in presentations to clients on recommendations during Phase 2
- Participate in biweekly team calls.
Qualifications
- Extensive professional (with at least 7 years) experience in international development, particularly in youth livelihoods and economic empowerment for adolescents and youth .
- In-depth experience, skills, and expertise in youth empowerment, gender mainstreaming in livelihood projects in Africa, particularly southern and/or east Africa.
- Excellent writing and communication skills.
- Ability to provide technical inputs in a wide range of technical work products including training curriculum and modules, guides, pilot test assessment tools, and design documents.
- Creative problem solver; able to easily adapt to change in a fast-paced environment;
- Diplomatic, with strong interpersonal skills, and a high degree of cultural sensitivity.
- Ability to travel to conduct site assessments.
- Access to reliable Internet connection and hardware needed to complete SOW tasks
How to Apply
Candidates are encouraged to apply by submitting the following:
- Resume
- Statement of Interest that specifies experience in conducting organizational assessments for capacity to deliver programing, ToT, curriculum delivery and/or development, particularly for youth livelihoods
- Three references
- Daily billing rate
Please submit all documentation electronically via Recruiterbox. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Only soft copy applications will be considered, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.