Youth & Economic Opportunities Specialist (Guyana)

POSITION TITLE	Youth & Economic Opportunities Specialist
POSITION LOCATION	Guyana
REPORTS TO	ENGAGE Youth Project Director
CONTRACT TERM	Two years (full time position)

Background 

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision. Together, we develop solutions in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion for youth around the world, particularly young women and young refugees. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $40 million. We have over 90 staff in our Ottawa office, and over 200 people overseas implementing 16 development projects in collaboration with donors such as Global Affairs Canada, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), the MasterCard Foundation, World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the African Development Bank.  

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is the implementing agency for the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) funded five-year project – Empowering the Next Generation: Agency and Gender Equality (ENGAGE Youth) in Guyana. The ultimate goal of ENGAGE Youth is to enhance the empowerment of Indigenous and rural youth, especially young women, in target regions of Guyana. This will be facilitated by strengthening meaningful participation of youth in decisions that impact their social and economic well-being at the personal, household, and community levels; and the network of key stakeholders to effectively address the social and economic needs and aspirations of Indigenous youth from target regions.  

The ENGAGE Youth Theory of Change is premised on the assumption that increased engagement of Indigenous youth, by key stakeholders, will result in enhanced empowerment of Indigenous youth, especially young women. The project will take a holistic approach to empowerment, which recognizes the significant needs of the target group, and the importance of the broad spectrum of key local, regional and national stakeholders required to effectively address those needs. 

Project interventions include life skills training and programming; local and international networking, exchange, and learning opportunities; gender equality and youth empowerment-focused community programs; capacity strengthening of key stakeholders; and responsive grants for youth economic initiatives.

Position Summary 

The Youth and Economic Opportunities Specialist will report to the ENGAGE Youth Project Director. The Youth and Economic Opportunities Specialist will coordinate youth-centered initiatives to promote meaningful engagement and economic empowerment of indigenous youth, especially young women, from target regions of Guyana. 

Responsibilities 

• Develop a Youth Engagement Strategy for the ENGAGE Youth project that considers economic opportunities and skills-building initiatives for indigenous youth, especially young women, from Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9.
• Facilitate development of strategic partnerships to ensure the project reaches its beneficiary targets of indigenous youth accessing economic opportunities. 
• Assist in coordinating annual forums engaging the public and private sector and other key stakeholders, to support indigenous youth in employment, business and entrepreneurship programs.
• Facilitate regular engagement with stakeholders to mobilize various types of assistance for sustainable skills building programs for indigenous youth.
• Work closely with the ENGAGE Youth team and key stakeholders to develop and deliver gender and youth sensitive capacity building activities, to support indigenous youth, especially young women, in identifying, developing and implementing, innovative, sustainable economic ventures.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, business development guidance, and other types of strategic support to facilitate effective implementation of innovative youth economic activities.
• Support coordination and implementation of engagement and knowledge sharing initiatives, and assist the ENGAGE Youth team in planning and delivering various youth-centered, gender sensitive and inclusive events with various stakeholders (e.g. exchange visits, forums, gatherings, roundtables, digital sessions, training).
• In collaboration with the ENGAGE Youth team, contribute to media engagement on pertinent youth and economic issues requiring visibility and awareness-building.
• Support the development of content on youth engagement and empowerment for dissemination. For example, to key ENGAGE Youth stakeholders and on WUSC social media platforms. 
• Any other duties that may be assigned from time to time. 

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business development, economics, management, developmental studies, sociology, social work, or other relevant field.

Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in designing and implementing youth initiatives, preferably related to employment, business and entrepreneurship. 
• Experience designing programs that integrate gender equity and youth issues as cross cutting themes.
• Background in youth programming, management, and community engagement, ideally with indigenous youth.

Competencies

• Demonstrable understanding of youth development issues, human rights and gender equality. 
• Excellent analytical, organizational, attention to detail, and time management skills.
• Proven skills in mobilizing and managing support from various types of partners. 
• Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, in an inter-cultural, diverse and complex work environment.
• Strong written and oral communication skills. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of an international team in a participatory manner.
• High integrity and honesty
• Ability to work with minimal supervision, and meet statutory targets and deadlines based on established standards. 
• Able and willing to travel to Indigenous regions. 

Applications

WUSC Caribbean’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 Caribbean 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 Caribbean is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

This position is open to all suitably qualified CARICOM Nationals. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls please.
Suitably qualified persons are invited to submit their cover letter, CV, and the name and contact information for 3 professional references via email to [email protected]

Please use the subject line Youth and Economic Opportunities Specialist

Deadline for submission: Tuesday April 30, 2024.