Youth Engagement and Facilitation Advisor

Assignment Type:

Canadian International Volunteer

Eligibility Requirements:

Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada only

Assignment ID:

VA-107091

Assignment Title:

Youth Engagement and Facilitation Advisor

Partner:

WUSC – Guyana (ENGAGE Youth)

Country:

Guyana

Duration:

6 months

Time Commitment:

Full time

Assignment Context

Are you passionate about youth engagement? Do you have facilitation skills to share? 

As the Youth Engagement and Facilitation Advisor with WUSC Guyana ENGAGE Youth in Georgetown, Guyana, you will work with a dynamic team to support youth engagement initiatives with Indigenous youth and stakeholders from Guyana’s Hinterland regions.

Apply today to have an impact on Indigenous youth in Guyana!

Roles and Responsibilities

• Support the design, development and implementation of a Youth Engagement Strategy to guide improved access to economic and livelihood opportunities for Indigenous youth, especially young women
• Work closely with the WUSC team and key stakeholders to develop and facilitate gender and youth sensitive capacity building activities, to support indigenous youth, especially young women, in identifying, developing and implementing, innovative, sustainable economic initiatives
• Support youth with coaching, mentorship, business development guidance, and other types of assistance to facilitate effective implementation of innovative youth economic initiatives
• Assist in development and effective engagement of strategic partnerships with various stakeholders involved in youth economic initiatives 
• Support coordination and implementation of various youth-centered, gender sensitive and inclusive events with various stakeholders, including exchange visits, forums, gatherings, roundtables, and digital sessions
• Assist in developing and implementing relevant tools to facilitate effective data collection, analysis and reporting on youth engagement and empowerment

• Participate in pre-assignment training
• Participate in at least 3 public engagement initiatives with Canadian audiences before, during, or after the assignment. Volunteers will be equipped with the tools, training, funds, and support to achieve these goals. Volunteers will also have to report on each of their public engagement activities through our Volunteer Information Portal. Virtual chats and individual check-ins can be booked with the Senior Public Engagement Officer throughout the course of their assignment and up to 2 years after to seek guidance and support with their public engagement activities
• Canadian volunteers are required to do at least one activity that contributes to meeting a fundraising target of $1,500. The minimum requirement is met by each volunteer using our Volunteer Information Portal to report having sent one message to their network about their volunteer assignment that includes the link to the WUSC Shared Impact Fund webpage. This message also counts as one of their three required public engagement activities. Volunteers will be supported with the tools, training, and support to achieve the fundraising goal
• Submit reports as required by the partner organization and by WUSC.

Experience and Qualifications

• Degree and/or training in social sciences, international development, project management or other related field. 
• Demonstrated experience in project management and/or community engagement
• Experience in developing strategies for youth engagement and inclusion
• Proven skills in mobilizing, coordinating and managing support from various stakeholders 
• Previous experience working on women and youth focused programming
• Minimum two (2) years relevant professional experience in field of expertise
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of an international team in a participatory manner
• A commitment to gender equality, youth inclusion, and working in collaboration with Indigenous communities
• Flexibility, adaptability, excellent interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity
• Experience with group facilitation and trainings, including content development considered an asset
• Experience living and working internationally considered an asset
• Written and oral fluency in English

Project Description

ENGAGE Youth is a 5-year project funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) with the Ultimate Outcome « to enhance the empowerment of Indigenous and rural youth, especially young women, in target regions of Guyana » by facilitating improved and meaningful participation of youth in decision-making at the personal, household and community levels; and strengthening the network of local, regional and national 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 at the personal, household and community levels, and an improved local, regional and national system of stakeholders, will result in enhanced empowerment of Indigenous youth, especially young women. ENGAGE Youth takes a holistic approach to empowerment, which recognizes the significant needs of the target group and importance of the broad-spectrum of key stakeholders required to achieve the ENGAGE Youth Ultimate Outcome. The project utilizes human-centered design (HCD) approaches that allow for active participation of Indigenous youth in designing and implementing initiatives, and a systems approach that facilitates identification of root problems and focuses on actions that enhance sustainability through working closely with local actors and organizations. ENGAGE Youth supports Indigenous youth from Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9 in Guyana. The main project partners include government ministries and agencies; non-governmental organizations; and community, national and regional organizations that work with Indigenous youth.

Partner Description

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a Canadian non-profit organization with a mission to enhance education, economic opportunities, and empowerment for youth and women. WUSC works with a diverse network of volunteers, students, institutions, governments, and businesses. 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. ENGAGE Youth will support the enhanced empowerment of Indigenous youth, especially young women, through awareness raising and public engagements on gender equality; provision of life-skills education; enhanced access and referrals to social services; access to applied training in relevant employability, livelihood, business development and entrepreneurship skills; and delivery of skills training and responsive grants to enable young people to effectively engage in youth-led enterprises and economic initiatives. Through financial and technical support, ENGAGE Youth will strengthen the capacity of local, regional and national stakeholders to effectively develop and implement sustainable, gender-responsive, and youth sensitive initiatives that address the social and economic needs and aspirations of Indigenous youth, especially young women.

Support Package

• Support and guidance from the WUSC Volunteer Mobilization Team prior to departure and from WUSC Country Team while on assignment
• Pre-departure training to learn about the volunteering for development program, gain practical skills for living and working in an intercultural context and network with other volunteers
• In-country orientation upon arrival in country of assignment
• Language training in country of assignment, where required
• Modest monthly living and accommodation allowance
• Airfare to and from the assignment country
• Visa/work permit
• Pre-departure medical exam
• Health insurance
• Vaccinations and antimalarial medication
• Criminal record verification
• Vacation leave entitlement
• Debriefing after completion of assignment
• An incredible opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to global development, enhance your professional skills and participate in an experience of a lifetime!

WUSC’s Safeguarding Policy

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 and sexual exploitation and abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to sign off on the WUSC Code of Conduct and the Self-Disclosure Form. International and national volunteers will also be required to submit a criminal record verification.

WUSC is a signatory to the Cooperation Canada Leaders’ Pledge on Preventing and Addressing Sexual Misconduct. The pledge represents the shared commitment as Canada’s global development and humanitarian leaders to ensure the full implementation of practices and policies that will protect and respond to our own staff, volunteers and the communities we serve. We are committed to creating safe and respectful workplaces and programs that promote gender equality and are free from gender-based violence, including by addressing and responding to all abuse of power, holding people to account, and protecting the vulnerable. Read the full pledge.