PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Yes Youth Can National is an unprecedented USAID-funded program that puts youth above all else. The program is youth-owned, youth-led and youth-managed. In other words, youth ideas, local knowledge and innovations drive the process, youth implement program elements (grants, investments, Youth Bunges), and youth are the decision makers. With objectives to increase economic prospects, improve youth voice, expand youth access to essential services, and create a new and innovative approaches to empower youth through youth-owned, youth-led and youth-managed actions, Yes Youth Can (YYC) National initiative builds on the work of six independent Yes Youth Can Regional programs implemented by Mercy Corps and peer agencies. These Regional programs have successfully mobilized youth and created youth County Bunges (parliaments) which provide the platform for the National Youth Bunge Association (NYBA).
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Chief of Party (COP) – “Yes Youth Can National” is a senior level position with Mercy Corps Kenya. S/he is responsible for providing program guidance, oversight, and management of the USAID-funded project whose overall objective is to support recovery and development in areas that experienced post-election violence or are at risk to experience election-related violence in the future. This can only be accomplished through working side by side with youth in building the capacity of youth, youth groups and youth-serving organizations to engage with each other, with markets, government and communities, and pursue their legitimate needs and interests more effectively. Given the multifaceted circumstances Kenyan youth face, the often untested and innovative activities contemplated to support youth development must be integrated, multi-sectoral and mutually reinforcing.
The COP of Yes Youth Can National directly manages project staff and works closely with them to ensure high quality and the timely implementation of activities that capture the interest of youth. The level of oversight requires traveling to field sites, representation, and coordination with project partners and external stakeholders, such as the National Youth Bunge Association (NYBA), local and international NGOs, CBOs, the private sector, and local and central government authorities. The successful candidate is expected to meaningfully engage youth to lead the development of creative new programming for youth drawing on best practices from other countries and programs with a focus on building local youth capacities. Additionally, strong emphasis is placed on the provision of mentoring leadership and advice to project staff.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Lead the overall design, management, and reporting to the donor on all components related to the project;
- Provide technical oversight in establishing youth-owned, youth-led and youth-managed mechanisms that support local opportunities for youth voice and livelihoods.
- Promote economically viable youth enterprises with new financial products and methodologies such as savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs), as well as development of new skills to facilitate livelihood development and employment.
- Network youth, youth groups, and youth-serving organizations such as the NYBA and strengthen their linkages with all relevant development actors so that their undertakings are both economically and politically self-sustainable, and promote ethnic tolerance.
- Support broader based youth policy development to create a more enabling environment for youth enterprises, youth employment and youth civic engagement.
- Coordinate closely with the six Yes Youth Can Regional programs to ensure a dynamic alliance and cohesive approach that leverages efforts to ensure success.
- Engage and develop joint initiatives with government, community leaders, NGOs, private sector and other stakeholders, providing heightened exposure and maximizing impact of the project.
- Manage and Mentor local program staff and other partners, gradually transferring skills and capacities.
- Represent and Coordinate with donor, national and local government, local governance institutions, local partners, private sector, and other project stakeholders.
- Report regularly to the Mercy Corps Country Director and donor on program progress, ensuring that required deliverables are met in a timely fashion.
- Work with project staff on an ongoing basis to ensure smooth planning, preparation, implementation and joint monitoring and evaluation of program activities and achievements towards project goals.
Organizational Learning
As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries (the Youth) and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging the youth as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
Overall supervision of the Yes Youth Can National program team including expatriate and national staff; and local and international sub-grantees.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Mercy Corps Kenya Country Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Deputy Chief of Party, Fund Advisor, Yes Youth Can Rift Valley and Central province CoP (program I), Operations/Finance Staff
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- MA/S or equivalent in management, international development, business, finance or related field required.
- Technical expertise and successful track record in youth engagement, mobilization, empowerment at scale. Bringing together theory and practice.
- Experience in participatory development of youth enterprises.
- Experience managing youth, conflict/reconciliation, job skills/employment and/or civic education programs;
- Ability to manage/oversee the provision of grants, loans (through financial intermediaries or SACCOs) and technical assistance to youth groups and youth organizations.
- East Africa/Kenya on the ground work experience.
- Experience of successfully managing large programs (preferably USAID programs) or running a successful business.
- Experience robust business models that can expand the resource base and attract financial support and strategic partnerships from development partners, the private sector and the government.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in international development; Kenya experience highly preferred;
- 5 years of field management experience in a leadership role.
- CoP or Program Management leadership required, preferably of a $20 million or greater sized project;
- Experience with USAID rules, regulations and requirements.
- History of working effectively and respectfully with host government, NGOs, contractors and other partners;
- Ability to effectively convey programmatic goals, to enlist partnerships, and work with a range of program and external stakeholders.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
- Innovative, decisive and inclusive leadership approach.
- Ability to think creatively and relate to youth. Demonstrated experience with sincerely involving youth in transparent decision making, leadership, and management processes.
- Creative and insightful as regards programming for youth engagement, mobilization, and empowerment.
- Strong coordination skills. Ability to closely and successfully coordinate with Donor, youth entities, sub-grantees and affiliated YYC Regional Programs.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Strong communication and team-building techniques.
- Rambunctious in a way that is very active and energized.
- Proven experience managing and building capacity of diverse teams (expatriate and national) and building bridges.
- Cultural knowledge, sensitivity and respect.
- Strong work ethic and commitment to oversee project for its duration.
LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi is an accompanied post for spouse and children. Nairobi is a major metropolitan center with world class healthcare and excellent education options. Mercy Corps provides expatriate staff with a housing allowance that covers rent, utilities, and security for comfortable accommodations in safe areas of the city. Telephone and internet access is available and there are dozens of excellent restaurants along with easy transport links to the rest of Africa and Europe.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
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