Programme Manager, Youth Engagement Programme - South Sudan

Programme Manager

SPARK Youth Engagement Programme

South Sudan – (0.8 or 1 fte)

In January 2012 SPARK launches its new Youth Engagement Programme (YEP) in Burundi, South Sudan and the Palestinian Territories. Underpinning our mission, the YEP's overall objective is to reduce instability in fragile state environments, through improving the social-economic position of young women and men. The programme aspires to create an enabling environment for youth participation in the public sector, in civil society and youth entrepreneurship. YEP's main activities concern the strengthening of partner organisations and interest groups that advocate for improving the socio-economic position of young women and men. This is done through training and coaching in organisational aspects, governance, as well as through developing, introducing and strengthening partner activities and services that specifically help to increase the economic empowerment of youth and enhance fact-based advocacy and organizing multi-stakeholder dialogue.

General Job Description

The successful candidate (m/f) is responsible for overall programme coordination and takes on an active role in strengthening and preparing a limited number of partner organisations for the implementation of advocacy-related activities vis-à-vis stakeholders including civil society organisations, interest groups and political parties, higher education institutions, business associations, business development organisations and employee & employer organisations/unions and their youth representation/delegations. The Programme Manager is based in South Sudan and part of a larger team including a local Programme Officer (in South Sudan), SPARK's Country Managers in Burundi and the Palestinian Territories, the M&E Manager, and involving SPARK's cooperation partners.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

• Overall YEP programme management & coordination
• Training and coaching SPARK Country Managers in achieving their country/YEP specific goals
• Training and coaching staff of local partner organizations in all YEP countries
• Representing SPARK in South Sudan and expanding (SPARK) programme activities in South Sudan.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years programme management & coordination experience;
• Relevant and professional experience in training and coaching related to governance, multi-stakeholder dialogue, advocacy and lobbying etc. vis-à-vis interest groups and political parties, higher education institutions, enterprises, business associations, business development organisations and employee & employer organisations/unions, etc.;
• Experienced in working with organizations and institutions in the public and private sector as well as with civil society organizations;
• Political and cultural sensitivity;
• Good communication and social skill, diplomatic skills;
• Good oral and written language skills in English and French (Arabic is an asset);
• Available for frequent travelling.

SPARK Offers

• Contract for 32 or 40 hours a week;
• Remuneration based on experience
• International environment;
• Dynamic working experience;
• Training opportunities.

For more information, please visit SPARK website: http://www.spark-online.org/.

If interested, please email your letter of motivation and your CV to vacancy@spark-online.org before 2 January 2012. Reference: Vacancy YEP Program Manager. Please contact Karen Blanken or Michel Richter at +31 (0)20 753 0311 for further details and information up and until 22 December 2011.