Youth Development Officer – USAID Opportunity 2.0

  • Contract

Company Description

EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)

Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world. 

EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.    

Project Description

Opportunity 2.0, funded by USAID, will strengthen second-chance education programs for vulnerable out-of-school youth in the Philippines. Opportunity 2.0 will collaborate and work with national and local systems supporting youth in order to provide 180,000 youth with the skills and opportunities to improve their education, employment, and livelihood outcomes.  

Achieving this vision will require a multi-faceted, systems-strengthening approach that aligns the formal education system, markets, and youth “sub-systems” at the regional levels. This will be achieved by providing experienced project personnel embedded in government departments; further aligning the input of technical assistance; and maximizing opportunities to bring together the respective stakeholders to identify and refine synergies and transition pathways for youth, particularly between Department of Education (DepEd)’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) program and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). 

Job Description

The Youth Development Officer – Davao under the supervision of the Youth Development Coordinator will assist the YDCs in implementation of activities in the field, ensuring fidelity of implementation and quality assurance. The Youth Development Officer’s key activities will focus on field visits, daily monitoring of training activities and provide one-on-one support to YDAs, local service providers and partners and other relevant key stakeholders.

 Essential Functions

The Youth Development Officer’s specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

I.  Technical Programs Implementation

Specific responsibilities related to each of the three program objectives (IR1, IR2 and IR3) include, but are not limited to the following:

IR1: Strengthening capacity of national and local systems to develop, deliver and monitor second chance education programs (Alternative Learning Systems - ALS) for out of school youth.

  • Assist the Youth Development Coordinator (YDC) in planning and conducting activities to strengthen the system’s service delivery, such as engaging local universities in ALS teacher professional development and, continuing education and career guidance for ALS learners, as well as, developing a pre-service ALS teacher training curriculum program for leading teacher education institutions.
  • Assist the YDC in planning, implementation and facilitating logistical support to a blended professional development training program for master trainers and ALS implementers, in close coordination with DepEd.
  • Assist the YDC in testing of flexible delivery modalities for ALS program to meet the needs of diverse OSY populations. 

IR2: Strengthened capacity of national and local systems to deliver workforce readiness and technical vocational trainings for out-of-school youth

  • Assist the YDC and PSO in providing technical assistance to the Youth Development Alliances (YDA) to support their capacity improvement in a) information-gathering regarding employer demand and self-employment opportunities; and b) continuous relationship-building with prospective local employers and local industry players.
  • Support the YDC and PSO in providing technical assistance to the Youth Development Alliances (YDA) in conducting their annual region-specific labor market assessments (LMA) and using the results to inform programming and ensure alignment of youth skills development with local employer and industry needs. 
  • Provide support and logistical assistance for the implementation of a pilot program that combines the Work-Based Learning (WBL), Be Your Own Boss (BYOB) curriculum with savings groups (SILC) and entrepreneurship accompaniment.
  • Support the YDC and PSO in building the capacity of local partners to implement job intermediation services.

Conduct field visits and monitor training activities to ensure the quality and delivery of O2 curriculum and skills training by youth service providers

IR3: Improved enabling environment for positive youth development at both national and local levels

  • Provide programmatic and logistical assistance to the YDC for the training of all stakeholders involved in the YDAs to understand, implement and measure progress against a holistic approach.
  • Provide programmatic and logistical assistance to the YDC to ensure they use a holistic lens when conducting outreach to the private sector, youth-serving organizations and training providers, through EDC-led training/workshops for YDA and youth network; and other capacity-building activities for city/municipal youth alliances including youth service providers.
  • Provide assistance and logistical support for the implementation of community mappings within their region including the LGU representatives, the DepEd ALS and TESDA, universities and TVET institutions, community-based organizations (CBOs), associations of entrepreneurs and chambers of commerce, representatives of parents’ associations, and other education stakeholders.   
  • Assist the YDC in sustaining the youth development alliances, such as but not limited to coordinating with YDA focal person on the conduct and documentation of YDA meetings and YDA-led activities;
  • Assist the YDC in providing technical assistance and facilitating logistical support for EDC-led training/workshops for YDA and youth network; and other capacity-building activities for city/municipal youth alliances including youth service providers; and
  • Working closely with the Youth Development Coordinator, support the planning and implementation of city/municipal project launch activities; establish partnerships with Mayors and LGU officials; and facilitate the formation of youth development alliances;
  • Provide technical and logistical support for learning and dissemination events and annual youth summits, youth civic engagement activities, and other capacity-building activities for city/municipal youth alliances including youth service providers.  

II. External Relations

  • Serve as the alternate O2 liaison with city/municipal LGU officials, and other local partners in his/her area of responsibility to ensure close collaboration in all aspects of O2 technical programming. 
  • Assist the YDC in coordinating with city/municipal level partner agencies and local youth service providers on project supervision visits of US Embassy/USAID, EDC, DepEd ALS Task Force, TESDA national and regional offices, and other officials to his/her area of responsibility. 

III. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Learning, and Communications Responsibilities

  • Assist the YDC in coordinating with city/municipal level partner agencies, youth service providers, and relevant local stakeholders to support data gathering activities for progress monitoring, impact assessments, and operations research and learning purposes in his/her area of responsibility. 
  • Assist the YDC in providing technical and other support for the conduct of workshops, forums, and other learning events at the local level to disseminate results of project-wide assessments, communicate innovative approaches and good practices, and share research findings as appropriate, for the purpose of knowledge-sharing and for building or sustaining partnerships.
  • Actively contribute to the project communications plan by regularly providing, through the YDC, documentation of significant events, success stories, and other similar materials to feature in USAID weekly highlights, EDC newsletter, and for press releases.

IV. Support to Management of Technical Programs

  • Assist the YDC in providing technical inputs, for partner and technical working group meetings, planning and implementation meetings, and the like.
  • Support the preparation of work plans and activity reports. 
  • Provide feedback on youth service providers’ activities and other implementation concerns at the field level; and 
  • Assist in providing technical inputs to Opportunity 2.0 project team meetings and written materials for quarterly reports. 

V. Administrative and Financial Compliance 

  • Actively participate in fostering a collaborative environment between technical teams in the field and Admin, HR, and Finance departments. 
  • Comply with project and organizational policies on technical activities with regards to security, human resources, financial and grants management, the confidentiality of documents and information, and the like. 
  • Comply with EDC’s administrative and HR regulations, including policies and procedures on performance management and annual performance review.

Organizational Relationships and Employment Status

  • Reports to Youth Development Coordinator 
  • Based in Davao City, available to travel to other O2 project sites 
  • Regular, Full-time employee

Qualifications

Education:  

  • Bachelor’s degree in education, social development, or related field. 
  • Specialized training in non-formal and/or technical vocational education or related or similar fields would be an advantage

Skills and Experience:  

  • At least two (2) years relevant work experience in a project or projects similar to O2, with progressively increasing levels of responsibility.
  • Of the above, at least one (1) year in a similar LGU/multi-stakeholder coordination role.
  • At least one (1) year experience in ALS, livelihood, and entrepreneurship training, technical-vocational/workforce development programs.
  • Experience in working with LGUs in O2 sites, or similar socio-economic-cultural context would be a distinct advantage.
  • Able to work independently and in a team environment.
  • Demonstrated capacity for coordination, networking, and task management.
  • Excellent people skills at all levels, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to work in a multicultural work environment.
  • Working knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel and preparing effective power point presentations.
  • Willingness to work and travel in all project areas.

Language:  

  • Working knowledge of local language and dialect(s), and excellent English language written and oral communication skills.

Additional Information

Due to the volume of applications submitted, only finalists will be notified.  No phone calls, please.

EDC is committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce and ensuring an equitable and highly inclusive work environment. EDC is a smoke-free workplace, and offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits. Women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Note: EDC doesn’t solicit for money from applicants at any level of the recruitment & selection process.