EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)

EDC is one of the world’s leading nonprofit research and development firms.  Established in 1958, EDC designs, delivers and evaluates innovative programs to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges in education, health, and economic opportunity.  Our services include research, training, educational materials, and strategy, with activities ranging from seed projects to large-scale national and international initiatives. 

EDC is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Project Description

The $43.5 million Integrated Youth Empowerment Activity supports South Sudanese youth and communities to develop, promote and strengthen the skills and assets of youth, and to create an enabling environment for the youth to be productive and positively contribute to their communities. The purpose of this activity is to support and empower at-risk out-of-school youth ages 15-29 gain the necessary skills they need to lead productive lives, gain employment, and positively contribute to their communities with following intended results:

• Improved youth access to functional literacy, numeracy, soft and life skills
• Increase youth entrepreneurial, employment, and vocational opportunities
• Increase behavior changes among youth to make positive adolescent reproductive health choices
• Improve social cohesion among youth and their communities

USAID/South Sudan also envisions that YEA will adapt and/or pilot a Youth Corps Service model as

a modality to creatively achieve the activity's stated goal and integrated objectives. Unemployed

South Sudanese youth who are graduates from high school and universities, and non-graduates of

exceptional demonstrated ability, will be mobilized, trained, coached, and mentored to become

Youth Corps Service members. They will deliver specific YEA-prescribed activities to

disadvantaged targeted youth beneficiaries and their communities. The activity will help leverage

youth for the youth’s benefit, build a sense of belonging and solidarity, and help to promote

peace.

Position Description

The Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor will provide technical leadership in the development, implementation, integration and evaluation of a series of activities that increase equitable access and inclusion of vulnerable youth in learning, employment and civic engagement opportunities. They will provide technical expertise and direct technical support to ensure that the development and adaptation of curriculum and materials, youth engagement and policy advocacy, and intervention designs are gender and conflict sensitive.  They will play a key role in the development of GESI guidance, training and capacity building of YEA staff and program stakeholders as relevant.

• Build and manage relationships with key stakeholders (Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Local Government Authorities and others);
• Guide strategies for all gender and social inclusion technical requirements of the USAID Youth Empowerment Activity and provide technical expertise to ensure the fulfilment of the project deliverables together with the COP and EDC home office technical staff.
• Develop a series of activities that increase equitable access and inclusion of vulnerable youth in learning, employment and civic engagement opportunities.
• Provide guidance on the adaptation of all curriculum and materials to ensure gender responsiveness and conflict sensitivity.
• Actively engage with local partners, private sector and other humanitarian development organizations in regard to gender and social inclusion.

• Liaise with various technical teams and the M&E team to oversee coordination of planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting on gender and social inclusion activities.
• Coordinate with EDC’s HO to ensure reflect best practice, are consistent with EDC’s gender and social inclusion approaches and aligns with EDC’s gender and social inclusion strategies.
• Oversee and provide training and capacity building to USAID Youth Empowerment Activity staff and program stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with the Operations and Finance teams to ensure logistical and financial planning for technical activities is timely and complete.
• Actively engage in the recruitment process of both USAID Youth Empowerment Activity staff and youth training participants to ensure intentional encouragement to and inclusion of women and girls.
• Contribute to the design and implementation of the USAID Youth Empowerment Activity’s learning agenda.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Education:

A bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject area, preferably in gender, social work, international development, business administration, or community development required.

Skills and Experience:

• Minimum of 5-8 years of experience designing, managing, and implementing activities to promote youth engagement, gender equality and/or social and disability inclusion; in particular in contexts of conflict, crisis and violence
• Experience with youth workforce development, positive youth development, private sector engagement, and gender, disability, and/or social inclusion.
• Demonstrated ability to work with host government and partners in implementing a complex project in the field under challenging circumstances.
• Demonstrated experience in effective training, coaching and facilitation with program teams, local partners and host governments to integrate gender equity and social inclusion into programming, including through behavior change communications and peer mentorship models
• Demonstrated understanding of USAID’s gender and social inclusion policies and strategies
• Experience working in Upper Nile, Unity, Jonglei, Western Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria desired.

Application Instructions:

Job closing date: date: 19th Nov 2024

To apply, Applicants are encouraged to visit the Careers Page at: https://go.edc.org/SouthSudanJobs

Only if technical difficulties occur, applicants may send their resumes to: [email protected], listing “Job Title-Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor (GESI)” in the Subject Line.  

Emails submitted without a resume and/or Job Code in the Subject Line will not be reviewed.

Or hand delivery applications, enclosed in an envelope to Afex Security Reception to the attention of Chief of Party, Education Development Center, (EDC), USAID Youth Empowerment Activity. Indicate on the envelope the position applied for.

Due to the urgency of this position, Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

Only shortlisted 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.