Program Officer

Country: Kenya

Organization: World University Service of Canada

Closing date: 5 Mar 2023

Background:

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian international development organization that works with and through its southern partners to promote sustainable development. Founded in 1957 and currently working in more than 20 countries worldwide with an annual budget of approximately $45 million dollars, WUSC fosters youth-centered solutions for improved education, economic, and empowerment opportunities to overcome inequality and exclusion. We believe youth have the potential to provide for their families, build strong communities, and create positive social change for future generations. Globally, WUSC has a network of higher education institutions, civil society organizations, private sector partners, professionals, students, volunteers, faculty, and community leaders that can be leveraged to support our work.

WUSC’s members are Canada’s most globally engaged post-secondary institutions. WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference for youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, employment and empowerment.

Displaced and Refugee youth Enabling Environment Mechanism (DREEM) project

WUSC through the DREEM project will play a unique role as a technical assistance and strategic learning partner to the Mastercard Foundation and Mastercard Foundation partners. The DREEM project will contribute to the Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to meaningfully include refugee and displaced youth in their Scholars Program and Young Africa Works initiative. As the Mastercard Foundation also works to develop a new refugee and displaced youth strategy, the DREEM project will engage with the Foundation to ensure that the project continues to support the overall goals of the Foundation.

The DREEM project will focus on three key pillars:

Support Scholars Program (SP) partners and staff with the knowledge, capacity and networks to meaningfully recruit and serve refugees and displaced youth in higher education and transition to work and to work towards more inclusive societies;

Support Young Africa Works (YAW) country partners and staff in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia to gain the knowledge, capacity and networks to meaningfully include and develop programming that meets the unique training and employment needs, opportunities and aspirations of refugee and displaced youth, especially young women;

Strengthening Economic Opportunities for Refugees (SEOR) to complement WUSC’s existing Learning through Education and Access to Employment Pathways (LEAP) project and provide refugee entrepreneurs, especially young women with improved access to market-oriented business support services that improve business and employment outcomes in Kenya.

Job Role

Under the supervision of the Nairobi-Based Senior Project Manager, the Program Officer will work closely and in collaboration with the WUSC team in Kenya, the WUSC team based in Canada, and the Mastercard Foundation team.

The Program Officer provides essential support to the DREEM project’s day to day operations. Working closely with the Senior Project Manager and the DREEM team, they will support in the coordination of various aspects of the project as outlined below:

Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with DREEM team members to provide programmatic, coordination, and logistical support to ensure the goals of the Mastercard Foundation under DREEM are met.


• Coordinates and supports the planning and implementation of key convenings across the pillars, not limited to quarterly and annual planning meetings with the Mastercard Foundation, DREEM team, and the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC); research dissemination sessions, and YAC-led events.


• Lead the organization and administration of the Youth Advisory Committee. This includes providing day-to-day support to the YAC, monitoring and evaluation of YAC activities, and overseeing YAC activities.


• In partnership with the DREEM Senior MERL Officer, supports MERL activities for the DREEM project across all pillars and cross-cutting themes. This includes documenting learnings, success stories, and other relevant information.


• Provide coordination and administrative support to the Senior Project Manager and DREEM Project Director as needed.


• Attend and participate in relevant internal and external events.


• Other duties as assigned.

Line Manager

Senior Project Manager - DREEM Project

Qualifications:

• The ideal applicant will combine technical expertise in one or more of DREEM’s sectors (higher education, durable solutions for refugees, vocational and technical training, support to entrepreneurs and businesses), a familiarity with the East African refugee context, an ability to get things done, and strong organization, coordination, and communication skills.


• Specific competencies:


• At minimum, a Bachelor’s degree in a related field (International Development, Public Policy, International Relations, Refugee Studies);


• Three to five years of relevant working experience


• Experience working on displacement issues in Kenya and/or East Africa


• Strong planning, organization and problem-solving skills with ability to work hands-on, independently, and within team in a fast-paced work environment


• Excellent interpersonal skills & demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations between programs & support


• Strong research and editing skills in English are desirable


• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of WUSC


• Must be motivated, entrepreneurial in mindset, hardworking, optimistic, and a team player


• Other requirements

The role may require regular travel to field sites in Kenya, and international travel for conferences, workshops and meetings;

Ability to work a flexible schedule.

How to apply

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, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check where appropriate.

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you wish to apply for this exciting role, please submit your application here

WUSC does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

Applicants must have the relevant immigration status to work in Kenya.