Youth Engagement Officer at Plan International

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian non-profit organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood, and enable children to prepare for - and respond to - crises and adversity. We believe in the power and potential of every child, but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Youth Engagement Officer Location: Mafa, Borno

Role Purpose

The purpose is to influence the achievement of positive impact in the lives of youths in communities of Mafa LGA with particular attention to adolescent girls’ rights.

Dimensions of the Role:

Communicates within Plan International Nigeria, partners and related government institutions. The post holder combines variety of tactics and areas of work – such as communications, campaigns, media relations and youth engagement.

Accountabilities In collaboration with Youth Engagement and Advocacy Coordinator and the Field Team:

Ensure key data from assessments could be used as a baseline for program evaluation. If additional baseline data is required to evaluate children’s learning outcomes, then work with appropriate colleagues to collect this additional information.
Ensure that issues of gender, protection, DRR, and conflict sensitivity are factored into the program design.
Provide regular updates to Youth Engagement and Advocacy Coordinator humanitarian unit and the rest of the CO on progress, priorities and constraints – verbally and in writing on an agreed frequency.
Support the implementation of, and represent Plan International in any relevant cluster.
Strategically develop young people over time to become highly skilled advocates
With support of Gender Officer translate complex concepts (like gender inequality), campaigns and policy into workshops, training for young people
Organise training for young people in campaigns and communication skills including media work, public speaking etc
Ensure the young people involved are well informed and trained to a high enough standard to be able to take on the role of youth ambassadors in a meaningful way
Bring new ideas and approaches to our Youth Engagement work
Support young people to take part in campaigning activities and advocate for issues affecting them Coordinate the development, support and administration of Youth groups including supporting delivery training and capacity building.
The role will include looking for new and innovative ways for young people to be meaningfully supported to articulate and do advocacy of their own issues
Bring fresh ideas about how we can support young people to contribute to Plan International’s support and empowerment of young people This will include training and encouraging youth blogs and digital content.
Take on child safeguarding responsibilities for youth work and ensure child safeguarding policies are understood and followed. The post holder will work with staff across the organisation to encourage and embed the mainstreaming of child safeguarding policies and procedures.
Ensure the voices of the vulnerable youth especially girls, IDPs, minorities and the physically challenge are represented and amplified
Document all conversations and debates with young people in an accurate and neutral manner. Ensure these elements are fed back into strategies and work plans for effective youth engagement.
Develop monthly report and contribute to quarterly report on youth activities for external consumption
Engage the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and National Youth Council to drive the youth empowerment agenda forward
Brief updates and reports on sectoral activities/strategies to donors and other stakeholders.

Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge Essential:

Experience with participatory approaches to education, emergency preparedness, crisis / emergency relief management, or other related area.
Experience working with IDPs, refugees and other vulnerable populations (ideal)
Experience in Youth Engagement programme desirable but not essential
Experience in documentation and communication desirable but not essential
Previous experience directly providing services to children at risk and victims of abuse, exploitation and violence
University degree or equivalent Social Science, International Development Studies or related fields
Minimum of 3 years relevant working experience youth engagement/Livelihood
Experience working in emergency settings
Good knowledge and understanding of DO NO HARM principles and established international child protection standards (especially UNCRC)

Skills & Knowledge:

Actively seeks for support in addressing difficulties in execution of duties.
Strategic thinking and effective contribution to own work and Organizational development.
Sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations
Strong emotional intelligence including self - awareness.
Leads by example to motivate high performance of others
Very strong commitment to continuous learning
Creates strong sense of purpose and commitment within own part of operations and with stakeholders
Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour
Demonstrates a high degree of professionalism / integrity
Provides good and adequate administrative and logistical support to enable programmes to meet meets it’s agreed financial and program outcomes.