Jordan: Youth Civic and Political Engagement Programme Manager

ActionAid Arab Region Initiative (AAAR) is looking for Youth Civic and Political Engagement Programme Manager who is responsible to Lead and strategically manage the AA Arab Region Youth Civic and Political Engagement program with a key focus on democratic governance and supporting the empowerment of young men and women. . Represent the organization in relevant forums/coordination meetings particularly in relation to work with young people in Jordan and the region. Ensure effective coordination and operationalization of Civic and Political Engagement program with meaningful engagements with donors, I/NGOs, government stakeholders, partners and communities. Support the expansion of the program through the development of evidenced based concept notes and proposals in align with ActionAid’s International Platform priorities and AA Arab Region 2018 -2022 “People’s Action for Equity and Social Justice in the Arab Region”.

About ActionAid Arab Region

At ActionAid Arab Region Initiative we work with grass root organizations and civil society actors that have a strong focus on youth and women in local governance. ActionAid Arab Region Initiative (ARI) knows that to create lasting change, the root causes of poverty and injustice must be addressed and that affected communities must become the drivers of the change they want to see. Read more at http://actionaid.org/arab-region/arab-region-initiative

Job Title: Youth Civic and Political Engagement Programme Manager

Location: Amman with frequent travel to program locations

Reports to: Head of Programmes, Policy and Campaign

Direct Reports: Coordinators, Global Platform, POs, relevant consultants and interns.

Job Role

Role Overview: Lead and strategically manage the AA Arab Region Youth Civic and Political Engagement program with a key focus on democratic governance and supporting the empowerment of young men and women. . Represent the organization in relevant forums/coordination meetings particularly in relation to work with young people in Jordan and the region. Ensure effective coordination and operationalization of Civic and Political Engagement program with meaningful engagements with donors, I/NGOs, government stakeholders, partners and communities. Support the expansion of the program through the development of evidenced based concept notes and proposals in align with ActionAid’s International Platform priorities and AA Arab Region 2018 -2022 “People’s Action for Equity and Social Justice in the Arab Region”.

Areas of Responsibilities

Key Activities

Strategic Engagements

• Lead the development of strategic plans and interventions for the Youth Civic and Political Engagement program aligned to the strategic priorities of ActionAid Arab Region (AAAR)

• Ensure strategic linkages with stakeholders are in place and develop and nurture new strategic relationships.

• Engage with donors, youth and/or decentralization coordination bodies, national & international level meetings and events to highlight AAAR Youth Civic and Political Engagement work. .

• Lead, inspire, guide and support program teams to link with identified agencies, institutions, forums and networks related to program work

• Ensure effective coordination within AAAR through participation in the AAI International platform.

Youth Civic and Political Engagement Program

• Lead the development of the Program Framework for Youth Civic and Political Engagement in the Arab Region

• Be up to date with current context in the region, country contexts and international perspectives to inform effective implementation of the youth program

• Ensure the program is effectively coordinated and implemented and synergies are developed and furthered in collaboration with the AA Arab Region Wormen’s Rights and Humanitarian/Protection teams

• Ensure donor compliance on all contracts and timely quality reporting

• Ensure proper program inductions are provided at all levels to internal AA and external stakeholders) to achieve mutual understanding.

• Oversee program in Jordon and Tunisia and ensure all teams have clear annual, quarterly & monthly plans in place and provide regular follow up as required.

• Provide technical guidance and support to both Jordon based staff & Partners in Tunisia.

• Ensure proper systems, tools and mechanisms are in place for the effective implementation of the program.

• Monitor the progress of the program and work in close collaboration with the MEAL Manager to ensure the effective implementation of the program

• Ensure regular team members are held with cross functional support including but not limited to Admin and finance and Humanitarian/Protection and Women’s rights teams

• Ensure all required linkages for the program are in place as identified by the team for quality outputs and outcomes to be realized

• Provide overall strategic management of the program local partners

• Ensure effective management of the budget, including, monitoring expenditure and budget forecasting in line with AA Arab Region finance and Administration polices

HROD .

• Provide strategic direction and management of AA AR Civic and Political Engagement team

• Build capacity of the team and partners on Youth Civic and Political Engagement and ensure the team has clear and meaningful understanding of the approach to achieve the intended results

• Ensure regular annual and midterm staff appraisals are conducted in line with the AA AAR HROD policy and staff development plans are implemented as agreed

• Ensure team and individual Annual/Quarterly and Monthly work plans are in place and are monitored with individual team members and collectively in Monthly/Quarterly Team meetings.

Policy Advocacy & Campaigns

• Engage in evidence based Policy / Advocacy work in collaboration with AAI and AA members.

• Ensure program implementation and activities are contributing to local and global ActionAid campaigns where and when relevant.

• In collaboration with stakeholders develop the campaign strategy and approach aligned to the overall AA AR Youth Civic and Political Engagement 5 year Framework

• Ensure documentation and publication of AA AR Civic and Political engagement approach, methodologies, and processes and impacts.

Fundraising

• In liaison with the AAAR Resource Mobilization Team, support the development of concept notes and proposals to expand the funding base of the programme and impact

• Work with the Resource Mobilization team to ensure timely and relevant program report submissions to relevant donors and functions

• Meet with donors locally to present the programme of AA AR and inspire them to support.

• Ensure all requirements for proposal development is followed up; eg; assessments, data collection, context analysis, consultation with beneficiaries, etc.

• Ensure visibility of AA Youth Civic and Political Engagement work reaches to strategic stakeholders internally and externally.

Networking and participation in external platforms & Forums

• Oversee and support the monitoring of the representation and profile of Youth Work of AR in key technical working groups and networks at various identified and agreed levels

• Attend / delegate attendance in key niche UN/INGO meetings locally and nationally and strategically engage in important national and international level networks, forums and meetings.

• Represent ActionAid in meetings with Government agencies, external stakeholders nationally and internationally when required. .

General

• Ensure Youth Team has a clear understanding of the vision of AA AR

• Mainstream Transparency & Accountability systems, tools and mechanism as well as Social Cohesion and WRs across all youth work

• Ensure AA values, principles and HRBA is mainstreamed in the programme.

• Provide guidance, mentoring and support to team members and organize capacity building initiatives to meet gaps.

• Mobilize consultants & interns strategically to meet the needs of the Programme in coordination with team and HR.

Key Relationships to reach solutions

Internal (to ActionAid or team): Head of Programme, Policy and Campaign External agencies and relevant Ministries

Administration, Finance and Administration

Resource Mobilization, Communications, MEAL, Women Rights, Humanitarian programme team leads

External

ActionAid international and funding affiliates and International Platform

Person Specification

Education & Certifications

 Relevant academic degree, preferably master degree in development, management

Essential Experience Knowledge and Skills

 At least 5 years of experience in managing Youth work preferably with an INGO

 People’s management skills and ability to remotely manage team members.

 Extensive experience in managing programs / projects, including multiple stakeholders and partners.

 Is a team player and able to build a strong team to achieve the envisioned goals and objectives.

 Have grounded understanding of issues affecting young men and women in the region.

 Experience of managing institutional, bi-lateral and international donor funded projects.

 Good understanding of women’s rights and mainstreaming.

 Experience in financial management and budgeting

 Able to build effective rapport with stakeholders.

 Demonstrated strong skills in partnership development and management and networking with government, civil society and other stakeholders

 Excellent Microsoft office skills including but not limited to – Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Management of not for profit program with a Human Rights Based Approach.

• Good people’s skills and team work experience.

• Excellent management and communication skills with strong sense of team spirit

• Excellent interpersonal communication/negotiation skills both in written/oral Arabic and English

• Result oriented person; ability to manage multiple tasks, work under pressure and meeting of deadlines

Personal Qualities

Mutual respect, Equity and justice, Honesty and transparency, Solidarity with the poor, Courage of conviction, Independence, Humility

This Job Description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organizational needs.

It is part of every staff member's responsibility to contribute to AAI's and the ActionAid AR mission and comply with its values, which are: Mutual respect, Equity and justice, Honesty and transparency, Solidarity with the poor, Courage of conviction, Independence, Humility.

With your CV, motivation cover letter should be sentto:ari.jobs@actionaid.org(only received CVs on this email will be considered) please clearly indicate which position you are applying for, you will not be considered without putting this title in the subject bar. We respect all candidates but we can only respond to shortlisted candidates.