Programme Manager-Commonwealth Youth Programme, Africa Centre

Job Summary

The Programme Manager is responsible for the implementation and management of a share of the Commonwealth Youth Programme in the Africa Region, including supervising a small team of programme support staff.  The Programme Manager supports the development of the Youth Affairs Division strategic direction, especially as it pertains to the Africa Region and his/her specific programme area/s. The Programme Manager will also liaise and collaborate thematically with Programme staff from other Commonwealth regions, and the pan-Commonwealth Office.

Programmatic work includes:

• Advocacy, facilitation and support of Member Governments (and others) to build strong youth-centred policies, programmes and environments;
• Building the capacity and profile of Youth Ministries, Youth Workers & Youth Leaders, and supporting networks and platforms for their engagement;
• Connecting and convening experts and key stakeholders to collaborate and share knowledge on youth development; and
• Discovering, or developing and demonstrating, innovative youth development products and thinking.

The Programme Manager is also required to oversee the administrative aspects of his/her programme area, including budgets and finance. 

Qualifications and Work Experience

• A degree in a relevant discipline, such as social sciences, international development, or the humanities.
• Professional qualifications in a field such as youth work, community development, social administration or development.
• 5+ years’ experience of working in a government or non-government organisation in a senior programme management capacity.
• 5+ years’ experience of stakeholder engagement; experience partnering with Governments and international NGOs highly desirable.
• 2+ years’ experience in a field such as youth work, community development, social development.
• Experience of working in developing countries.

About the Commonwealth Youth Programme

Young people constitute more than 60 per cent of the population of the Commonwealth, and their wellbeing and development are essential to the success of the Commonwealth and its member states.  The Youth Affairs Division (YAD) of the Commonwealth Secretariat, established in 1973 and known internationally as the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP), works with Commonwealth member governments, youth leaders and youth professionals on the development and implementation of policy and programmes for the empowerment of young people aged 15–29.

The work of YAD is anchored in the belief that empowered young people are assets to their societies.  It is vital to ensure they realise their individual potential, and to recognise and nurture their ability to contribute to their countries’ development, and the success of the Commonwealth.  YAD focuses on areas of major political, economic and social importance to young people, based on mandates received from Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGM) and the Commonwealth Secretariat Strategic Plan. The Commonwealth Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment (PAYE), developed by YAD in partnership with youth development stakeholders, underpins the work of YAD, and provides encouragement and guidance to member governments and other development organisations to create the optimum enabling environment for young people to participate as equal partners in development and democracy.

YAD operates from a pan-Commonwealth international office at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London, and four regional CYP Centres located in Africa (Zambia), Asia (India), the Caribbean (Guyana) and the Pacific (Solomon Islands).  As well as stand-alone initiatives, YAD partners with other Commonwealth Secretariat divisions to integrate a youth perspective across all key facets of the Commonwealth (economic, political, human rights etc).  YAD also facilitates and supports representative youth leaders to build networks and have a voice in the Commonwealth. 

The CYP Africa Centre focuses on youth development in the twenty two Commonwealth member countries in the Africa region, which have a combined population of 347 million people.  The Africa Centre helps to to formulate policies and programmes for youth development, working collaboratively with governments, young people and other stakeholders.  

Further Information

How to apply