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Vacancy - Programme Manager, Youth Development (GYDN) CYP Asia Centre

29 October 2007

Job Title:  Programme Manager

Division: Commonwealth Youth Programme, (CYP) Asia Centre

Grade: PM

Reports to: Regional Director (Asia Centre)

General information

The Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports the activities of member governments investing in young people through the development of policies and programmes in Youth Enterprise and Sustainable Livelihood (YESL), Governance, Development and Youth Networks (GDYN), and Youth Work Education and Training (YWET). The Programme currently addresses the concerns of young people in education, gender, poverty, health and sustainable development. Its objective is to establish and strengthen youth ministries and independent youth networks to support policy and programme development based on the active participation of both young women and men.

The CYP assists fifty-three member countries of the Commonwealth through the Pan Commonwealth Office (PCO) in London and four Regional Centres in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Pacific.

The Asia Centre assists the Commonwealth governments in the region to formulate policies and programmes for youth development, working collaboratively with governments, young people and other stakeholders.

Job summary

The Programme Manager, Youth Development (GDYN) is part of a team of three technical officers who assist the Regional Director in the formulation of the Regional Strategic Plan and the Annual Operational Plan. S/he is responsible for implementation of the said plans, particularly in respect of the programme strategic area assigned to her/him. Towards this, s/he has to organize events and conduct programmes, bring out reports and publications thereon, conduct research and evaluation, where required, and carry out such other tasks as may be assigned by the Regional Director from time to time. In brief, the Programme Manager contributes to all aspects of CYP operations, supporting the efforts of governments and youth organisations, and collaborating with international organisations in the promotion of range of youth development activities.

Task description

The primary purpose of the GDYN PM will be to co-ordinate the programmes relating to a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Commonwealth countries to come together for discussing issues, and exchanging views and experiences in their respective countries concerning young people in democracy, participatory development and local self-governance.

The PM will be expected to facilitate programmes which will:

  • Increase awareness about CYP amongst local government functionaries and young people from the 8 Commonwealth countries in Asia, as well from the other three region;
  • Share and disseminate information and best practices and capacity development of young people in the area of grass root level planning, development and local self governance.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Regional Director, the Programme Manager, Youth Development is required to perform the following tasks:

i) Promote youth participation in development, democracy, and governance, particularly at the local level, and active citizenship in the Asia region to advance the involvement of youth in the decision making processes by:

a. Working with governments, regional youth networks and other partner agencies to develop policies and programmes;

b. Planning, coordinating, delivering and evaluating programmes including capacity building workshops;

c. Undertaking research and disseminating information on relevant issues.

d. Assisting team members in preparing concept papers and articles on global development issues in the area of youth and governance.

e. Providing leadership and technical assistance to the Regional Youth Caucus across the Asia region for their meaningful participation in youth policy and programme planning.

ii) Foster youth development in the region, particularly to increase the skill and knowledge of young people by:

a. Working with and through networks and other structures such as Youth Ministries, National Youth Councils and NGOs across the region to develop and enhance programmes;

b. Planning, coordinating, delivering and evaluating programmes ;

c. Undertaking research and using this to enhance the programmes, particularly through those that are run for the CoE.

iii) Participate in setting the overall CYP Strategy and enhancing the programmes that are implemented by:

a. Assisting in the development of a regional strategic plan based on the new strategic areas and the mandates of the Commonwealth and the CYP planning and decision-making bodies, and an annual operational plan, its implementation and evaluation;

b. Advocating and lobbying multilateral and bilateral development organizations to increase resource allocation for youth mainstreaming and the development of indicators;

c. Assisting in the preparation of materials for meetings of CYP regional planning and decision making bodies;

d. Preparing reports on the CYP Asia Centre’s work.

iv) Any other duties as may be assigned by the Regional Director from time to time.


Person specification

Education

Essential: A degree in social science or the humanities with professional qualifications in a field such as youth work, community development, social administration or development.
Experience

Essential: Ten years’ experience of working in a government or non-government organisation in one or more of the following youth issues addressed by CYP; youth enterprise development, youth training, youth networks and governance, and youth participation gained in the Asia Region.

Desirable: Experience in commissioning/piloting action oriented/participatory research, distance learning, adult education or curriculum development.

Competencies

Applicants should be able to demonstrate:

  • A track record in planning, programme development, implementation and evaluation.
  • Project management and resource mobilization skills.
  • Experience in delivering contemporary methods of training, including distance learning.
  • Good written and verbal communication skills.
  • Good analytical skills
  • The ability to network and to influence effectively.
  • The ability to lobby, market and promote the CoE with governments, partners and organizations.
  • Good basic IT skills including, Microsoft Office, email and internet research.
  • A commitment to working with teams representing the diversity of ethnic, religious, racial and cultural components of the Commonwealth.

Your application should be received no later than 21 December 2007.
Before you apply please take note of the following;

  • This position is based in Chandigarh, India 
  • You must be a national of a Commonwealth country.

Supporting Information

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