Project Officer (IPPF/AU Youth Project)

Published May 21, 2022 · Updated May 21, 2022

1. BACKGROUND AND JOB PURPOSE:
The International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) is one of the leading providers of quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Africa, and the leading sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) advocacy voice in the region, committed to gender equality and to ensuring that women, girls and young people realize their rights and have control over their own bodies, their lives and their futures.

Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, IPPFAR delivers its critical mission thanks to Member Associations (MAs), youth advocates, staff, and a network of dedicated volunteers who provide high quality, youth focused and gender sensitive services to the most vulnerable youth, men and women.

IPPFAR is part of IPPF’s secretariat, a global federation of national MAs which share a common vision, set of core values, and commitment to improve lives and enhance human rights. Each MA develops its own strategy to address the needs in its country. Given the rich diversity of the Federation, these strategies reflect the unique contexts of each country where IPPF is present.

IPPFAR’s work is boosted by extensive, sustained and targeted advocacy on key Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) issues at national, regional, and global levels to safeguard universal access to SRHR for all as a fundamental right. IPPFAR does this by working closely with governments, the African Union, Regional Economic Commissions, the Pan-African Parliament, United Nations organizations, among others, to expand, champion and uphold political and financial commitments to SRHR in Africa.

While contracted by IPPFAR, the post holder will be seconded to the African Union Commission (AUC) Youth Division which supports the implementation of the African Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment 2019-2023 (APAYE) and coordinates continental stakeholder efforts on youth development. The Division also leads and coordinates the 1 Million Next Level Initiative, which is a project geared to springboard continental efforts in the areas of Employment, Education, Entrepreneurship and Engagement. The initiative focuses on testing new ideas, strengthening strategic partnerships and creating ecosystems of efficiencies.

Following the International Conference on Family Planning held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in November 2013, the AUC Youth Division and IPPFAR, supported by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, developed a joint project
aimed at strengthening the coordination of interventions on adolescents and young people’s access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (AY SRHR) information and services. Implemented since the year 2015, the project mainstreamed adolescents and young people’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (AYSRHR) in key policy processes of the AUC, including APAYE. Linking SRHR with the education sector, the project spearheaded the establishment of a multi-stakeholder’s cluster on life skills education and career guidance to respond to the changes in the provision of sexuality education on the continent.

To effectively strengthen the ongoing efforts on Adolescent and Youth SRHR towards delivering on APAYE, IPPF seeks to engage a Project Officer to provide support to the joint AUC/IPPF project. The role will be based at in the African Union’s Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Project Officer will work within the Youth Division team, under the supervision of the IPPFAR Head of External Relations, Advocacy and Communication. S/he will support the AUC Country Technical Assistance Framework, working with a technical team to support Member States in developing and implementing their Country Acceleration Strategies under the APAYE, and mainstreaming Adolescent and Youth SRHR into the priorities of AU Member States. Please note this is a temporary position until 31st March 2023 (project end date).

2. KEY TASKS:
• Coordinate and implement the IPPF/AU youth project workplan (including regular financial and narrative reporting to the donor).
• Facilitate the timely development and implementation of Country Acceleration Strategies (CAS) by AU Member States on AY-SRHR; and provide technical support to Member States and partners to ensure quality assurance:
• Coordinate partner interventions on AY-SRHR and report on promising practices emerging from implementation. Ensure that routine data / information is collected and analyzed in accordance with the APAYE programme monitoring and evaluation plan to allow for model building and ensuring that annual targets are reached.
• Participate in advocacy and resource mobilization efforts to support AY-SRHR activities in AU Member States within the framework of CAS;
• Provide support on policy, strategy, advocacy and programme development and implementation within the AUC Youth Division, including development of programmatic frameworks and guidelines; drafting of policies and policy briefs, concept notes and reports.
• Support the Division’s work on data collection, research, monitoring and accountability, including the production of the Status of African Youth Report; specifically the development of knowledge products such as policy briefs, guidance notes and policy analyses on health and wellbeing, highlighting AY-SRHR outcomes.
• Support the engagement, coordination and management of strategic partnerships within the Division, including inter-departmental partnerships and inter-organizational partnerships; as well as youth mainstreaming within the AUC;
• Support youth engagement activities of the AUC, including implementing robust youth engagement strategies targeted at AY-SRHR, and organization of youth events, forums and convening’s by the Division.
• Ensure synergies between IPPFAR regional youth initiatives, IPPFAR Member Associations’ youth programmes, the Youth Action Movement (YAM) and AUC youth-focused initiatives.
• Any other task as assigned by the Head of Division or immediate supervisor(s).

3. PERSON’S SPECIFICATIONS:
• MA Degree in international relations, social sciences, public policy, communication, gender and/or other related fields
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in political advocacy, policy advocacy and/or related fields
• Specific knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights, women’s rights and AY-SRHR
• Proven track record in networking and working in coalitions and alliances
• Previous experience in Africa and knowledge of the African Union and UN systems, Africa Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Member State/Intergovernmental Processes are an advantage.
• Excellent writing skills to interact and engage with culturally and gender diverse groups from technical and
non-technical audiences.
• English and French are the working languages of IPPFAR. For this post fluency in English and French (both oral
and written) is required.
• Desirable requirements: Experience working in a multicultural environment and willingness to work outside standard office hours if/when required.

4. ASSESSMENT
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a competency-based interview which may be followed by a desk review and/or an assessment exercise.

Interested individuals should submit an application form in the IPPFARO CV form (attached) and a 1-page cover letter to: hroffice@ippf.org with the job position you are applying for as the subject of the email by 5 June 2022.

Please note that we will not consider applications that are not done in the requested format.

IPPF is an equal opportunity employer.

“Applications are particularly encouraged from women, persons living with disability, and candidates openly living with HIV.”

IPPF has been made aware of various fraudulent vacancy announcements circulated via e-mail from websites falsely stating that they are issued by or in association with IPPF. These correspondences, which may seek to obtain money from the recipients of such correspondence are fraudulent and IPPF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, processing, training or any other fees)… https://africa.ippf.org/about-us/jobs-and-opportunities/job/project-officer-ippf/au-youth-project