Project Officer -IPPF/AU Youth Project at International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)

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.

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 convenings 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).

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.