EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTER (EDC)
Education Development Center (EDC) is a global nonprofit that advances lasting solutions to improve education, promote health, and expand economic opportunity. Since 1958, we have been a leader in designing, implementing, and evaluating powerful and innovative programs in more than 80 countries around the world.
EDC promotes equity and access to high quality education and health services and products that contribute to thriving communities where people from diverse backgrounds learn, live, and work together. We support an inclusive workplace culture that embraces many perspectives and broadens our understanding of the communities we serve, enhancing and enriching our work.

Project Description
The goal of the five-year, USAID-funded Integrated Child and Youth Development (ICYD) Activity is for Ugandan children and youth, especially the most vulnerable, to receive the support and services necessary to lead resilient, healthy, and productive lives. The ICYD Activity is expected to achieve the following:
• Children and youth have improved learning outcomes;
• Children and youth are safe and healthy in their community and learning environments; and
• Youth practice positive behaviors and are able to make informed decisions about their lives and relationships.
This Activity will address the mutually reinforcing relationship between improving learning outcomes and improving wellbeing and employ a comprehensive approach that merges PEPFAR/Orphans and Vulnerable Children strategy’s strengths in acute vulnerability stabilization with education’s broad protective effects.

Job Description
The Youth Development Specialist will lead ICYD’s integration of positive youth development strategies and approaches within activities. S/he will provide technical direction and guidance to local sub partners implementing accelerated/alternative education and workforce readiness/skills development activities for young people in the targeted districts. S/he will also support coordination across ICYD’s youth development, education, and OVC streams of work. The Youth Development Specialist reports to the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) for Programs and will collaborate closely with the Senior Advisor, Education, the Senior Advisor, OVC, and EDC Home Office short-term technical assistance (STTA) to ensure program quality, consistency with established expectations and models, and timeliness of reporting on youth activities. S/he will indirectly supervise and provide technical direction to Youth Outreach Coordinators who report to their Zonal Managers.

Essential functions include (but are not limited to):
• Under the direction of the DCOP for Programs and with guidance from the Senior Advisor, Education, provide technical support to ICYD Accelerated Education (AE) grantees to ensure that the programs are in alignment with Ugandan National Guidelines for Accelerated Education.
• With guidance from EDC Home Office youth experts, provide technical support to ICYD Workforce Readiness (WR) grantees to ensure their implementation of high-quality youth workforce activities.
• Build the technical capacity of AE and WR grantees through training and regular support (develop training materials, deliver training, develop and implement technical support plans with grantees).
• Coordinate with ICYD OVC program staff to develop and implement strategies for integration of AE/WR and OVC activities, including supporting referral and enrollment of eligible OVC in AE/WR programs and providing guidance to AE/WR grantees for outreach and enrollment of priority groups of youth.
• Collaborate with ICYD M&E team to determine means of and tools for monitoring and evaluating AE/WR grant implementation.
• Conduct periodic monitoring and support visits to AE/WR grantees both independently and with the Grants Manager.
• Collaborate with M&E team and ICYD grants management staff to develop reports on grantee performance and grants outcomes.
• Coordinate with ICYD Private Sector Engagement team to develop links between grantees and the private sector to support ICYD youth programs (internships, job placements, additional training opportunities and/or financial or in-kind support for youth). As relevant, and in coordination with the DCOP for Programs, identify potential linkages with other donor-funded programs in Economic Growth, Health, Democracy and Governance, etc. that may provide opportunities for achieving shared goals with youth.
• Coordinate with all ICYD teams to ensure consistent implementation of the ICYD Youth Strategy.
• Coordinate with the HIV comprehensive partners in implementing the Adolescent and Young Women program.

Qualifications
The candidate for the position of Youth Development Specialist shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:
Education
Master’s degree in a field relevant to education and youth development.

Skills and Experience
• A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible technical experience in education and youth programs.
• Recognized expertise in youth education and development.
• Experience in accelerated education programs required.
• Experience in youth workforce readiness, soft skills, work-based learning, and/or entrepreneurship required.
• Experience implementing positive youth development programs strongly preferred.
• Experience working with civil society organizations, including program/activity coordination and management, technical assistance, training, and capacity building.
• Program experience in East Africa (Uganda preferred).

Language
Fluency in English is required. Local languages used by ICYD include Luganda, Runyankore-Rukiga, Runyoro-Rutooro, Lusoga, Lebacholi, and Leblango; fluency in at least one of these languages is highly desired.