Economic Inclusion Officer for the Displaced and Refugee Youth Enabling Environment Mechanism (DREEM) project in Africa is needed. Applicants must have work authorizations in their home country and report to the DREEM Deputy Project Director. Contract term is one year.

Background: The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) stands as a prominent Canadian international development organization collaborating with its partners in the global south to champion sustainable development. Established in 1957, WUSC operates in over 20 countries, boasting an annual budget of around $45 million. WUSC is dedicated to fostering youth-centric solutions that enhance education, economic prospects, and empowerment, aiming to combat inequality and exclusion. Firmly believing in the potential of youth to support their families, build resilient communities, and instigate positive social change for future generations, WUSC operates globally through a network of higher education institutions, civil society organizations, private sector partners, professionals, students, volunteers, faculty, and community leaders. This extensive network serves as a valuable resource to advance WUSC's mission.

The work environment at WUSC is dynamic and international, characterized by a diverse intercultural workforce. Employees are offered exciting opportunities to apply their skills, gain valuable experiences, and contribute to making a meaningful impact on the lives of youth worldwide. At WUSC, employees are dedicated to effecting lasting change in the realms of education, employment, and empowerment.

The Displaced and Refugee Youth Enabling Environment Mechanism (DREEM) Project

WUSC, through the DREEM project, serves as a strategic learning partner and offers technical assistance to the Mastercard Foundation and its collaborators. The project aligns with the Mastercard Foundation's commitment to inclusively involve refugee and displaced youth in its Scholars Program and Young Africa Works initiative.

The DREEM project focuses on three main pillars:

1. Higher Education Inclusion: Assist Scholars Program partners in recruiting and supporting refugees and displaced youth in higher education, facilitating their transition to work and contributing to more inclusive societies.
2. Economic Inclusion: Support Young Africa Works country partners, primarily in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia, and other African countries, in developing the knowledge, capacity, and networks to meaningfully incorporate and design programs catering to the unique training and employment needs of refugee and displaced youth, especially young women.
3. Strengthening Economic Opportunities for Refugees (SEOR): Complement WUSC’s existing Learning through Education and Access to Employment Pathways (LEAP) project by providing improved access to market-oriented business support services for refugee entrepreneurs, especially young women, to enhance business and employment outcomes in Kenya.

The Mastercard Foundation has recently approved a Refugee and Displaced Persons (RDP) Strategy aiming to invest in young Africans who have faced forcible displacement, supporting their access to high-quality education and training. The Foundation collaborates with various stakeholders to address systemic barriers hindering the economic prospects of forcibly displaced youth.

Nature and Scope

Under the supervision of the Nairobi-Based Deputy Project Director, the Economic Inclusion Officer will collaborate with the WUSC Teams in Kenya and Canada, as well as the Mastercard Foundation Team. The officer will play a crucial role in the day-to-day operations of the DREEM project, supporting coordination efforts and contributing to the achievement of economic inclusion goals outlined by the Mastercard Foundation under DREEM.

Working with the DREEM team to support the Mastercard Foundation's goals for economic inclusion, the role entails developing resources and training, managing research projects, identifying promising practises, supporting MEL activities, attending events, and carrying out other tasks as assigned. It also involves giving technical advice and building the capacity of Young Africa Works partners.

A candidate for the DREEM project must have three to five years of technical experience in a variety of areas, be familiar with the refugee situation in East Africa, possess good organisational, coordination, and communication skills, and have worked on displacement issues. The ideal candidate will uphold the values of social inclusion and gender equality, speak English and French fluently, possess good organisational, planning, and problem-solving abilities, have great interpersonal skills, and be dedicated to WUSC's purpose of creating a better world for young people who have been displaced or who are refugees. Regular travel over the African continent and a flexible schedule are necessary for this profession.

Don't miss out on the application deadline which is 19th November , 2023, at the latest.

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