Community Engagement and Gender
Expert

USAID/Pakistan recently awarded the Louis Berger with a three (3) year Punjab Youth Workforce Development Project (PYWD) to work with at-risk youth in Multan, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur to secure gainful employment and play a positive role in their communities. The Program will facilitate employment opportunities for 10,000 youth (of which 35% will be women) who will implement the following activities: a) proactive community engagements to mobilize at-risk youth; b) institutional capacity building and re-tooling of over 22 public/private vocational training providers; c) co-opting of prospective potential private sector employers for trainee placement; d) career counseling services; as well as e) providing access to finance for youth entrepreneurs.

We are looking for a Community Engagement & Gender Expert to act as team leader of community engagement component of the PYWD project.

The Community Engagement & Gender Expert’s specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Lead the plan, design and conducting of community engagement activities with special focus on gender inclusion.
2. Lead and oversee the process of identification of active, functional and reputed COs in four districts, i.e. Multan, Bahawalpur, Muzaffargarh and Lodhran, in collaboration with PYWD partner organizations.
3. Facilitate the PYWD partner organizations in establishing formal relationship with identified COs.
4. Provide guidance to PYWD partner organizations to hold consultative meetings with COs to get feedback on selection criteria of potential youth to be provided training and placement.
5. Lead and supervise the process of identification of potential youth (minimum 35% female youth) from the communities as per pre-set criteria.
6. Ensure registration of selected youth in MIS.
7. Lead and supervise the process of organizing Reflect Circles at community level.
8. Provide guidance and support to PYWD partner organizations in facilitating Reflect Circles in analyzing local situation to identify local problems and possible solutions of identified problems.
9. Facilitate Reflect Circles in developing linkages relevant local authorities.
10. Facilitate PYWD project partners and Reflect Circles to design community engagement events at the local level.
11. Provide support to PYWD partner organizations for planning of gender inclusive community engagement events at the local level.
12. Facilitate PYWD project partners in holding District Level Events for Community Engagement.
13. Support PYWD project partners and Reflect Circles to  Leverage PYWD Project by connecting existing programs,  business and enterprises
14. Facilitate PYWD project partners to identify high schools to link them with training institutes.
15. Oversee exposure visits of school students to training institutes.
16. Facilitate PYWD project partners for establishing coordination mechanism between schools and training institutes.
17. Supervise the dissemination of behavior change communication material among communities.
18. Provide input for designing media events for community engagement.
19. Lead and supervise the social media campaign for promotion of project activities.
20. Supervise the process of sending alerts of jobs and training opportunities to the communities through SMS, IVR.
21. Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Chief of Party (COP).

Qualification : Master degree in social sciences.

Work experience: 7-10 years of experience of working at similar positions.

• Demonstrated experience and proven track record in working with development sector specially with communities.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and conducting community engagement activities at local level.

Languages: Professional reading and writing skills in English and Urdu are required. Ability to speak the local languages Punjabi, or Seraiki, is preferred.

Skills & Competencies:

1. Possess strong analytical and writing skills.
2. Ability to present technical information in concise written and oral form.
3. Ability to develop and implement action/work plans.
4. Ability to coordinate programs and visits independently.
5. Possess strong negotiation skills.       
6. Ability to maintain contacts at all levels of community.

Resident of South Punjab will be preferred and Women are encouraged to apply.

Candidates profiles will be reviewed after 10 days of advertisement posting until an appropriate candidate is found.