Youth Civic Empowerment Specialist
Contract Length: 1 year
Base: HQ, Prague
Starting date: ASAP
About People in Need:
People in Need (PIN) is an international, non-profit organization providing humanitarian and development assistance in over 20 countries worldwide. Formed in 1992 in the Czech Republic, PIN has grown to be the biggest organization of its kind in post-communist Europe, providing relief where it is needed, and empowering civil society at home and abroad.
About the role:
Under the direct supervision of the Civil Society and Inclusive Governance (CSIG) Pillar Lead and in coordination with other CSIG Technical Advisors, the Youth Civic Empowerment Specialist is responsible for enhancing the technical quality and innovation of PIN’s youth civic engagement programming across PIN’s country programmes (CP). This includes aligning programming with PIN’s global strategies with a particular focus on youth participation and capacity strengthening of youth civic actors.
The Specialist will be a member of the Programme Strategy and Impact (PSI) department at the Relief and Development Department. S/he will work closely with Country Programme teams, providing technical guidance and support to the design, implementation and evaluation of youth engagement projects.
The Specialist will also play a key role in bringing in global trends from the sector, supporting knowledge management and promoting learning across PIN’s global programmes, with a focus on the One World in Schools (OWIS) methodology.
Main Duties & Responsibilities:
Programme Quality and Technical Support
- Provide technical guidance to country programme teams during project design and proposal development, particularly for projects focused on youth participation, media and information literacy, civic education and applying OWIS methodology.
- Support country teams during project implementation, providing remote and in-country support to ensure high-quality delivery of youth engagement and OWIS-related activities.
- Assist programme teams in developing context-appropriate approaches for youth participation, civic engagement, and skills development in line with PIN’s strategies and global good practices.
- Conduct and contribute to trainings and capacity development sessions for country teams, focusing on youth mobilization, youth-led initiatives, and youth participatory engagement, civic education and media and information literacy.
- Lead or contribute to the development of tools, guidelines, and standard approaches for youth programming, including harmonized indicators, quality standards, and MEAL tools for youth participation, youth civil society strengthening, and OWIS approaches.
- Support the use of tools, indicators, and methodologies to monitor and evaluate youth engagement and OWIS activities, ensuring data collection supports learning and accountability.
- Contribute to mid-term and final evaluations, ensuring youth participation, youth empowerment and OWIS approaches are adequately assessed, documented, and improved upon.
- Work closely with programme teams and MEAL colleagues to ensure that youth engagement outcomes are effectively measured, documented, and used to inform programme improvements.
- Advocate for the integration of youth civic engagement approaches into PIN’s broader emergency and development programming, ensuring youth voices and participation are consistently promoted across sectors.
Knowledge Management and Learning
- Collect, document, and share lessons learned, good practices, and innovative approaches from youth participation and OWIS projects across PIN’s country programmes.
- Contribute to knowledge products (case studies, toolkits, presentations) that support programme teams in designing and delivering effective youth-focused interventions.
- Facilitate internal knowledge-sharing sessions to promote cross-country learning, where teams can exchange experiences, approaches, and solutions related to youth and civil society programming.
- Ensure effective coordination and knowledge exchange between the Relief and Development Department (RDD) and One World in Schools (OWIS), ensuring that innovations and best practices from OWIS are reflected in PIN’s global programming.
- Contribute to internal platforms (Confluence, KLC, etc) by uploading relevant materials and encouraging peer learning across countries.
- Stay informed about new tools, methodologies, and approaches related to youth engagement and civil society strengthening and share relevant resources with CP teams.
- Contribute to PIN’s Grand Bargain and LLA commitments, promoting meaningful partnerships with local civil society and youth-led organizations across PIN programming.
- Foster results-oriented partnerships with external actors (INGOs, donors, academic institutions) to advance innovation and enhance PIN’s visibility and credibility in the youth engagement and civic engagement space.
External Representation and Advocacy
- Promote PIN’s youth civic engagement work to donors, partners, and within global networks, enhancing PIN’s thought leadership and visibility in the youth and governance sectors.
- Stay informed of emerging trends, policies, and innovations in the field of youth civic engagement, civil society strengthening, media and information literacy and civic education, ensuring PIN’s approaches remain relevant and evidence-based.
- Represent PIN at relevant sectoral working groups, technical platforms, and external coordination fora, sharing PIN’s experiences and advocating for youth inclusion and participation.
Coordination and Internal Collaboration
- Work in close coordination with the Civil Society and Inclusive Governance (CSIG) Pillar Lead and contribute to the annual planning process for the Programme Strategy and Impact Department (PSI).
- Participate in regular coordination meetings with the PSI Department and relevant programme staff to stay aligned with priorities and contribute to team knowledge-sharing.
- Support the maintenance of internal tracking tools (e.g., assignment plans, timesheets) and contribute to team-wide knowledge products when relevant.
- Provide administrative and coordination support related to youth and OWIS activities in the country programmes, such as managing OWIS film licenses and preparing contracting documents for education experts or service providers, assisting with organising webinars, contributing to internal newsletters, or preparing materials for learning sessions.
Main requirements:
Technical competencies:
- University degree, ideally in related field
- 5 years of experience in field of youth civic empowerment
- Direct experience with youth engagement programmes
- Fluency in English (written & spoken), good understanding of Czech
Skills/knowledge:
- Experience of preparing and delivering capacity building for a range of stakeholders
- Proven experience of preparing analysis and providing technical guidance
- Proposal development and MEAL experience an asset
Personal qualities:
- High level of motivation, autonomy and proactivity/initiative.
- Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills.
- Practices cooperation, communication, and collaboration with all colleagues, departments and contacts, adopting a solution-oriented approach.
- Adheres without compromise to PIN values, the Code of Conduct and other key policies.
PIN offers:
- Working environment in a well-established humanitarian organization in a challenging context
- Employment on part-time basis (50%)
- Starting Salary and benefits based on PIN’s salary scale and HR policies; expected salary range between 46 000 – 48 000 CZK gross for full time (based on experience);
- Time off and Rest:
o 25 days of holiday annually;
o 3 sick days and 3 study leave days;
- Equipment and Workspace:
o Laptop (also for personal use)
o Mobile phone with a company tarif
o Flexibility with occasional home-office;
o Open and informal organizational culture, interesting and creative work in an international environment;
o On-site child care club located on the ground floor of our building;
o Dog-friendly office environment.
- Professional Development:
o Free access to e-learning platforms and PIN Learning Hub;
o PIN’s global Induction Training;
o Tailored capacity-building opportunities;
o Psychological consultations and coaching provided.
- Additional benefits:
o Opportunity to participate in events organized by PIN, including the One World International Film Festival, knowledge-sharing sessions, and retreats.
How to Apply:
If you are interested in this position, send us your CV and short cover letter via our application form.
Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.
People in Need is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct and is committed to promoting the welfare of children and adults with whom People in Need involved. People in Need expects all staff to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need code of conduct and key policies (available at: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp). People in Need Staff will undertake the appropriate level of training.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.
We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organization and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.