Opportunity: Senior Specialist – Women and Youth

TechnoServe is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to helping people in developing countries build competitive farms, businesses, and industries. Our work aims to combat poverty by connecting individuals to essential information, capital, and markets. With over four decades of proven success, we believe that hardworking individuals, even in the most underserved areas, can create jobs, generate income, and transform their communities. We are committed to empowering people through private enterprise.

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Full-time
Job Category: Programs
Project: Skilling Adolescents and Young Women for Entrepreneurship and Employability (SAY WEE)
Reports To: Program Manager

Position Overview
The Senior Specialist – Women and Youth will be responsible for supporting the implementation of activities that create economic opportunities for adolescent girls and young women in Nigeria. This role will involve providing technical support, developing staff capacities, and working with key stakeholders to drive the success of the SAY WEE project. The Senior Specialist will also focus on safeguarding, ensuring that policies are in place to protect individuals from all forms of abuse, harassment, and violence. This role reports directly to the Program Manager and will also work closely with the Nigeria Gender Manager and the Global Practice for Women and Youth.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Support

• Develop and implement women and youth-responsive activities that promote safe, inclusive economic opportunities.
• Ensure safeguarding measures are integrated into program activities to prevent exploitation, harassment, and abuse.
• Build the capacity of project staff and partners to integrate women and youth economic empowerment strategies into the program.
• Provide advice and guidance on women and youth integration approaches, ensuring alignment with program goals and resources.
• Monitor and assess the effectiveness of safeguarding measures, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures.

Training and Capacity Building

• Deliver training sessions for staff and partners on women and youth-focused programs, including safeguarding principles, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), and survivor-centered approaches.
• Collaborate with local community-based protection mechanisms to strengthen safeguarding efforts.
• Work with Human Resources to ensure safeguarding is embedded in recruitment processes and practices.

Reporting, Accountability, and Compliance

• Monitor and report on women and youth integration in program activities, tracking safeguarding risks and ensuring compliance.
• Oversee the implementation of complaint and feedback mechanisms to address safeguarding concerns effectively.
• Assist with planning, budgeting, and reporting on safeguarding activities within the program.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in regular meetings with the Global Practice for Women and Youth and program leadership.
• Contribute to global discussions on best practices for safeguarding in gender and youth programming.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, Sociology, International Affairs, or related fields, with at least 5 years of experience in accountability, safeguarding, child protection, or gender-based violence protection.
• Alternatively, a Master’s Degree with 3 years of relevant experience.
• At least one year of experience in facilitating accountability and safeguarding training at various organizational levels.
• Proven ability to support operational changes and implement new policies and strategies.
• Strong background in delivering training programs and supporting capacity building in women’s economic empowerment and safeguarding.
• Experience leading or participating in investigations related to PSEA, child safeguarding, or corruption.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with an INGO in Nigeria.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong commitment to human rights, gender equality, and safeguarding principles.
• Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills with the ability to build relationships and gain trust.
• High proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Strong computer skills and experience with tools like Google Drive.
• Ability to work independently and adapt to a fast-changing environment.

Application Details
Closing Date: Not Specified.