Youth Centres Capacity Building and Program Development Contractor

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Description

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Despite the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and Youth (MTY) in advancing the National Youth Strategy of the Republic of Serbia, and the central role young people play in shaping the country’s future, they often face significant barriers to meaningful participation. These barriers include limited knowledge of, and access to, opportunities that empower them to contribute positively to their communities.

Addressing these bottlenecks is crucial for the successful implementation of the National Youth Strategy 2023-2030. The Government of the Republic of Serbia has shown a strong commitment to developing spaces for young people, adapting public spaces to meet their needs, and fostering local partnerships in this area. To date, the establishment of youth centres has commenced in several cities, including Novi Sad, Niš, Sombor, Subotica, Novi Pazar, and Mionica, alongside the existing Youth Centre in Novi Sad.

Strengthening youth centres as key community-based services involves the development of standardized service models, improved governance, and enhanced capacity building for youth workers through targeted training. As part of its working plan with the Government of Serbia, UNICEF aims to support the improvement of the youth work system both within and beyond youth centres in Serbia. This includes the implementation of programs and strategic priorities related to youth skill-building, community-based youth initiatives, local volunteer services, and the promotion of meaningful youth participation in societal decision-making.

Work Assignment Overview:

The purpose of this assignment is to provide comprehensive support to the Ministry of Tourism and Youth for the development and strengthening of the national youth policy, with a particular focus on enhancing the functionality and programs of the existing youth centres, establishing new ones, and fostering collaboration among key stakeholders. The contractor will contribute to the development of effective governance models, support the creation of youth-cantered programs, and promote networking and knowledge exchange across youth centres. Additionally, the contractor will assist in the development of youth volunteering programs, inclusive youth policies, and ensure the preparation of progress and final reports summarizing key activities and outcomes.

The contractor will be seconded to the Ministry of Tourism and Youth to ensure close collaboration and alignment with national youth policies and strategies This will ultimately contribute to the successful operation of current and new youth centres in Serbia, in line with European standards the National Youth Strategy for the Republic of Serbia for the period 2023-2030.

Tasks:

• Provide technical assistance for the establishment and adaptation of youth centres.
• Develop an optimal model for the functioning, governance and organizational structure of new youth centres.
• Enhance the capacity of the existing youth centres through targeted capacity-building initiatives.
• Strengthen the coordination and collaboration among local stakeholders for effective youth development.
• Support the development and implementation of the youth-cantered programs in the existing youth centres.
• Facilitate networking and knowledge exchange among youth centres across Serbia.
• Conduct comprehensive analysis and support the development of youth volunteering programs.
• Provide technical support for the development of inclusive and evidence-based local youth policies.
• Support the preparation of regular progress reports and a final comprehensive report summarizing all activities.

Knowledge Expertise Skills required:

• A university degree in Statistics, Business, Economics, Social Sciences, Social Work, Youth Engagement, International Relations, or another relevant field.
• At least 5 years of experience in development of national and local plans, policies and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong knowledge of governance models, management structures, and legal frameworks relevant to national and local policies regarding youth centres and standardization processes.
• Strong experience in working with government bodies to ensure that national policy goals and priorities are met.
• Knowledge of volunteer management strategies to promote youth volunteering, social integration, and active citizenship.
• Experience in providing technical assistance for the development of inclusive, evidence-based youth policies and monitoring their impact.
• Solid experience regarding international youth policies, particularly in the context of EU integration.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills.
• Fluency in Serbian and proficiency in English language.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/580143

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