About USAID Ubora Mashinani Program

USAID Ubora Mashinani is a five-year Program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by KCDF to strengthen civil society, private sector, and county government coordination and collaboration in 11 counties in Kenya through Local Development Organizations (LDOs). LDOs—Trusts co-created through a community-driven process, led, managed, and owned by local stakeholders—coordinate community inputs into county decision-making and unite local civil society and private sector organizations without political affiliations, promoting community ownership and leadership in development agendas. The program operates in the counties of Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kakamega, Kiambu, Kisii, Kisumu, Makueni, Mombasa, Nakuru, Samburu, and Turkana, with the goal of “empowered communities receiving high-quality and equitable services.” Expected outcomes include:

• Engaged citizens influence decision-making at the county and national levels.
• Accountable county governments deliver services.
• Community-based organizations own, lead, and manage their developments.

The position holder will serve as a Youth Engagement Specialist, focused on enhancing youth participation in governance and public decision-making processes. The role involves developing, implementing, and managing initiatives that foster active involvement of young people in democratic processes and governance structures at county level.

Key Responsibilities

Program Development and Implementation:

• Provide technical leadership in designing and executing a youth engagement strategy for the USAID Ubora Mashinani program. Develop initiatives that promote youth participation in electoral and political processes.
• Create and manage programs aimed at increasing youth involvement in governance and civic engagement.
• Organize workshops, seminars, and training sessions on civic education, political awareness, and leadership skills development.
• Develop educational materials and resources to support youth engagement efforts.

Community Outreach and Civic Engagement:

• Design innovative mechanisms for enhancing youth participation and civic engagement at county and national levels.
• Build partnerships with youth organizations, schools, universities, and community groups.
• Engage with diverse youth communities to understand their needs and perspectives.
• Facilitate forums, town hall meetings, and focus groups to gather input from young people on governance issues.
• Create and facilitate dialogue platforms for youth to engage with elected leaders.

Advocacy and Policy Influencing:

• Support advocacy efforts aimed at developing youth-inclusive policies and laws at both county and national levels.
• Monitor and analyze policy developments and impact on youth participation in governance.

Capacity Strengthening:

• Collaborate to strengthen the capacity of youth-led and -managed local organizations.
• Provide training and mentorship to youth to enhance their leadership and advocacy skills.
• Mentor and guide youth leaders in their initiatives and projects related to governance and political participation.
• Facilitate peer learning and networking opportunities for young leaders.

Communication and Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Learning (MERL):

• Work with Communication Specialist to develop and implement communication strategies to raise awareness about youth engagement opportunities in electoral and political processes.
• Co-create youth-appropriate content for social media platforms and other forums.
• Engage youth through social media channels and other forums.
• Collaborate with MERL team to create a learning agenda on youth engagement and implement strategies that integrate CLA principles into youth engagement activities.
• Coordinate research studies on best practices in youth engagement in governance and political processes.
• Prepare reports and slides on the outcomes and effectiveness of programs and initiatives.

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in political science, public administration, social sciences, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in youth engagement and civic education in Kenya.
• Strong understanding of Kenya’s devolved governance system, political processes, and youth-related issues.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proven experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in using social media and digital communication tools.