[Hiring] Individual Consultancy, (Remotley): SADC Youth Employment Strategy @UNFPA

Role Description

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based, and implementable SADC Youth Employment Strategy and Action Plan aimed at promoting productive and decent employment opportunities for young women and men in the SADC region and beyond. The ultimate aim is to enhance the contribution of employment to the realization of the demographic dividend, in alignment with relevant regional frameworks on education, health, gender equality, and youth development.

• Provide a clear and coherent regional framework to guide and coordinate youth employment interventions and harness the demographic dividend across Member States.
• Support the implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap by promoting meaningful youth participation in regional value chains and broader regional integration processes.
• Promote more deliberate employment-centred macroeconomic and sectoral policies.
• Strengthen alignment across key sectors, including education, labour, trade, agriculture, infrastructure, health, and gender.
• Strengthen linkages between education and training institutions and the business sector to address skills mismatches.
• Institutionalise structured youth participation while facilitating regional knowledge sharing and peer learning.

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in economics, labour economics, development studies, or a relevant social science discipline.
• Good analytical skills and practical exposure in employment, labour, and youth programming.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Fluency in English; French and Portuguese are an added advantage.

Requirements

• Demonstrated knowledge of SADC policies and strategies, as well as experience in policy development, research and analysis, and monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Sound experience conducting both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Excellent report writing and workshop facilitation skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in employment policy, youth development, labour market analysis, or related areas.
• Proven experience of working in the Southern Africa subregion would be a major asset.

Benefits

• UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and healthy work-life balance.
• Commitment to ensuring gender parity in the organization.
• Encouragement for individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups to apply.

Company Description

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is a Regional Economic Community comprising 16 Member States, established in 1992. SADC’s mission is to promote sustainable and equitable economic growth and socio-economic development through efficient, productive systems, deeper cooperation and integration, good governance, and durable peace and security.

UNFPA ensures the rights and choices of women, girls, and young people across more than 150 countries, aiming to ensure every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person can fulfill their potential.