In 2020 and 2021, respectively, Switzerland launched two strategically important regional projects in East and West & North Africa (currently Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Sudan and Tunisia): “Programme Enfants et Jeunes sur les Routes Migratoires d’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Nord” (EJM) and “East African Migration Routes” (EAMR), financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Both projects have the purpose of strengthening protection mechanisms for children and youth on the move, underscored by the dire situation they faced in displacement situations. They aim to address critical gaps in protection, focusing on community-based systems, self-reliance, education, and economic empowerment, with a gender transformative lens where feasible. As the first phases of these projects conclude, the Knowledge and Policy Dialogue on Protection of Children & Youth on the Move (KAPCYM) Unit, awarded to Caritas Switzerland for implementation, has been designed to enhance Switzerland's positioning on Migration and Child protection, to foster a community of practice, regional synergies and exchanges of evidence-based lessons learnt and good practices, and contribute to a more strategic approach to Swiss partners’ policy advocacy messages and approaches.
Operating independently of operational responsibilities, and complementary to the activities of the two regional migration projects, the KAPCYM Unit’s objectives will focus (1) on knowledge building and (2) disseminate good practices/learning, and (3) facilitate, provide support and recommendations for advocacy through selected messages to be used by Swiss representations, federal offices and project partners, in their respective external engagement efforts. Caritas Switzerland is present in East and West Africa with offices in Ethiopia, Uganda, South Sudan, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mali. To cover its presence in North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt) as well, Caritas Switzerland is searching for an expert on migration (migration policy, migration dialogue, migration and youth) in North Africa to complement its team of knowledge managers and advocacy/policy dialogue experts.
Scope of Service Provider/Consultancy
- Enhance the understanding and implementation of effective migration and youth policies in North Africa
- Facilitate meaningful policy dialogues between stakeholders at the national and regional levels
- Support the development and execution of programs that address the specific needs of migrants and youth in the region
Key Responsibilities are:
- Conduct research on migration and youth trends, challenges, and opportunities in North Africa
- Get familiarized with the two projects EJM and EAMR
- Stay updated on regional developments and provide strategic insights to the KAPCYM Unit
- Provide input to research papers
- Contribute to the development of articles and short videos
Knowledge Capitalisation and Production
- Map relevant stakeholders, existing platforms, networks and CoPs in the concerned countries in North Africa
- Develop a list of policy dialogue activities, child protection strategies and priorities in the concerned countries
- Identify members for CoPs (stakeholders, allies for advocacy work, practitioners, etc.)
- Identify potential target actors (target audience) and existing platforms and institutions for dissemination of advocacy messages
- Conduct a workshop with targeted stakeholders to prioritize research themes, in coordination with the KAPCYM team
Knowledge Dissemination and Exchange
- Contribute to a learning journey (exchange sessions between project teams with inputs from experts)
- Co-host/facilitate the CoP channel, if necessary moderate online sessions
- Contribute and support online thematic workshops and paper dissemination events
Policy Dialogue and Advocacy:
- Support with the organization of multi-stakeholder policy dialogue workshops
- Contribute to the formulation and documentation of advocacy messages
- Build and maintain strong relationships with national and regional actors, including governments, civil society organizations, and international bodies
- Represent Caritas Switzerland and the KAPCYM Unit at relevant conferences, workshops, and forums
- Facilitate collaborations and partnerships that enhance program impact
- Advanced degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Public Policy, Migration Studies, or a related field.
Experience:
- Min. 5 years work experience in research, policy dialogue and/or advocacy at national and regional levels in North Africa
- Demonstrated experience in project implementation, and evaluation
- In-depth experience in the international cooperation sector
- Well-connected with key national, supranational, and regional actors in North Africa in the fields of migration and youth issues
- Work experience and knowledge of the context in East and West Africa are an asset
Skills and Competencies:
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills
- Strong analytical and research abilities
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Proficiency in English, French, and Arabic (spoken and written)