Youth Engagement and Local Governance Expert – Search for Common Ground عودة إلى الفرص

Youth Engagement and Local Governance Expert – Engaging Youth in Addressing Regional Inequalities in Tunisia project
MENA – Tunis, Tunisia

We are Searchers. We are over 800 strong worldwide. We believe in our mission to end violent conflict. It’s our purpose- our call to action. 

A Searcher understands our vision of a world where: Differences stimulate social progress, rather than precipitate violence Respect for and cooperation with those we disagree with is considered the norm. 

A Searcher is a dedicated, enthusiastic and passionate individual, committed to our values. Shared Humanity. Empathy. Impartiality. Inclusivity. Courage. Hope. Humility. Audacity. 

We are a global organization With headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium, we implement projects from 55 offices in 34 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. You will be joining other highly motivated Searchers with a good team spirit and through commitment and dedication, have opportunities to grow. 

Search in Tunisia

Search for Common Ground’s (Search) mission in Tunisia is to promote a culture of dialogue and diversity through the involvement of all parts of society while building their capacities. Search works in Tunisia to help members of Tunisian society to address conflicts and differences constructively through cooperation and dialogue. Search-Tunisia works across multiple channels, mainly with youth, CSOs, media actors, security forces, and local authorities to build the capacity of individuals and institutions to address challenges including differences and acting on common points. Through this approach and partnerships, Search-Tunisia has four main strategic objectives: (i) Promoting peace education; (ii) Fostering non-violent social dialogue; (iii) Enhancing participatory and inclusive governance; and (vi) Transforming Violent Extremism in Tunisia. More information about our Tunisia program can be found here. 

We are searching for…

Search-Tunisia is looking for a Youth engagement and Local Governance expert for a new, exciting project funded by the UK Government which promotes non-violent means of expression and youth participation within their respective communities and with local stakeholders. Search strongly believes that fostering youth engagement locally holds the potential to develop lifelong engagement starting at the level of the community and reaching the national one. Based on this belief, Search will hold within the Engaging Youth in Addressing Regional Inequalities in Tunisia project 

Two engagement workshops that shall encourage youth to peacefully engage with their local authorities and the Elected Municipal council, and that shall improve mutual understanding this will ultimately contribute to reaching higher rates of civic youth participation and rebuilding of trust between the former and the local stakeholders therein. 

Project overview 

Search for Common Ground offers to build on its extensive youth engagement work across all regions of Tunisia to address the lack of positive youth engagement activities at the local level, particularly for marginalized youth. Promoting a constructive engagement of young people with local authorities through 

activities such as discussions between young people and creative workshops will allow young people to express their concerns about issues of marginalization and inequality at local level, and to suggest concrete ideas to respond to it, by boosting and consolidating their confidence and their collaboration with local authorities. By engaging both young people and local authorities through a bottom-up approach that creates a space for dialogue, this project will help develop a more lasting and constructive relationship between these two groups in Sousse (more precisely in Enfidha and Sidi El Heni). Facilitated engagement workshops between youth and local authorities: the engagement expert will facilitate engagement workshops involving youth leaders and local authorities. The facilitated dialogue session will provide a safe space within which youth and local authorities feel comfortable to jointly debate and identify key youth priorities in their local communities. The purpose of the dialogue is to assist in the development of joint action plans, which can be instrumentalized to solve both current and future local issues and concerns of youth. These joint action plans could serve as a basis for any future work in these communities. The agreed action plans would contribute to strengthening the relationship between engaged youth and local authorities by demonstrating both sides’ commitment to their communities and illustrating to youth that their needs are taken seriously when local authorities make local level planning decisions. Simulation exercise: The engagement workshop will then be fostered by a simulation of a municipal council between youth champions and the local authorities. The expert is requested to develop a scenario and mentor the youth in delivering this activity. 

Your contribution 

The youth engagement expert will play a key role in preparing and monitoring two engagement workshops taking place by the end of the project. The expert will also develop the methodology of workshops, during which the participants will engage in a dialogue session with local authorities and stakeholders with the aim of drafting a context-oriented action plan for future implementation and joint collaboration. The expert will be the main leader on the facilitation of these workshops and simulations with the supervision of Search. 

Required Tasks 

The Consultant’s roles and responsibilities are divided into the following categories: 

1. Participate in the Youth-to-youth talks: 

• During the youth-to-youth talks, participants to the project will engage in interactive talks that bring youth together for powerful conversations, following a moderated discussion format. The graphic novels (The Adventures of Daly) will be used as a tool to strategically engage youth around key marginalization and inequality issues that are prevalent within their communities. In this respect, the engagement expert will be present to observe and witness the dialogues in preparation of the engagement workshop in order to be informed in the development of the action plan. 

2. Preparation of an engagement workshop methodology: 

• The engagement expert is requested to share with Search the methodology he will be using determining his role and approach in this program activity. The expert is highly requested to take into account the specificities of the regions of Sidi El Heni and Enfidha and the youth therein, and the outcomes of the youth-to-youth talks. 

3. Meetings and preparations with the participants 

• In preparation for the engagement workshops, the expert is required to hold several meetings with the participating youth. During these meetings, the expert will organize brainstorming sessions on the content and methodology. She/He will also provide recommendations and guidelines on the whole workshop and incorporate the participants’ expectations and suggestions. The participants and the experts shall eventually collaborate in framing the activity. 

4. Supervision of the engagement workshops: 

• The youth engagement expert is required to lead on two engagement workshops in Enfidha and Sidi El Heni. He will be monitoring the course of the activity and accompany the youth during it. The Youth expert will finally provide two reports on the activity. 

5. Simulation between youth champions and local authorities 

A simulation activity (model UN style) of a municipal council with young people playing the role of elected officials will take place. The simulation would involve the participation of real elected local officials. The theme of the council session could revolve around fighting against social marginalisation, with the goal of determining concrete and practical means to address driving factors and mitigate root causes. The youth expert will prepare and facilitate the session. She/he will also mentor and accompany youth on how to deliver this activity. 

As descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key duties. 

Please note that: 

• This offer is available immediately after contract signature. 

Duration: One month an half consultancy contract (15 February 2020 – 31 Mars 2020)