Deadline: June 10, 2022.
HCDExchange Youth Leadership Hub 2022 Application – Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia
The HCDExchange is a Community of Practice dedicated to advancing learning and generating evidence on the impact that human-centered design (HCD) can have on adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH) programming. We seek to explore, test, document and evaluate the benefits and challenges of integrating HCD in AYSRH. Our work aims to generate learning and evidence that stakeholders across the field can use to inform, validate and scale design-led AYSRH interventions. We focus on low resource settings in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and are committed to meaningful youth participation in all our activities.
What We Do
- We catalyze learning and evidence generation on the role of human-centered design in strengthening adolescent sexual health outcomes. We believe that a robust evidence base and increased opportunities for learning on the role of design in AYSRH can unlock new pathways to enhancing programme design, implementation, and evaluation in the field.
- We drive this learning by connecting people and organizations working at the intersection of HCD and AYSRH. We help them collaborate, learn from each other, generate and share communal learning and resources for the field.
- We work through an active community of practice consisting of a range of stakeholders across the HCD and AYSRH field. Our work centers on the needs and aspirations of youth, for whom our Community of Practice is creating interventions.
About the Youth Leadership Hub
The Youth Leadership Hub (YLH) is a cohort of diverse young AYSRH advocates from sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia that offer insight on young people’s lived experiences, leads meaningful youth engagement efforts, and demonstrates youth leadership across HCDExchange’s work. The YLH consists of four passionate and diligent individuals who serve as Associates and work alongside the Youth Engagement Officer and other members of the Secretariat at the HCDExchange.
What We Expect
The roles and responsibilities required of the YLH will be to:
- Share advice and insight into youth engagement internally within the HCDExchange project and within the wider Community of Practice
- Develop and work towards an individual learning project to develop skills related to HCD+AYSRH
- Network with and advocate to youth networks and champions about the value of HCD as an approach to MYE in AYSRH programming
- Participate in routine events with the community on a variety of topics related to HCD+AYSRH
- Create youth-centered information, education, and communication material such as blog posts, event summaries, and social media content related to MYE in HCD+AYSRH
- Develop and lead accountability practices for the HCDExchange on youth engagement, such as regular retrospective meetings (“retros”)
More specifically,
The Learning Associate (AYSRH) will work within the learning areas of Adolescent Insights (The role of insights in HCD+AYSRH), Youth Integration (Meaningful youth engagement in HCD+AYSRH) and Quality and Standards (Youth Agency in HCD+ASRH). Their work will involve:
- Providing AYSRH insights and perspectives to the new and existing learning work
- The collection and dissemination of reports and associated learning products
- Supporting the development of relevant case studies associated with learning products
- Supporting the testing and validating of learning products
- Participating in Learning and Reflection sessions with HCD+AYSRH practitioners to capture new learnings
- Working with the HCD lead and Learning Associate (Design) to integrate HCD+ASRH knowledge and practices into the work of the HCDExchange.
The Learning Associate (Design) will also work within the learning areas of Adolescent Insights The role of insights in HCD+AYSRH), Youth Integration (Meaningful youth engagement in HCD+AYSRH) and Quality and Standards (Youth Agency in HCD+ASRH). Their work will involve:
- Providing HCD insights and perspectives to the new and existing learning work
- Supporting the testing and validating any learning products
- Participating in Learning and Reflection sessions with HCD+AYSRH practitioners to capture new learnings
- Working with the HCD lead and Learning Associate (Design) to integrate HCD+ASRH knowledge and practices into the work of the HCDExchange.
- Facilitating skills-building workshops for the community and other YLH associates on HCD
- Sharing HCD-focused content on the HCDExchange channels, including Community Learning Forum and blog and the other digital channels
The Networking & Partnerships Associate will work to expand and curate diverse youth representation within the HCDExchange Community of Practice. Their work will involve:
- Identifying potential organizations and individuals that HCDExchange should engage and partner with
- Participate in discovery calls with organizations and networks to understand their needs and link them with opportunities within the Community of Practice
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- Provide follow-up support to guide potential partners through our partnership journey (i.e. email follow-up, partnership agreements, and facilitating the engagement)
- Building new connections with youth within the Community Learning Forum and networking events
The Community Engagement Associate will work to boost engagement of youth within HCDExchange Community of Practice. Their work will involve:
- Planning, organizing and coordinating events and experiences for youth community members, including International Youth Day and skills-building workshops for young practitioners
- Working with the Sr. Community Manager to ensure youth voices are represented across all events and experiences
- Supporting the development of a youth space on the Community Learning Forum including, planning experiments, testing concepts and documenting learnings
- Brainstorming ideas and concepts related to meaningful youth engagement within the Community Learning Forum and other channels
To be success in this role, we expect the YLH team members to demonstrate certain skills/behaviors which include:
- Timely and regular attendance at all weekly team meetings, and any other calls for work
- Flexibility in working with people from different cultures, contexts, and time zones (including across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and North America)
- Proactivity in setting up calls with team members, following up when required, and informing about expected absence no later than 24 hours before the event
- Timely completion of all assigned tasks, and timely notification whenever help is needed
- Active and insightful participation in all meetings, calls, and activities with all team members of HCDExchange
- Regular communication on shared platforms such as email, Google Calendar, Slack, Airtable, and WhatsApp
- Attention to detail and ability to follow instructions independently
What We Offer for the HCDExchange Youth Leadership Hub 2022 Application
We seek to meaningfully engage young people in our work by creating a space where young leaders can contribute to driving learning in HCD+AYSRH through a diverse Community of Practice. We offer a space where young people can lead meaningful youth engagement efforts, enhance their professional and technical skills, and champion advocacy for integrating youth-centered design in AYSRH programming. To this end, the YLH members will have the opportunity to:
- Collaborate with the YLH and the HCDExchange Secretariat in an environment of shared learning
- Engage in co-mentorship with experienced members of HCDExchange team
- Access information about fellowships, courses, training programs, and other similar opportunities related to HCD+AYSRH
- Receive monthly training on a range of co-created topics, including human-centred design, monitoring and evaluation, communications, public speaking, networking, and writing
- Receive a monthly stipend in recognition of the effort and time dedicated to HCDExchange activities
- Be a part of a creative and collaborative work environment full of passionate individuals who are dedicated to growing together!
Eligibility Criteria for the HCDExchange Youth Leadership Hub 2022 Application
To be considered for the role of Youth Leadership Hub Associate, you must
- Have some knowledge of/or experience in some of the HCDExchange priority areas: Human-Centered Design (HCD), Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (AYSRH), Meaningful Youth Engagement (MYE)
- Be a national of a country in Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia
- Be between 18 and 25 years of age
- Be able to commit 12-15 hours of work each week to this role
- Have reliable access to internet facilities and attend virtual weekly meetings
- Be familiar and comfortable with Google Suite (Gmail, Drive, Meets, Calendar), Slack, WhatsApp and other virtual collaborative platforms (i.e.: Zoom, Mural, Jamboard)
- Be proficient in communicating in English (written and verbal), as this our working language across the team
- Demonstrate good communication skills, initiative, and team spirit
- Be able to work both independently and collaboratively with a diverse team
- Be willing to work with a team in different time zones across sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and North America
- Be a member of the HCDExchange Community of Practice (please fill in this form to join, if not already a member)
