Call for Applications Advocacy Capacity Strengthening Cohort for Young Advocates

Are you a passionate advocate for gender equality and issues affecting young people? Do you want to enhance your advocacy skills and develop an advocacy strategy your organization can use to improve the health and wellbeing of adolescents? We invite you to join our Youth 4 Youth (Y4Y) Advocacy Cohort!

About the Cohort: We are seeking youth advocates aged 18-25 from Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda to improve their advocacy skills and develop a concrete advocacy strategy for their own organizations. As a cohort member, you will receive specialized training and technical support in advocacy for policies and programs that will improve gender equality and health and wellbeing for young adolescents. Together, we will work with you to develop an advocacy strategy tailored to your organization's goals.

Benefits of Joining: 

• Comprehensive Training: Learn foundational advocacy processes and principles, including SMART advocacy and gender transformative practices.
• Strategy Development and Technical Assistance: Receive ongoing support from advocacy experts as you develop a strategy your organization can use right away to advocate for young people in your community. 
• In-Person Workshop: Participate in a three-day in-person capacity strengthening workshop in Monrovia, Liberia. Gain insights into existing advocacy tools you can utilize to advance your goals and explore how to apply them to your local context.

The Details:

• Virtual advocacy training sessions will be held every other week from May through July, each lasting two hours
• An in-person, three-day workshop in Monrovia, Liberia will be held in August to provide additional training and individualized support for cohort members while they develop their own advocacy strategies. (Travel costs including airfare, lodging, and a per diem will be covered.) 
• A stipend of up to $3,000 USD will be provided, contingent on local taxation regulations. 
• Half of the stipend will be distributed in July upon completing the virtual sessions.
• The remaining half will be distributed in September upon submission of completed advocacy strategy. 
• The total time commitment is approximately 35 hours (5 working days) per month from May through September 2024.

Support and Resources: Cohort members will have access to a dedicated support team who will provide guidance, feedback, and resources to support their advocacy efforts. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to network with like-minded peers and experts in the field of youth advocacy.

Selection Criteria:

We are looking for motivated individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to advocating for gender equality and the rights and well-being of young adolescents.

Applicants will be evaluated based on their:

• Demonstrated passion for gender equity and youth advocacy. 
• Previous experience in advocacy or related fields (experience working with young adolescents or on issues affecting them is a plus).
• Clear vision for how they will apply their learnings and the advocacy strategy they develop in their own organization. 

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the cohort, applicants must:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 25. 
• Reside in Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, or Uganda. 
• Be affiliated with an organization that is committed to implementing the advocacy strategy you will develop.
• Have access to a reliable internet connection for virtual meetings and workshops. 
• Be available to participate in all cohort activities between May and September 2024. 
• Have a bank account (to receive your stipend payment).