Call overview

Application is open for USAID’s Care Leaders Council Fellowship for 2021-22. The Care Leaders Council is a group of 10 young leaders who have direct experience with alternative care (e.g., foster care, kinship care, etc.) and who are passionate about advocating for improved systems of care. The Care Leaders Council is underpinned by YouthPower2: Learning and Evaluation (YP2LE), a USAID-financed activity concentrated on building and distributing the evidence on Positive Youth Development (PYD).

Furthermore, the council members will play a huge role in supporting USAID’s Center on Children in Adversity (CECA)’s implementation of the U.S. Government Strategy, Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity (2019-2023) (APCCA).

Details

Application deadline: 21 December 2020

Organizer: USAID, Center on Children in Adversity (CECA)

Duration: 1 year (with the possibility of extension)

Start date: March 2021

Care Leaders Council Member Roles and Responsibilities

This Care Leaders Council will empower an inclusive group of youths from multiple countries who have experience with alternative care to cooperate with each other and USAID on determining ways to increase the effectiveness of systems of care, as well as to further their own capacities as young professionals and advocates in this respect.

Overall, the Care Leaders Council is to:

• Propose recommendations to increase the pertinence and efficiency of the Advancing Protection for Care for Children in Adversity (APCCA) Interagency Implementation Plan activities.
• Provide input on USAID-sponsored alternative care programming, evaluation, and research accomplishments and advise on likely future activities for USAID to consider in these areas.
• Offer recommendations to USAID on how to assist the development most appropriately, strengthening, and sustainability of groups working with those who have left alternative care; and
• Promote the development of resource and training materials on alternative care systems challenges.

During the implementation period, the incumbents will:

• Participate in quarterly Care Leader Council meetings (virtually) to discuss key topics of interest to USAID and policymakers.
• Appear as needed to give input and feedback on policies and procedures that promote the protection and care for children and youth universally.
• Together or individually provide input to USAID on policies and programming to support children and youth who are deprived of family care or are at huge risk of losing family care.
• Respond in a timely fashion to emails and communication from USAID requesting input; and
• Serve up to a two-year term, subject to extension and funding.

Eligibilities

Applicants shall fulfill the following qualifications:

• Be 21 – 35 years of age as of January 1, 2021.
• Have worked at a local, national, or international level on alternative care reform or similar issues (e.g., child protection) and/or possess personal experience, at any age and of any length, with residential care or another type of alternative care.
• Have a strong ability to inspire and a profile for inclusive, innovative leadership.
• Be proficient in English (both written and spoken).
• Are nationals of a low- and middle-income country and/or are very well familiar with low- and middle-income country contexts and alternative care issues.
• Are used to using technology for regular meetings and communication such as email, WhatsApp, Google Hangout, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.

Members reporting obligation

Care Leaders Council members will report directly to Margaret Sullivan, Empowerment and Inclusion Division, Children in Adversity, USAID. Further member support will be provided by Sarah Sladen, Senior Youth Engagement Advisor, YP2LE, Making Cents International.

How to apply?

USAID encourages all candidates to apply via submitting the online application form. It will provide closed captioning and interpretation services to applicants with disabilities.

Apply now

You may refer to USAID’s website to read more information.