Capacity Building Officer Full Time NEW

Program: Community Service as a Pathway to Work (CSPW)
Organization: Youth Network for Sustainable Development (YNSD)
Reports to: Cluster Manager

About YNSD and the CSPW Program

Youth Network for Sustainable Development (YNSD) is a non-governmental, non-profit making indigenous organization which was founded in 2003 by four school clubs and fifteen youth associations. Currently, YNSD is an umbrella Network for more than 1000 youth organizations/associations at national level.

Its mission is to contribute for the sustainable development through promoting partnerships, networking, and building the capacity of its member organizations while its vision is to see Ethiopian youth holistically empowered and meaningfully engaged in the country’s all-rounded and sustainable development.

It has been implementing programs and projects including youth and women empowerment, Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH) & HIV/AIDS, Information & Communication Technology, environment sustainability, advocacy, WASH and new emerging issues.

Currently it is running a five-year program (2023 – 2027) implemented in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and JHU-CCP. The program is running in six regions, 14+ zones, 150+ woredas, and 1800+ kebeles of the country. Where YNSD covers 60% of the target.

The program, as referred to as Community Service as a Pathway to Work (CSPW), is primarily aimed at engaging the youth in dignified and fulfilling work, reaching 500K Youth (70% women) and 10% vulnerable Groups in community services and expected to support 200K youth (18-35 years of age) transition to work.

Job Summary

The Capacity Building Officer is responsible for strengthening the skills and engagement of youth leaders, community members, and institutions involved in the CSPW program implementation. They will oversee the implementation of capacity-building activities at the cluster level, develop and adapt training manuals, and provide technical support to youth, MSEs, and other stakeholders. The role involves assessing and identifying capacity gaps among key actors at the cluster level, coordinating trainings for youth leaders, youth participants, and implementing partners across the target areas, providing mentorship and technical assistance, and ensuring effective program implementation within available resources and timelines. Additionally, the officer will monitor and evaluate capacity-building initiatives, document progress, and report outcomes to national and cluster-level leadership.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the Capacity Building Advisor in assessing capacity strengthening needs for community engagement and youth leadership in community service activities.
• Oversee the implementation of planned capacity-building interventions at the cluster level for YNSD and sub-grantees.
• Develop and adapt training manuals and materials, and deliver cascade trainings for youth, youth leaders, and partner institutions.
• Facilitate and lead the planning and implementation of all trainings at the cluster level
• Collaborate with technical teams to develop and implement a comprehensive cluster-level capacity-building plan aligned with program priorities and resources.
• Coordinate and sequence capacity-building activities to ensure efficient use of time and resources.
• Lead the implementation of capacity-building initiatives for YNSD staff, sub-grantees, and partner organizations.
• Coordinate the provision of tailored technical assistance to community-based organizations (CBOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), and other program participants to enhance their effective participation.
• In collaboration with technical staff, design and deliver Training of Trainers (ToT) programs for facilitators at community and cluster levels.
• Provide technical support and mentorship to youth leaders, youth engaged in community services, and Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) to improve performance and sustainability.
• Ensure an appropriate mix of training approaches, including coaching, mentoring, technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing mechanisms.
• Collect, compile, analyze, and document program data, and prepare periodic reports for the Capacity Building Advisor and Cluster Manager.
• Monitor and evaluate capacity-building interventions to assess improvements in skills, competencies, and overall program impact.
• Document best practices, lessons learned, and implementation challenges, and contribute to quarterly, annual, and other required reports.
• Support the development of work plans, training materials, reports, presentations, and budget proposals at the cluster level.
• Identify and address implementation challenges, and propose solutions to ensure activities are delivered on time and within budget.
• Compile all capacity building activities conducted at the cluster level
• Work on other assignments given from the cluster manger and or the Capacity building advisor.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Development Studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience in capacity building, training, or community development programs.
• Proven experience in supporting the capacity development of youth, community-based institutions, CBOs, and similar organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in training delivery, facilitation, and coaching.
• Strong communication, coordination, and partnership management skills.
• Excellent report writing and documentation skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and networking skills
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Results-oriented with a proactive approach
• Good organizational and time management skills
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines