Senior Program Officer

Overview

The Senior Program Officer, Higher Education Inclusion (HEI) plays a key role in supporting the implementation of DREEM’s Higher Education Inclusion portfolio. Under the supervision of the Partnerships Manager, the Senior Program Officer, HEI will work closely with WUSC teams, the Mastercard Foundation team, and Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program partners to advance education inclusion for refugee and displaced youth across Africa. The Senior Program Officer, HEI will provide coordination, technical, administrative, and programmatic support to the day-to-day implementation of activities within the Higher Education Inclusion portfolio. The role contributes to partner engagement, capacity strengthening, monitoring and learning activities, knowledge sharing, and the successful delivery of training, outreaches, and strategic convenings. This position is ideal for a professional who is passionate about educational inclusion, refugee and displacement issues, and building equitable opportunities for young people across Africa. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Outreaches (In-person and virtual) Lead the coordination, planning and implementation of outreach activities to RDP communities across Africa. Coordinate with the Senior Events Officer on logistics, administration, communications of the events as required. Provide programmatic oversight by supporting relationship-building efforts with partners, institutions, and refugee led organizations. Work closely with the Partnerships Manager and the internal and RLO University Now Team Coordinate with RLOs and DREEM Communication Manager on Program visibility products, such as best practices, and case studies Develop outreach resources for both partners and RDPs Support and provide training to RLOs under University Now on outreach model implementation Collaborate with RLOs for more localized approaches to RDP youth accessing higher education, including RLOs under University Now Programmatic and Technical Support Support the Partnerships Manager in the development, adaptation, dissemination, and maintenance of tools, resources, guidance materials, and learning products for Scholars Program partners. Work collaboratively with the DREEM team (TAM, RLO Fund, and MERL) to provide technical, programmatic, and coordination support that advances the educational inclusion goals of the Mastercard Foundation under the DREEM project. Support the Partnerships Manager in providing capacity-building support and technical guidance to Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program partners on refugee and displaced youth inclusion in higher education; Support the design and delivery of training opportunities, workshops, webinars, and peer-learning initiatives that strengthen partner capacity and promote inclusive practices. Contribute to the identification and documentation of promising practices, innovations, and lessons learned related to refugee and displaced youth inclusion in higher education. Coordinate training meeting between Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program partners and University Now Partner Engagement and Network Coordination Assist in maintaining strong engagement with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program partners and support ongoing communication and collaboration across the network. Assist track partner participation and engagement across portfolio activities and initiatives. Support knowledge-sharing efforts and the dissemination of learning across partners and stakeholders. Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Work closely with the DREEM Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) team to support tracking of partner engagement, outcomes, and project impact. In partnership with the DREEM MERL team, contribute to data collection, reporting, learning activities, and evidence generation for the Higher Education Inclusion portfolio. Support the documentation of outcomes, success stories, case studies, and learning products. Assist with the preparation of reports, presentations, and partner updates. Other Duties Perform additional responsibilities and assignments as required to support the successful implementation of DREEM activities. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Education Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as International Development, Public Policy, International Relations, Refugee Studies, Education, Social Sciences, or a related discipline. Experience Three to five years of relevant professional experience working on displacement, refugee, youth development, education, or social inclusion initiatives in Africa is an asset. Lived experience of displacement, forced migration, or refugeehood is considered an asset Exposure to programs supporting access to higher education, technical and vocational education, youth empowerment, or community development is desirable. Understanding of the higher education landscape in Sub-Saharan and North Africa. Experience supporting partnerships, stakeholder engagement, or capacity-strengthening initiatives is an asset. Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies Demonstrated commitment to gender equality, diversity, equity, and social inclusion. Understanding of the challenges and barriers faced by refugee and displaced populations, particularly youth and young women. Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and French are required, including the ability to produce high-quality reports, learning materials, and correspondence. Strong planning, organizational, coordination, and problem-solving skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with diverse stakeholders. Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative and multicultural team environment. Strong attention to detail and commitment to continuous learning. Commitment to WUSC’s mission and values, and passion for advancing opportunities for refugee and displaced youth.