POSITION SUMMARY

American Councils is a premier, international nonprofit organization that strives to empower individuals and institutions to address challenges in a diverse and interconnected world. American Councils has designed and administered innovative programs that broaden individual perspectives, increase knowledge, and deepen understanding for almost 50 years across 130 countries. In support of the Kiribati Threshold Project, American Councils has opened offices in Tarawa, Kiribati and Suva, Fiji to implement Uaiakinan ao Uarokoan Toronibwaia I-Kiribati Activity (the "UUTI Activity"), part of the Mwakuri Aika Nakoraoi Ibukin Maeuraoimi Project (the "MANIM Project"). Funding for this project is provided by the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

The project will equip I-Kiribati youth aged 15 to 17 with improved work-readiness skills. This Activity, which is supported by the Kiribati Ministry of Education, will provide youth skills camps and academic year scholarships for I-Kiribati high school students. Starting in summer 2024, through their experience abroad, I-Kiribati students will receive language immersion and a cultural experience that builds self-confidence and work readiness in ways that are unique to student exchange programs. Students will study for an academic year in the United States or attend an immersive 3-4-week camp in Fiji or the United States.

American Councils seeks a Gender and Social Inclusion Consultant to support the UUTI Activity in identifying and strengthening approaches to gender and social inclusion across all program areas. The consultant's work will focus primarily on the participation and evaluation of vulnerable youth sub-groups, i.e. girls, boys, youth with disabilities, and outer islanders. This is a long-term consultancy position that could last up to three years (from April 2024 to April 2027), with up to 100 billable hours over the course of the consultancy. The largest portion of work will take place between April and October, 2024. The Gender and Social Inclusion Consultant will work closely with UUTI project staff in Washington, DC; Suva, Fiji; and Tarawa, Kiribati and report to the Senior Project Manager in Washington, DC.

The consultancy is fully remote. The consultant will be required to communicate with colleagues in different time zones.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review UUTI work plan, application materials and recruitment plan, testing tools, and curriculum to identify challenges for vulnerable sub-groups;
  • Make recommendations on recruitment strategies that will target vulnerable sub-groups;
  • Make recommendations to ensure materials and curriculum are culturally appropriate, gender-responsive, and addresses the needs of marginalized youth;
  • Provide technical assistance in drafting discrimination mitigation strategies;
• Review AC's Social and Gender Integration Plan (SGIP) for relevance and gaps; report upon these reviews with detailed recommendations, highlighting areas of strength and areas that need revision;
• Lead video meeting/presentation with relevant team members to explain rationale and answer questions.
• Develop and lead trainings for American Councils staff on issues faced by vulnerable sub-groups. These trainings should cover recognized best practices for gender-responsive and socially inclusive education, such as unconscious bias, inclusive teaching methods, and creating a safe learning environment;
• Review the data monitoring plan to ensure vulnerable sub-groups are not "slipping through the cracks" and that it is capturing relevant information.
• At the end of the consultancy, submit a final report (5-10 pages) which includes the final version of tools, their characteristics, and processes used to administer them.

• Professional experience designing and evaluating approaches to programming that are inclusive of marginalized groups
• Knowledge of approaches to workforce development and/or youth-targeted programs.
• Ability to work across teams and vastly different time zones with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Familiarity with cultures of Pacific Island nations preferred.
• Prior work experience or knowledge of MCC work preferred, but not required.
• Excellent written and oral communication in English.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

American Councils is committed to taking affirmative steps to enhance employment opportunities for minorities, women, veterans, and people with disabilities, and strives to ensure that meaningful employment and promotional opportunities are maintained for everyone. American Councils' commitment to equal employment opportunity is based not only on federal requirements, but also on a longstanding commitment to maintaining a diverse workforce reflective of the communities in which we operate.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.