RLO Fund Officer, DREEM

BACKGROUND

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian international development organization driving positive education and economic change for young people around the world. Our vision is a world where every young person thrives and belongs. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to fulfill their aspirations and create their own futures. To help achieve this goal, we develop initiatives that: deliver lasting, measurable impact; are powered by partnerships across the globe; stay true to our core programming principles; and respond to the priorities and aspirations of the people with whom we work. WUSC is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and has offices across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East. Our global team of development professionals bring deep expertise and open minds to identify new solutions to old problems and create a better world together. WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference for youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in the communities they serve.

WUSC has launched the second phase (2026-2031) of an exciting initiative, which aims to significantly expand efforts to help refugee, displaced, and host community (RDP) youth, particularly young women, secure dignified and fulfilling work and access education opportunities across Africa. Building on prior successes, this Phase II will deepen engagement in new geographies, strengthen local ecosystems, and equip partners with the necessary knowledge and tools for lasting change. A core strategy is emphasizing the engagement and strengthening of Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) to provide sustainable, locally-led technical assistance.

Refugee Led Organization Opportunity Fund Brief

The DREEM project provides technical assistance to Mastercard Foundation and its partners on the inclusion of refugees and displaced young people (RDP1). As part of WUSC’s established approach and the wider localization agenda, the DREEM project is set to partner with Refugee-led Organizations (RLOs) in several African countries to strengthen their capacity to operate sustainably and efficiently. Strengthening refugee-led initiatives and RLOs is an important part of fostering RDP-led solutions and ensuring sustainability. The initiative will directly enable over 5,000 RDP and host community youth across Africa, 70% of whom will be women and 10% youth with disabilities, to access dignified and fulfilling work.

In order to improve the provision of quality gender-responsive services that can attract and

improve access to future revenue streams, WUSC believes that RLOs need capacity

strengthening support and direct funding for their work to lead to positive structural changes in the supporting environment for RDP youth. By facilitating RLO sustained, long-term funding and capacity, WUSC hopes to ultimately increase their participation, influence and decision-making power.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the dissemination of open and transparent calls for proposals to RLOs in both English and French.
• Organize and maintain a database of applicant RLOs and support the coordination of selection panels.
• Support the RLO Opportunity Fund Manager in the day-to-day operations of the project in Malawi and any other geographies assigned;
• Help process and track documentation for the rigorous due diligence of RLO partners, including screening and reviewing organizational policies.
• Coordinate the scheduling of regular monitoring visits and reflection meetings between the Fund team and RLO partners.
• Provide general administrative support, including handling communication, scheduling meetings, preparing reports, and maintaining project documentation.

Capacity Building and Logistical Coordination

• Provide logistical support for the delivery of the Opportunity Fund’s core curriculum on institutional support (e.g., financial management, safeguarding, and operational policies).
• Assist in organizing workshops, training sessions, and mentorship programs for RLO staff.
• Support RLOs in the development of mentorship programs that pair refugee youth with experienced mentors and industry professionals.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Assist in the collection of data and reports from RLO grantees to track progress toward youth employment and education targets.
• Support the finance team in tracking fund disbursements and ensuring RLOs meet reporting deadlines.
• Help maintain a library of "best practices" and learning products developed from the Fund’s activities.
• Help track and monitor the implementation of training sessions and mentorship programs.
• Assist in the collection and analysis of data related to program outcomes, including employment placements, business creation, and skills development
• Help in the preparation of project reports, presentations, and other materials for stakeholders and donors.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Diploma in International Development, Social Sciences, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field. A bachelor’s degree will be an added advantage
• 3–4 years of experience in administrative support, grant assistance, or project coordination within an NGO environment.
• Lived experience as a displaced person or a strong background working directly with RDP communities and RLOs is highly valued.
• Fluency in English is required; professional proficiency in French is highly desirable to support partners in Francophone Africa.
• Strong organizational skills, proficiency in Google Workspace, and experience with database management.
• Ability to support RLO programing in other countries remotely is highly valued
• A deep commitment to WUSC’s values of inclusivity, gender responsiveness, and supporting locally-led solutions.
• Commitment to WUSC’s mission of building a better world for all young people, particularly displaced and refugee youth.

Other requirements:

• The headquarters of this initiative is located in Nairobi, Kenya; the Project Assistant is expected to be based in Malawi, and must already possess the relevant work authorizations;
• The role will require frequent travel across the continent, and occasional international travel for conferences, workshops and meetings;
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form.

Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e-mail a request to hr-rh@wusc.ca.

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please note that only the candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.