Position location: Benin: Cotonou, Parakou 

Background: 

Creative Associates International is a fast-growing, social impact company that specializes in the areas of education, economic growth, democratic transitions, and stabilization in post-conflict environments. Based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, this global development organization has a field presence is more than 25 countries and a strong client portfolio of that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department. Since its founding in 1977 by four enterprising women, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike. 

Position Summary:  

Creative Associates International (Creative) is seeking a Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), Economic Livelihoods, and Natural Resource Management (NRM) Specialist for the anticipated USAID-funded Northern Economic Livelihoods for Youth (NELY) Activity in Benin. NELY will improve economic livelihoods for youth and women in violent extremist (VE) moderate and high-risk areas in the north. The CVE, Economic Livelihoods, and NRM Specialist will be responsible for overseeing innovative and flexible activities with a diverse range of actors that generate economic opportunities for youth, reduce conflict, and promote effective NRM in northern Benin.   

• Lead technical design of activities that increase  economic livelihoods opportunities for at-risk youth, women, and other  vulnerable populations in conflict affected environments.  
• Integrate natural resource management (NRM) approaches into economic livelihood activities.  
• Lead engagement activities with businesses, industry, and local employers in project implementation areas. Foster collaborations with civil society actors, non-governmental organizations, DPOs, community organizations, incubators, among others to enhance access to employment and livelihoods opportunities for youth, particularly those who have been affected by crisis and conflict.  
• Provide technical assistance to ensure equity and diversity for participants and in devising strategies to reach the most disadvantaged and marginalized youth.   
• Provide training and support for businesses, industry, and local employers to implement youth-inclusive strategies. 
• Establish and foster collaborative partnerships with organizations working in economic livelihoods, NRM youth development, stabilization and social cohesion, and related subjects; oversee the coordination of implementing partners.  

• Collaborate with Creative’s LRI program to ensure complementarity and synergies between the two programs.  
• Support relevant program analysis and information diffusion.  
• Contribute to the development of the learning objectives and research agenda that explores the relationship between conflict, youth employment, and violent extremism. 
• Develop project written reports as required by the COP and DCOP. 
• Supervise, mentor, and manage team diverse program team to deliver impact within agreed timelines.   

• A graduate degree in a relevant technical field such as CVE, economics, international 
• development, etc. 
• Minimum 8 years’ experience working in complex development projects, including on CVE. 
• Technical expertise in designing and implementing community level CVE, livelihood and 
• deliverable economic inclusion related responses, public-private partnerships, natural resource protection and socio-economic recovery, financial inclusion, and employment support. 
• French and English required, and a local language preferred. 
• Preference for local or regional hire.