MENA: Call for Mentors for Youth Organizations under MENA Youth for Climate Action (MYCA)

Jan 23, 2023 | Search for Common Ground
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Search for Common Ground (Search) is seeking experts in working with and managing youth organisations, to join a pool of mentors to support youth-led groups through the GISR MENA Youth for Climate Action program (MYCA). Search is currently working in partnership with Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, with funding from USAID, to provide organizational, operational, and advocacy capacity development support to the recipients of the USAID GISR MENA Youth for Climate Action (MYCA) grant as they implement climate advocacy projects for which they will receive funding. We are seeking experienced experts in working with and managing youth organizations to join our pool of mentors for this program.

What does a GISR MYCA mentor do?

MYCA mentors accompany a youth-led or youth-serving organization as it implements its own initiative. Mentors have two main roles: On one hand, mentors provide participants with personalized support throughout the program, helping them adapt topics discussed in workshops to their own realities and initiatives. On the other hand, mentors help expand participants' networks, providing access to larger communities of practice both via themselves and through their own networks. Topics addressed in workshops include organizational structure and strategy, project management, finance management, youth leadership, advocacy, and other organizational, advocacy and operational capacity areas.

In the upcoming GISR MYCA program, mentors are expected to commit to the following:

  • December 2022 - January 2023: Biweekly online meetings with representatives of the youth group they support. During this period, the youth groups will also participate in regular workshops on thematic topics, and the mentorship meetings are intended as an opportunity to delve deeper into each topic
  • February to May 2023: Meetings with the youth groups' representatives at least monthly, based on the needs of the group and agreement between the mentor and the youth group they accompany.

What is the profile of an MYCA mentor?

We are looking for a diverse group of experienced NGO actors and individuals working with and managing youth organizations who are interested in supporting youth-led groups. Mentors can be of any age, young or old, but they must have useful experience to share with their mentees and an open and trusting attitude towards youth-led climate action.

The ideal mentor has: 

  • Values of youth leadership, including in climate action
  • A background in youth leadership, or supporting young leaders
  • Experience working with youth organizations
  • Experience in a key area for youth organizational capacity development such as:
    • Project implementation and management
    • Financial management and fundraising
    • External communications
    • Organizational structuring and human resources
    • Monitoring, evaluation and learning, and knowledge management
    • Safety & Security

Why become an MYCA mentor?

Being an MYCA mentor is an opportunity to get to know a youth-led or youth-serving organization intimately, to gain new insights and perspectives and to share your experience with upcoming, grassroots climate actors and activists. Please note that being an MYCA mentor will receive a stipend of $200 USD.

To apply, please fill out and submit the interest form on this link : HERE