Call for Proposals: African Youth Pathways to Resilience and Systems Change (AYPReS) Programme

The Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR) in collaboration with the MasterCard Foundation is implementing a multinational policy and practice-oriented research programme titled “African Youth Pathways to Resilience and Systems Change (AYPReS)” across ten (10) African countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire. The primary objective of the AYPReS research programme is to examine the factors that drive youth resilience and investigate how their lived experiences, voice, agency, and perceptions regarding sustainability and system change can effectively contribute to the development of responsive programmes, policies, and practices. This research aims to generate credible insights that promote sustainable access to dignified and fulfilling work for youth. The study focuses on youth aged 35 years and below, with particular emphasis on women, refugees and displaced persons (RDPs), persons living with disabilities (PWDs), and youth in informal employment.

To ensure that the research is gender-responsive and socially inclusive, PASGR seeks to recruit a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Expert to provide technical guidance in integrating GESI considerations into the research design, implementation, and analysis, while promoting inclusive recommendations and policy adoption.

***** Please refer to the full Terms of Reference for the GESI Expert.

Additionally, in recognition of the necessity for the research programme to be inclusive and reflective of the lived experiences of PWDs, we are also seeking an experienced PWDs Expert to provide technical expertise and guidance in integrating PWDs considerations into the research design, implementation and analysis, while promoting inclusive recommendations and policy adoption.

***** Please refer to the full Terms of Reference for the PWDs Expert.

Similarly, to ensure the research programme is inclusive and reflective of the lived experiences of RDPs, PASGR is seeking an experienced Refugees and Displaced Persons (RDPs) Expert to provide technical expertise and guidance in ensuring RDPs considerations are integrated into the research design, implementation, and analysis, while promoting inclusive recommendations and policy adoption.

****** Please refer to the full Terms of Reference for the RDP Expert.

Youth unemployment in Africa presents a significant challenge with profound societal and global implications. While considerable research has been conducted on youth unemployment in Africa, limited studies have addressed the specific challenges of accessing dignified and fulfilling work. Furthermore, there is a scarcity of research focusing on systemic barriers, youth voices, agency, and resilience, particularly among young men and women from disadvantaged backgrounds, including refugees and displaced persons (RDPs), persons living with disabilities (PWDs), and youth in both the informal economy and informal settlements. Addressing these critical equity and social justice gaps is essential to inspire hope for enhanced youth employment opportunities in Africa.

To address the existing research gaps, PASGR is seeking country-based Principal Investigators (PIs) in each of the programme’s countries.

***** Please refer to the full Terms of Reference for the PIs.

Lastly, PASGR is seeking country-based Research Associates (RAs) in each of the programme’s countries, who in collaboration with the country’s PI and Programme Implementation Team (PIT), will among others review existing policies on youth employment to address the existing policy gaps and develop research methodology

****** Please refer to the full Terms of Reference for RAs.

Application Process

Interested candidates for the above roles are required to apply or submit an expression of interest as stipulated in the individual Terms of Reference. As a bare minimum, applications should include:

Interested and eligible candidates are requested to submit their application with the subject clearly indicating the name of the role as specified in the respective Terms of Reference no later than Friday, March 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EAT to recruitment@pasgr.org . For any inquiries, please write to research@pasgr.org  before the deadline.

Any form of canvassing is strongly discouraged and will result in automatic disqualification. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted following the closure of the application period.