By Phesheya Mkhonta
The European Union (EU) Delegation to Eswatini has launched a call for its first Eswatini Youth Sounding Board.
The EU is looking for 15 passionate and dedicated young people eager to help shape EU action in Eswatini to become more inclusive, relevant, visible, and effective for the youth.
Applications close on 20th April 2024.
The EU/Eswatini Youth Sounding Board (YSB) will be composed of young people (between the ages of 18 and 30 years) coming from across Eswatini and with a deep commitment to youth engagement and empowerment.
The YSB advises the EU Delegation on youth participation and empowerment in actions relevant to Eswatini to ensure that the youth dimension is well considered in all its planning and programming and is at the same time also complementary and supportive to the National Youth Policy and Bill.
This may include actions in areas such as employment, education, training and entrepreneurship, environment and climate change, human rights and democracy, peace and security, digitalization and technology, gender, social inclusion and health, sports, culture, arts, media, and journalism.
The EU/Eswatini Youth Sounding Board creates opportunities for young people to express their views, connect, and exchange.
It allows young people to have an influence on EU Delegation actions in Eswatini and thereby contributes to making EU action more inclusive, relevant, effective, and visible for young people in Eswatini.
The Delegation of the European Union (EU Delegation) to the Kingdom of Eswatini is the European Union diplomatic mission in Eswatini.
It has a long-standing and meaningful development partnership with the Kingdom of Eswatini through EU-supported projects which are currently implemented in the agriculture, social protection, private sector development, trade, and renewable energy sectors in Eswatini.
The YSB members will participate in their individual capacity and serve a mandate of two years.
According to an official statement by the EU Delegation, members of the YSB will engage in the following activities: providing advice to the EU Delegation on policies and actions related to youth and especially on youth participation and empowerment through international partnerships, and supporting EU Delegation in the implementation of the EU Youth Action Plan in Eswatini.
Members of the YSB are expected to engage for approximately 20 days per year (estimated as 8 hours per day, including the meeting days). The exact number of days will depend on the work plan created and agreed upon by the YSB and EU Delegation covering the above objectives and related activities.
The mandate is voluntary and unpaid. EU Delegation will cover travel and meeting costs for participants in line with EU Delegation rules and regulations, when and where justified.
In addition, a monthly allowance for the coverage of data costs will be provided to each member.
The selection process will be conducted in two stages according to the following indicative timeline:
· First stage: all candidates will be informed of the outcome of the first stage (shortlist) of the application by at the latest by 24 April 2023.
· Second stage: shortlisted candidates will be invited for in-person interviews in Mbabane between 26. April – 28. April 2023. (In case of long-distance travel, the cost for travel and accommodation will be covered with a per diem – please also indicate your preferred day for an interview in the dedicated application field) – In exceptional cases, interviews can be done online. This needs to be indicated in the application form.
· Final results: all shortlisted candidates will be informed of the final results by 2nd May 2023.
· First meeting of the Youth Sounding Board: 03 May 2023
· First induction training in Mbabane: 04-05 May 2023
Should you have any questions or inquiries at the pre-application stage, please contact us via email: application.ysb.eswatini@mailbox.org
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