USAID CATALYZE MS4G forms a Youth Advisory Board (YAB) each year to ensure maximum impact through thoughtful engagement with youth. It is only with intentional, proactive engagement with Ethiopia’s dynamic, diverse youth that MS4G can achieve its goals of business growth for job creation, youth employment, expansion of the digital economy, women’s empowerment, and improved service delivery.

Youth Advisory Board Role:

The MS4G regional YAB will provide opportunities for young leaders to advise MS4G on their priorities and share insights on youth-related topics and issues, to maximize MS4G impact related to youth engagement, empowerment, and economic opportunities. YAB members will contribute to the design of new activities, advise on existing activities, and support program monitoring and review including helping to identify and address challenges and barriers that prevent youth from accessing and benefiting from the MS4G programming, support the monitoring, evaluation and learning program of the MS4G (provide feedbacks and inputs on project activities, strategies to ensure they are relevant and effective for youth), participate in research and data collection efforts to better understand the needs and interest of the youth. Engagement will include both formal and informal consultation with the MS4G team through in-person and virtual meetings, and on-line surveys, among other means. YAB members will also receive leadership and program development training to further equip them with the skills needed to meaningfully guide and advise the MS4G program.

MS4G Role:

MS4G shall organize capacity building trainings, mentorship and coaching for YAB members, organize site visit programs and ensure YAB participation in monitoring, evaluation and learning processes to effectively integrate youth perspectives, provide adequate information about the project, jointly develop the board engagement plan, and support the partnership and networking efforts initiated by the YAB.

YAB members are not employees nor consultants, nor volunteers, but serve on the YAB and receive a small stipend, along with reimbursement for any necessary expenses to facilitate participation (e.g., transportation). The MS4G Regional Coordinators will serve as the primary point of contact for YAB members based in each respective region. The MS4G Director of Program Integration serves as the secondary point of contact for all YAB members and the primary point of contact for YAB members based in Addis Ababa or other regions where MS4G implements its activities.

Required Time Commitment:

• YAB members are expected to commit 8-12 hours a month to YAB responsibilities. Specific activities will vary month to month but may include:
  • Virtual attendance at monthly national YAB meetings, and in person attendance at one national gathering to coincide with MS4G’s annual observance of International Youth Day
  • In person attendance at regional monthly YAB meetings based on the location of the YAB member.
  • Meeting with regional MS4G staff to provide youth perspective, recommendations, and advice on youth inclusive program implementation.
  • Development and design of new youth-engagement activities.
  • MS4G activity promotion at local youth centers/networks
  • Activity work plan review and suggested modifications
• YAB members will submit time logs at the end of each month to MS4G Human Resources noting the hours spent supporting MS4G and the activities conducted.

Benefit for Youth: Participation in the YAB will provide members several benefits:

• Training and practice to further develop their leadership skills.
• Opportunity to influence the MS4G program by providing feedback and recommendations to ensure the program reflects the needs and priorities of local young people.
• Opportunity to assist with the implementations (where possible) of new activities that benefit youth in their community.
• Opportunity to learn from MS4G staff and exposure to the professional work environment.
• Exposure to a network of other young leaders from around the country.

For those of you who are interested in becoming a member, please feel free to contact us using our organization's email address: tyes@tyes-ethiopia.org. We welcome your inquiries and look forward to hearing from you.