14 November 2022

Call for a trainer to provide educational advice and support to youth delegates in 2023

Since 2014 the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has invited young people to participate in its work within the framework of its initiative “Rejuvenating politics”.  This initiative involves the choice, via a selection process, of one young person per member State to participate in the Congress’ two sessions per year, its committee meetings and possibly other events, as well as to design, develop and implement grass-roots projects promoting the Council of Europe, the Congress and the concept of youth participation in general in co-operation with their local/regional authorities.

The Congress is looking for a trainer who, together with a fellow trainer, is capable of mentoring these young people, individually and as a group, throughout the year, in person and online, so that they may contribute as fully as possible to the Congress’ work while gaining valuable experience which they can multiply back home.

This work represents approximately 30 working days per year.

Nature of the task

1.   Helping to select the youth delegates

Trainers will be required to participate (virtual participation) in the final selection panel for the youth delegates for 2023 (early January 2023).

2.   Providing advice, support and supervision for the 44th and 45th sessions (21-23 March and 24-26 October 2023, Strasbourg, France. The work will entail, in particular but not exclusively:

·                online (videoconference and email) preparation of youth delegates for the session (to enhance their participation and ensure they are session-ready before they come). Creating communication channels and exchange between delegates before the session. This entails introducing the participants to the main values and approaches of the Council of Europe and of the Congress, in particular their policy on youth participation, and to Congress session procedure;

·                taking part in a 2 day-long preparatory meeting with the Congress Secretariat two months prior to each session (normally in January and September) in 2023 (2 preparatory meetings in total);

·                running a welcome and preparation evening for the youth delegates on the Sunday evening prior to each session (if held in-person) on 19 March and 22 October 2023;

·                preparing, on Monday, 20 March and 24 October, the youth delegates’ participation in the Congress session and committee meetings, and running a training programme on subjects relevant to the session, to be agreed upon during the preparatory meeting;

·                developing the youth delegates’ ability to work together and perform as a group by working on their expectations, communication and co-operation skills;

·                liaising with the Secretariat of the Congress on the implementation of the training element, the running of the session and any other relevant matter;

·                co-moderating the dedicated Hub workspace, the youth delegate and Alumni Network Facebook groups and other social media platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Slack);

·                at the end of each session, on the Thursday afternoon of 23 March and 26 October, evaluating the participants’ experience in terms of input, results, experience of meaningful participation and personal learning;

·                preparing the presentation of the grass-roots projects undertaken by the youth delegates, usually during the autumn session each year;

·                submitting reports at the end of each session, as well as a global report by end of November each year, which evaluate the youth delegates’ participation in each session and give recommendations for follow up and improving the process.

3.     Helping to structure the youth delegates’ projects at local and regional level

With regard to the youth projects, trainers are required, from the end of March to the end of September 2023, to give assistance and advice to the youth delegates with regard to the development of local/regional projects and in particular help with:

·                finalizing the design of the projects;

·                planning a strategy to select and contact local/regional actors;

·                designing evaluation mechanisms;

·                developing their local/regional projects;

·                promoting visibility.

This work will entail:

·                preparation work with the youth delegates during the spring session in 2023

·                reading and commenting on draft project proposals;

·                mentoring via videoconference between the sessions (4 hours per participant x 46 participants)

·                giving feed-back on the development of the projects.

·                giving e-mail support.

4.   Participation of youth delegates in other events

This work entails:

·                communicating with secretariat and youth delegates concerning requests for participation in Congress meetings, seminars and other events/tasks, selecting, preparing and mentoring of the youth delegates concerned.

Competences required

·                Excellent knowledge of youth participation, especially of the Revised European Charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life, is essential. 

·                Experience of working with politicians/political parties/political assemblies is a definite advantage, as is knowledge of the rules and procedures of a political assembly.

·                Ability to introduce, explain and facilitate individual and group learning in the areas of youth policy development, non-formal education, youth participation, leadership and communication.

·                Familiarity with the meaning and practice of these concepts at the Council of Europe and in youth work.

·                Ability to present the relation between youth work, non-formal learning, human rights and democracy.

·                Experience in preparing and running intercultural training activities based on non-formal learning approaches.

·                Ability to contribute to and work in an intercultural team of trainers.

·                Excellent knowledge of English is necessary as this is the language of communication with the youth delegates; knowledge of French and other working languages of the Congress is desirable.

Please note that you must be physically available (unless the meeting is held virtually) during the period of the two sessions in 2023 as well as the two preparatory meetings one month before each session.  In addition, virtual availability at the times mentioned above and in particular in between the sessions to mentor the youth delegates’ projects is also essential.

Contract proposed: the contract will cover one-year (2023) renewable for 2024 and 2025.

Honoraria proposed: up to a maximum of 8400€.

How to apply:

Please provide us with information on your experience and competences which are required to run this activity, as well as a CV and your reasons for wanting to work on this project.

Deadline for submission of applications: 27 November 2022

Contact information: [email protected]