Liaison Officer Consultant for the Youth Movement

Terms of Reference:  Liaison Officer Consultant for the Youth Movement

Background of the organization

The Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC) is a political platform that brings together Indigenous Peoples and local communities with the aim of defending Mother Earth for the present and future benefit of all humanity. The GATC guarantees its legitimacy and representativeness through democratic processes, ranging from the community to the multinational level.

The Alliance represents 35 million people who live in forest territories in 24 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. These communities are defenders of more than 958 million hectares of land.

The GATC brings together various organizations, including the Indigenous Peoples’ Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB), the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA) and the Network of Indigenous and Local Population for the Sustainable Management of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (REPALEAC). These organizations make up a platform for coordination to make visible the difficulties of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, as well as to guarantee respect for their rights.

Within the governance structure of the GATC the Youth Movement represents an important voice for the promotion of the rights of indigenous youth and local communities, alongside the Women's Movement and regional organizations.

Justification

The Liaison Officer Consultant for the Youth Movement role is essential for bridging the gap between advocacy and action, amplifying the youth voice, coordinating dialogues and partnerships, supporting sustainable movement development, and supporting capacity-building strengthening initiatives. By fulfilling these responsibilities, the role contributes to the empowerment of young leaders, facilitates positive change led by Indigenous and local communities, and fosters a more active global scenario for representative youth voices.

Contract Objective

The objective of the Liaison Officer Consultant for the Youth Movement role is to effectively coordinate and support the Indigenous and Local Community Youth Movement in translating the advocacy and political objectives of young leaders into actionable programs. The primary focus is to facilitate the implementation of initiatives that address the youth’s needs and aspirations in subjects related to their rights and environmental conservation, while also acting as a central coordinating entity for fostering dialogues among youth members and facilitating engagement with the GATC and its affiliated organizations. The ultimate aim is to empower and amplify the voices of young leaders, driving positive change and sustainable development within Indigenous and local communities.

The Liaison Officer Consultant for the Youth Movement reports to the Youth Movement and to the Executive Secretary of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities.

Independent Contractor profile

• Professional specialized in organizational support, with extensive experience working with Indigenous Peoples and local communities’ organizations and social movements, providing strategic support and strengthening capacities.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities’ issues and demands in international advocacy arenas, as well as their struggle for the recognition of their rights;

• Knowledge and understanding of organizational dynamics, with a particular focus on indigenous and local community-led bodies;

• Experience in project management, with focus on topics related to human rights, indigenous rights, environmental conservation and other related causes;

• Past experience in advocacy and policy making at the local, national, regional level is highly desirable;

• Knowledge of the UN system, policy spaces, international arenas and negotiations regarding climate change, biodiversity, with respect to Indigenous Peoples and local communities;

• Experience living and working in an indigenous or forest community and ability to connect culturally with IP and LC representatives;

• Facilitation and mediation skill, past work experience in facilitation and promotion of dialogue highly desirable;

• Proven experience working with youth organizations or initiatives, particularly in the Global South;

• Proactive, with a spirit of collaboration and good interpersonal relationships;

• English proficiency and proficiency in at least another GATC official language (French, Indonesian, Portuguese or Spanish).

• Belonging to an Indigenous People or local community is an advantage.

• Prior knowledge of the GATC agenda will be evaluated favorably;

• Experience with remote work tools.

• Knowledge on communication and campaigning basics (non-essential).

• Willingness to start working immediately.

Scope of Work

• Movement Coordination: Coordinate and oversee the implementation of programs and initiatives developed by the Indigenous and Local Community Youth Movement. This includes developing program timelines, setting objectives, budget planning, fund reporting and ensuring that activities align with the youth leaders' advocacy and political goals.

• Technical Support: Provide technical guidance and support to young leaders in transforming their advocacy goals into actionable programs. This involves assisting with program design, identifying appropriate strategies and methodologies, and ensuring that programs are evidence-based and effective in addressing the needs of Indigenous and local communities.

• Partnership and Collaboration: Serve as a central coordinating instance for fostering dialogues between the Youth Movement, the GATC’s council of leaders and secretariat, and other relevant organizations. Facilitate regular communication, knowledge exchange, and resource mobilization to enhance the impact and sustainability of youth-led initiatives.

• Dialogue and Engagement: Create platforms for dialogue and engagement among youth members, enabling them to exchange ideas, share experiences, and collaborate on joint initiatives. Organize workshops, forums, and conferences to foster networking and learning opportunities for young leaders.

• Knowledge Sharing: Facilitate the sharing of best practices, lessons learned, and innovative approaches among young leaders and relevant stakeholders. Stay updated on emerging trends, research, and policies related to Indigenous and local communities, and disseminate relevant information to the Youth Movement.

• Networking and Outreach: Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and other youth organizations, to foster collaboration, resource mobilization, and mutual support. Actively participate in networks and forums related to youth empowerment and sustainable development.

• Cultural Sensitivity and Inclusivity: Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and inclusivity in all aspects of the role, respecting the diversity and autonomy of Indigenous and local communities. Ensure that youth-led programs are designed in a way that embraces and preserves cultural heritage while promoting social inclusion and equality.

Selection criteria

The first phase of selection will assess the following criteria from the documents submitted in application (80%). There will be a second stage of selection interviewing the selected candidates and that will account for the remaining (20%).

• Experience in Youth Empowerment: Assessing the candidate's previous experience in working with youth, particularly within Indigenous and local communities. Look for evidence of successful youth empowerment initiatives, such as the development of youth-led programs, advocacy campaigns, or mentorship programs. 20%

• Movement and programme coordination: Evaluating the candidate’s experience in coordinating movements and programmes. We will look for proven experience in projects and programmes done with Indigenous Peoples and local communities or for environmental causes. 20%

• Technical expertise: Evaluating the candidate's technical knowledge and expertise in relevant areas, such as project management, advocacy strategies, capacity building, and sustainable development principles. 20%

• Commitment to Indigenous Peoples and local communities autonomy: Assessing the candidate’s ability to work in culturally diverse contexts.  20%

• Interview: Assessing the soft skills of the candidates and gathering more in depth information about their past professional experience and their ambitions for the role.  20%

Contract conditions

• Remote work from one of the 24 countries the GATC represents (Mesoamerica, Congo Basin, Amazon Basin, Indonesia, Brazil)
• Be able to dedicate around 40 hours a week during the duration of the contract;
• Flexibility to adapt to multiple time zones.
• Availability to travel up to 30 days per year if requested.
• Payment on the monthly basis after submiting the proper invoices. Rainforest Foundation US, a fiscal sponsor of the GATC, will contract the independent contractor.
• The budget for the 12 month contractis between USD 25,200 - 30,000.r depending on the economic proposal and professional experience of the successful candidate.

Terms of contract

The duration of the contract is for 12 months. The GATC will evaluate the work at the three-month mark. There is a possibility of continuous renewal pending availability of funds.

Expression of interest

Candidates who meet the requirements, please submit your application considering the following information. The consultancy will remain open until the position is filled. To apply, please submit your letter of interest, resume,  and remuneration proposal for the consultant services fees. The proposal should be submitted in the format "Surname_FirstName_Proposal", the resume in the format “"Surname_FirstName_CV" and the letter of interest in the format "Surname_FirstName_Letter".

We are the indigenous and local communities watching over the future of Mother Earth for the benefit of all humanity.