Unemployment in Indonesia is at record high levels due to COVID-19, with disproportionate impact on informal and service workers, women, and youth. By the end of 2020, Indonesia’s open unemployment rate surged to 7.07%, almost 2% higher than the previous year’s rate and its highest level since 2011 with a total of 9.77 million people unemployed by August 2020, 37.61% higher than the previous year. COVID-19 has also deepened Indonesia’s gender inequality, with unemployment disproportionately affecting women, since most are employed in sectors especially vulnerable to the pandemic, such as retail, hospitality, or garment. Even before the pandemic, only 54% of working-age women were active in the labor force compared to 82% of working-age men, and this rate has been relatively stagnant for the last 20 years. Women in Indonesia are also more likely to be in low-paid jobs when in full-time contracts, and less likely to be employed in managerial positions. Youth are also particularly vulnerable. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, young people were already 4 times more likely to be unemployed than the adult population. The Indonesian youth unemployment rate was already at 18%, which is doubled the unemployment rate of the total population.
While on the other side, Indonesia’s digital economy quadrupled in size between 2015 and 2019 – at an average growth rate of 49% per year – to reach an estimated $40bn in 2020. This exponential growth, along with the government’s latest “making indonesia 4.0” development plan that prioritizes the country’s technological innovation, creates new employment opportunities but also poses simultaneous labor supply challenges because local technical training is limited, especially due to a shortage of skilled human resources available to provide the knowledge. The skill profile of the Indonesian workforce has not evolved in line with the demands of the labour market. The world bank estimates that between 2015 and 2030, there will be a shortage of 9 million skilled and semi-skilled ICT workers in indonesia. The push for the digitalization of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) is also challenged by a lack of skilled talent and resources. MSMEs are the backbone of Indonesia’s economy. They have contributed consistently to more than 50% of Indonesia’s gdp since 2010 until before the covid-19 pandemic[1], with more than 90% absorption of Indonesia’s labor force[2]. When the covid-19 pandemic hit, the digitalization of MSMEs was one of the key strategies identified to build back better. The Ministry of Cooperatives and SME has set a target for 30 million MSMEs to go digital by 2024. Nevertheless, MSMEs still struggle to go digital. From plan Indonesia’s study on youth-led micro and small enterprises in Covid 19, information technology still poses a challenge. This study also found that youth enterprises with more access to technology performed better during the pandemic. This resonated across other studies that found women working in MSMEs with a slower adoption of ICT applications in their business received about 30-70% less income compared to those who haven’t. In response to the challenge and opportunities above, plan indonesia will recruit, train, and place 10,000 young people in 18 months project in several areas in indonesia, with majority of them will be young women, in IT career pathways providing them with free certified training materials and courses along with wraparound services to support course completion and placement into it career pathways. To support the pipeline of skilled talent for MSME digitalization, an emphasis will be put on expanding the network of job placement, not limited to formal work but also the gig economy
DIMENSIONS OF THE ROLE
- Ensuring effective and efficient management of the project implementation in project areas (West Java and East Java), which includes maintaining constructive relationships with key stakeholders in project area
- Ensuring effective project management by maintaining the delivery of appropriate technical, operational and financial outputs, while tracking the project progress through monitoring, evaluation and reporting;
- Maintaining effective working relationships with project partners, through effective communication, consultation and reporting;
- Aligning the projects implementation with Plan International principles of safeguarding of children and young people and gender transformative approach.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Effective and Efficient Management of Project Implementation under Her / His Project Area
- Develops and update Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) of the project and monitor its implementation, ensuring timely implementation of the project under her/his responsibilities;
- Lead Project Area Team to achieve project targets, including youth recruitment, training for youth, mentoring and job placement for youth;
- Be responsible for managing partners and consultants within her / his project area to ensure delivery of quality outputs based as required and planned in the project;
- Oversees the mobilization of goods and services to support project activities, including drafting TORs and works/product requirements and specifications under she/he project area;
- Identifies project risks and mitigation strategy, submits information on the new risks and possible mitigating measures to the Project Manager for consideration and updating the status of these risks by maintaining a Project Risk Registry;
Effective Working Relationship with Partners
- Facilitates regular coordination and quality assurance with Project Manager and YPII YEE Program Team;
- Supports YEE Program Team in ensuring coordination with local government and private sector stakeholders;
- Be the focal person for the contact with the team Partner within project area;
- In coordination with Private Sector Coordinator, create collaboration with private sectors for youth internship and placement.
Safeguarding Children and Young People (Safeguarding) and Gender Equality and Inclusion (GESI)
- Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in project design, during implementation and as principles applied in day-to-day work;
- Participates actively in capacity building and learning event on Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion;
- Submits required documentations (reports, checklists, action plans) to implement policy, standards and approach on Safeguarding and GESI;
- Understands and puts into practice the responsibilities under Safeguarding and GESI policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), ensuring that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Internal relationship
- Project Manager: Management guidance for project implementation, support data analyses for reporting
- Youth Engagement Officers: provide guidance on the strategic direction of the project in relation to the achievement of the project milestone and outcome conducted in project area
- MER Coordinator: Coordination of project MER framework and implementation objectives to be consistent with Country, Global and Advocacy priority
- Program Advisors: Inform and consult to solicit technical support for cross-cutting issue to ensure it is mainstreamed in project activities
- Private Sector Officer: Provide guidance and coordination for youth internship and placement
External relationship
- Government: Local District Offices and Government-Owned TVET Institutions
- Implementing Partners in Surabaya & Bandung
- Strategic Associations include business Association and HR Associations; APINDO and KADIN
- Private Sectors
- Vocational Schools and Universities in Bandung and Cirebon
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Undergraduate degree in education, social fields or other related field in the promotion of youth economic empowerment and gender equality
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in project management, including budget management, monitoring and evaluation and quality project reporting
- Minimum of 3 years experienced working in coordination with Government agencies/offices, Private Sectors and TVET institutions
- Affinity to work with and for young people on economic empowerment
- Understanding of Indonesia Government policies, laws, and institutions in relation to youth economic empowerment and, gender in the economy
- Relevant network with Private Sector is needed
- Good oral and written communication skills in English and Bahasa Indonesia
- Ability to provide technical guidance and support staff
- Ability to function efficiently and effectively with little day-to-day supervision
- Demonstrated skills problem solving and people’s management.
Desirable
- Master’s Degree in Related Field
- Have existing networks with Private Sectors in relation with youth training and placement
- Have knowledge on the development of digital system in relation with Youth employment and training
- Demonstrated experience in working with children and youth
- Experience in managing programmes in child protection
- Experience in working in a multi-cultural organisation
- Demonstrated knowledge in international development tools: program logic, Monitoring, and community empowerment
- Demonstrated knowledge of gender transformative approach, gender-based violence, child rights, and inclusion
PLAN INTERNATIONAL’S VALUES IN PRACTICE
We are open and accountable We create a climate of trust inside and outside the organisation by being open, honest and transparent. We hold ourselves and others to account for the decisions we make and for our impact on others, while doing what we say we will do.
We strive for lasting impact We strive to achieve significant and lasting impact on the lives of children and young people, and to secure equality for girls. We challenge ourselves to be bold, courageous, responsive, focused and innovative.
We work well together We succeed by working effectively with others, inside and outside the organisation, including our sponsors and donors. We actively support our colleagues, helping them to achieve their goals. We come together to create and implement solutions in our teams, across Plan International, with children, girls, young people, communities and our partners.
We are inclusive and empowering We respect all people, appreciate differences and challenge inequality in our programmes and our workplace. We support children, girls and young people to increase their confidence and to change their own lives. We empower our staff to give their best and develop their potential.
