The Youth Migration Network / MGCY Migration has just launched its Call for Applications for Coordination team positions for the year 2021-22.
Deadline March 31, 2021
We are a team of young passionate advocates who care about migration issues. We are migrants and non-migrants, from all regions of the world.
In the past few years we have created a space for young people to impact the global and regional conversation on migration issues. We have been working with UNICEF and IOM to establish a formal place for young people at the Global Compact for Orderly, Safe, and Regular Migration and the Global Forum on Migration and Development, we have organized three Youth Forums, thematic and regional webinars, we have delivered timely policy briefs, and we have led consultations with hundreds of organizations all around the world, representing an excess of 80,000 young migrants and community members. We are launching a campaign to help young people combat xenophobia, together. You can find out more about us on this web page or in these impact reports.
Join us to make an impact to create a better future for all of us. A future where all migrants, refugees, displaced people are included, integrated, protected, and their potential fulfilled.
We are an open network, coordinated by 70+ young people in the coordination team, coordinating our whole network and activities. We are representing youth-led or youth-focused organizations, or in our individual capacity. We believe in passion, commitment, and kindness. We have worked together from across the world to build something bigger than ourselves.
We are looking for youth-led organizations and passionate individuals to join our Coordination Team!
Important information:
What would I do as part of the Coordination team?
The opportunities in our team are extremely varied: our positions range from coordinating a global Youth Forum or Innovation Award to give young people a space to learn and win funding for their initiatives, to organizing workshops or webinars on migration and education, mobilizing young people at the regional level to push for policy change, drafting policy documents that will impact important UN reports, or creating and implementing a social media strategy to help shape narratives on migration issues. And many more! Check out our past work here.
What positions are you opening?
In short:
Are you passionate about migration issues in your region? Regional focal points coordinate our work at the regional level: mobilizing and leading regional youth networks, consultations, webinars, advocating and engaging with regional partners;
Are you interested in a specific theme on migration issues included but not limited to labour migration, education, climate change, fighting human trafficking or xenohphobia? Thematic focal points lead our work and inputs in a specific theme, leading research, consultations, policy writing, organizing webinars, defining projects and representing MGCY in relevant working groups and spaces; the thematic team leads coordinate a team across different themes;
Are you keen to lead teams for our global work? Open leadership team positions includes Youth Forum Chair / Focal Point (works on our annual Youth Forum), GFMD Focal point (represents MGCY in GFMD related activities), and capacity building focal point (focused on creating capacity building material for our work of mobilization and at the national level).
Are you not very experienced but still want to participate? Officers join in more junior roles but still play a crucial part in a region, theme, or as part of a project team.
The full list of thematic and regional positions is in the application form.
Where do you engage?
Mainly at the global and regional level, with a lot of push for national level work to happen this year. Our main engagement avenues are the Global Compact for Orderly, Safe, and Regular Migration and the Global Forum on Migration and Development, as well as the interlinkages between migration and the SDGs.
Who can apply?
You can apply as a youth-led or child-led organization (with the main applicant 30 years old* or below) OR as an individual 30 years old* or younger.
*your age at the time of application.
Who are you looking for?
We are looking for young people with a passion for migration issues and hunger for meaningful work. Aptitude for teamwork is key as you’ll join a team of supportive and committed advocates. Please note that while experience in migration issues is important for our more senior positions (with many of our team members having entrepreneurial, research, or professional experience in the field or representing established organizations), there are plenty of opportunities also for less experienced individuals who are keen to learn.
What will I get for my work in the team?
At the moment most of our team functions on a completely volunteer basis. This is something we do because we care.
That said, we are working extremely hard to increase our inclusivity and sustainability, and have been fundraising to run more impactful programmes. We also really care about everyone’s personal and professional development and work hard to ensure everyone gets a chance to do and learn what they love.
What is the time commitment?
This varies greatly from position and role. Pretty much all of us are all doing this on the side of a full time job, studies or even both. So we understand the need for flexibility not only on your hours, but also on having weeks with work commitments / deadlines / exams etc.
Most people put in between 3-5 hours per week on average, on the lower end for officers, and on the higher end for leadership team members. Some times of the year are also much busier than others.
Ultimately, you get what you put in: the more you put in, the more learning and impact you’ll get. We leave lots of space to individual initiative and leadership and will give you space to try out something you believe in – but you need to put in the time for that.
What is the length of the position/mandate?
The mandate of all positions last for one year, with the calendar starting in April, with some time to facilitate the transition at the end. You will be able to apply again at the end of your mandate – indeed most team members stay for multiple years.
Please reach out to us at migrationgfp@unmgcy.org with any questions, thank you!
Not interested in a position but want to keep in touch? Sign up here to become a member and join our mailing list.
FAQs:
What has Migration MGCY done so far?
The Migration WG was created in 2018 in response to the negotiations of the Global Compact on Migration (GCM). We represented the voices of youth and children and the negotiations’ table until the adoption of the document in Marrakech in 2018. In conjunction with this event, the working group organized the first Youth Forum on migration, which brought together 150+ young people from over 50 countries to consult, discuss, and commit to the GCM. We also sent 7 young representatives to the GFMD Summit that year.
The following year, we participated in the regional preparation of the GFMD, organized preparation thematic webinars, and led consultations with youth-focused and youth-led organizations on youth priorities on migration and development. In January 2020 we organized a second Youth Forum in conjunction with the GFMD Summit in Quito, Ecuador, and for the first time in the GFMD history, we were able to systematically bring youth voices to every meeting in the GFMD Summit, including government, civil society, mayoral, and private sector spaces. More can be found at: https://www.unmgcy.org/youth4migration
The third year of our operation, we fundraised $130k, held a virtual youth forum in conjunction with the GFMD virtual summit, held a Youth Innovation and leadership Award, and are currently facilitating youth participation in the GCM regioes, amongst other things. The impact report will be online soon.
Read more here
What’s your vision for the year ahead?
This year we will build on the previous year’s work and bring youth voices to all relevant decision-making tables at global, regional, and national levels. We will be putting a great focus on thematic and regional work, as well as national level, with the approaching IMRF Summit, and focus on spurring implementation and supporting young people’s role in it. As well, plenty of thematic work will happen within the UN Network for Migration and in specific regional spaces.
What is the Global Compact on Migration (GCM)?
The GCM is the first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, covering all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner. It is a non-binding document that respects states’ sovereign right to determine who enters and stays in their territory and demonstrates commitment to international cooperation on migration. It presents a significant opportunity to improve the governance of migration, to address the challenges associated with today’s migration, and to strengthen the contribution of migrants and migration to sustainable development.
Read more here
What is the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD)?
Created in 2007, the GFMD is a state-led, informal and non-binding process, which helps shape the global debate on migration and development. It provides a flexible, multi-stakeholder space where governments can discuss the multi-dimensional aspects, opportunities and challenges related to migration, development, and the link between these two areas. The GFMD process allows governments – in partnership with civil society, the private sector, the UN system, and other relevant stakeholders – to analyze and discuss sensitive issues, create consensus, pose innovative solutions, and share policy and practices. Read more here
