Girl Up is inviting applications for Global Kinship Leaders in the EMEA region, offering young people in Kenya, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe an opportunity to contribute to international youth leadership, gender justice and community engagement initiatives.
Two part-time positions will be available: one based in Kenya and one based in the UK/Zimbabwe. The six-month youth leadership role is designed for university or college students who are passionate about girls’ leadership, youth advocacy, gender equality and social impact.
The Global Kinship Leaders will support Girl Up EMEA programmes involving youth engagement, club coordination, communications, events, partnerships and programme administration while gaining practical experience in an international youth leadership environment.
Organisation: Girl Up
Role: Global Kinship Leader
Locations: Kenya and UK/Zimbabwe
Number of positions: 2
Engagement type: Part-time youth leadership role
Duration: 6 months
Expected time commitment: 15–20 hours per week
Start date: 1 January 2027
Supervisor: Girl Up Manager, Youth Outreach
Eligibility: University/college students based in Kenya, the UK or Zimbabwe
Stipend: Not specified in the provided terms of reference
The role may be extended depending on performance and programme requirements.
About the Girl Up Kinship Network
Girl Up is a global leadership development initiative focused on advancing gender justice and empowering girls and young people to become leaders and change-makers in their communities.
Through clubs, programmes and youth advocacy initiatives, Girl Up provides young people with skills, platforms and opportunities to participate in decision-making and create meaningful social change.
The Girl Up Kinship Network represents an evolution of the organisation’s youth engagement model. It is designed to create a globally connected community of young leaders while recognising regional identities, leadership traditions and community experiences.
The Global Kinship Leader role replaces entry-level youth leadership positions previously referred to as interns or fellows within the EMEA region, covering Europe, SWANA and Africa.
Key Responsibilities
Global Kinship Leaders will work alongside Girl Up EMEA staff across several programme and communications functions.
They will provide administrative and coordination support for regional leadership programmes, grassroots leaders, trainings and convenings. This may include organising programme materials, maintaining calendars and documentation, coordinating virtual meetings and supporting youth engagement sessions.
Leaders will also help support Girl Up clubs across the EMEA region, including monitoring new club registrations, tracking engagement activities and communicating with club leaders about events, reporting requirements and opportunities.
Another important component of the role will involve supporting youth leadership activations. Leaders may conduct outreach to youth leaders and club members, support planning committees for regional events and document youth-led projects and initiatives.
The role also includes digital engagement and storytelling. Global Kinship Leaders will contribute to social media posts, newsletters and other youth-centred digital content while helping document activities and success stories.
Additional responsibilities include tracking programme outputs, maintaining databases, gathering participant feedback and supporting the preparation of programme summaries, reports and impact documentation.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must meet the core selection criteria established by Girl Up.
Candidates should:
- Be currently enrolled in a university or college.
- Be based in Kenya, the United Kingdom or Zimbabwe.
- Demonstrate an interest in girls’ leadership, gender justice, youth advocacy or social impact.
- Have experience or an interest in youth organising, community initiatives or student leadership.
- Demonstrate strong organisational and administrative abilities.
- Have basic experience with digital tools and knowledge of artificial intelligence.
- Possess strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Be proactive, creative and capable of working independently.
- Have access to a personal laptop and reliable internet connection.
- Be available for approximately 15–20 hours per week.
Skills and Experience
The opportunity is particularly suitable for young people who want to develop practical experience in youth leadership, programme coordination, community organising and advocacy.
Applicants do not necessarily need extensive professional experience. However, evidence of student leadership, volunteering, community engagement, youth organising or participation in social-impact initiatives can help demonstrate suitability.
Strong organisational skills are important because Leaders will work with programme calendars, databases, documentation, events and communications. Digital literacy is also important, particularly for supporting online engagement, content creation and programme administration.
Learning and Professional Development
The Global Kinship Leader role is designed as a professional and leadership development opportunity.
Successful participants will gain practical experience in international youth leadership programming, programme coordination and community engagement. They will also gain exposure to regional and global advocacy networks and develop digital communications and storytelling skills for social impact.
Participants will receive mentorship and guidance from Girl Up EMEA staff while working directly on regional initiatives.
The experience can therefore provide valuable exposure for students interested in careers in international development, gender equality, youth advocacy, communications, programme management and social impact.
Duration and Working Arrangement
The engagement will run for six months, beginning on 1 January 2027. The position is part-time, with an estimated commitment of 15–20 hours per week.
The flexible structure is intended to accommodate young leaders who are also pursuing university or college studies. An extension may be possible depending on performance and programme needs.
Global Kinship Leaders will report to the Youth Outreach Manager and participate in regular check-ins to review progress, discuss activities and receive mentorship and support.
How to Strengthen the Application
Applicants should demonstrate a clear connection between their experience, interests and Girl Up’s focus on girls’ leadership, gender justice and youth empowerment.
A strong application should highlight specific examples of student leadership, community initiatives, youth organising, volunteering, advocacy or digital communications. Candidates should focus on what they personally contributed and the outcomes achieved rather than simply listing activities.
Applicants should also demonstrate that they can manage responsibilities independently while collaborating effectively with regional teams. Evidence of using digital platforms, AI tools, social media, databases or other productivity tools can further strengthen an application.
Because the role requires 15–20 hours per week, applicants should also clearly demonstrate their availability and ability to balance the position with their studies.
Application Information
The provided terms of reference confirm the locations, eligibility requirements, responsibilities and start date but do not specify an application deadline, application link or stipend amount.
Interested candidates should therefore consult the official Girl Up recruitment or programme channels for the application procedure and confirm whether additional requirements or a closing date have been announced.
