Adi Yuva Specialist

Volunteering

Overview

Support and manage the health and well-being program for tribal youth.

You have:

• Must be a member of a recognized Scheduled Tribe.
• Demonstrated interest in socio-economic development of youth in tribal communities.
• Demonstrated willingness to learn about relevant thematics such as tribal development, life skills education, public health.
• Prior experience of programme implementation and management.
• Basic experience of working on projects related to tribal development or youth leadership or public health would be an asset.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills, including the ability to build effective working relationships.
• Good analytical, organizing and planning skills.
• Resourcefulness, efficient in taking initiative, maturity of judgment, tact.
• Self-motivation and ability to adapt professionally in a challenging environment.
• Willingness to travel to project sites and other areas as needed.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

The 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) consultations, led by NITI Aayog and supported by the UN in India, prioritized 13 “Leave No One Behind” (LNOB) groups, including Scheduled Tribes and Adivasis, highlighting the urgent need to build capacities, ensure access, and foster meaningful representation for youth from tribal communities. The consultations identified critical gaps in skills, leadership opportunities, and systemic support for youth from tribal communities, emphasising the need for targeted career pathways and inclusive development strategies.

UNFPA works in partnership with tribal welfare departments at both national and state levels to advance the health, rights, and wellbeing of tribal populations, with a strong focus on adolescents, women, and youth. UNFPA supports life skills education, sexual and reproductive health awareness, and gender equality initiatives among youth from tribal communities through community-based and school based programmes.

In alignment with the UN Youth Strategy (Phase 2: 2025-2030) which places youth at the center of global transformation and SDG acceleration, the United Nations in India is supporting the Ministry of Tribal affairs in its the Adi Yuva programme, by providing youth from tribal communities an opportunity to be part of this innovative initiative. The programme will bring together the expertise of UN agencies to mentor and train youth from tribal communities to sharpen their knowledge and skills to enhance employment opportunities in the development sector , and also to create a more inclusive environment within the UN System in India.

The National UN Specialist Volunteer, located in an impactful role at the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in New Delhi, will assist in the health and well-being programme management including planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation. They will be responsible for the effective programme support and management on access to age appropriate, gender sensitive and socially inclusive information and services and linkages with other programme areas.

Under the direct supervision of the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and in coordination with the Adolescent and Youth unit - UNFPA Country Office, the UNV will perform the following tasks: • Provide strategic, technical, and programmatic support for strengthening the Tribal Research Institute (TRI) ecosystem across States and Union Territories, with a focus on research, documentation, capacity building, knowledge management, and evidence-based tribal development. • Support the Ministry in coordinating with Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), Centres of Excellence (CoEs), academic institutions, universities, and research organizations engaged in tribal development, policy research, and cultural preservation. • Assist in the review, appraisal, monitoring, and documentation of research studies, action research projects, pilot initiatives, and interventions undertaken by TRIs and Centres of Excellence. • Support the identification and development of priority research themes related to tribal development, livelihoods, education, health, culture, governance, language preservation, traditional knowledge systems, and emerging issues affecting tribal communities. • Assist in preparation of concept notes, project proposals, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), reports, policy briefs, knowledge products, presentations, and other programme-related documentation. • Support the Ministry in strengthening research quality, promoting evidence-based policy formulation, and facilitating dissemination of research findings for improving programme implementation and tribal welfare outcomes. • Assist in data collection, analysis, monitoring, and reporting related to TRI-supported activities, Centres of Excellence projects, and other initiatives undertaken by the Ministry. • Facilitate organization of workshops, consultations, conferences, capacity-building programmes, thematic discussions, and knowledge-sharing platforms involving TRIs, CoEs, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. • Support initiatives related to preservation, promotion, and documentation of tribal culture, heritage, languages, traditional knowledge systems, customary practices, and community institutions. • Assist in development of communication materials, training modules, briefing notes, compendiums, digital knowledge repositories, and awareness materials related to tribal development and research. • Provide technical feedback and coordination support to State TRIs and Centres of Excellence to improve programme implementation, research outputs, institutional strengthening, and knowledge dissemination. • Contribute to the development of monitoring frameworks, progress-tracking mechanisms, and institutional performance indicators for TRI and CoE initiatives. • Support collaboration with national and international institutions, research organizations, universities, and subject matter experts for advancing research and innovation in tribal development. • Undertake any other programme, coordination, research, documentation, monitoring, or administrative tasks assigned by the Ministry from time to time.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to: • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities; • Contribute articles/ write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/ websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☒ Building Trust ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Empowering Others ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Integrity ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Technological Awareness ☒ Working in Teams

● Demonstrated interest in socio-economic development of youth in tribal communities, with understanding of tribal issues and challenges at the state and national levels. ● Demonstrated willingness to learn about thematics relevant to the assignment, such as tribal development, life skills education, public health, youth empowerment, communication, programme management, or related fields. ● Prior experience of programme implementation and management. ● Basic experience of working on projects related to tribal development or youth leadership or public health would be an asset. ● Strong teamwork and communication skills, including the ability to build effective working relationships with individuals from diverse national and cultural backgrounds, and the ability to prioritize, plan, and coordinate both individual and team-related work effectively. ● Good analytical, organizing and planning skills. ● Resourcefulness, efficient in taking initiative, maturity of judgment, tact. ● Sound understanding of youth related issues would be an asset. ● Self-motivation and ability to adapt professionally in a challenging environment. ● Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of stakeholders; ● Willingness to travel to project sites and other areas as needed.

NOTE: Must be a member of a recognized Scheduled Tribe. Preference to be given to youth with intersecting vulnerabilities (gender, income, disabilities etc.)

The assignment will be based in New Delhi. New Delhi is the capital city of India and experiences a diverse climate and distinct living conditions influenced by its weather, infrastructure, and culture. It is a melting pot of cultures, languages, and cuisines, reflecting the diverse nature of India. Overall, living in Delhi offers a mix of modern urban life with deep-rooted traditions and challenges typical of a large, bustling metropolis.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. This position is based in New Delhi. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. National UN Volunteers are expected to be culturally sensitive and adjust to the prevailing culture and traditions.

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents - except for UN Community Volunteers), as well as final repatriation (if applicable).

You can check full entitlements at https://app.unv.org/calculator .

For information specific to your assignment, please see below: • Monthly Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA): INR 70158.41 • Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 350 (equivalent in INR) • Relocation costs: $175 at the beginning and end of the assignment if the duty station is outside of commuting distance (as determined by UNV) • Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment): $120 for each month served, paid on completion of contract • Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for health, life, and malicious acts • Annual leave: 2.5 days per month • Learning: Access to UNV's learning and career development resources

Must be a member of a recognized Scheduled Tribe. Preference to be given to youth with intersecting vulnerabilities (gender, income, disabilities etc.)

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 1 month ago - Updated 1 month ago - Source: unv.org