Adolescent and Youth Development Assistant

Support adolescent and youth development and civic engagement initiatives.

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Application deadline 2 months ago: Sunday 12 Apr 2026 at 00:00 UTC

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Overview

Support adolescent and youth development and civic engagement initiatives.

You have:

  • Entry-level experience (internship, volunteer work, or academic projects) in areas such as youth development, community engagement, education, or social policy.
  • Exposure to programme support, event organization, or research activities is desirable but not mandatory.
  • Familiarity with issues related to climate change, disability inclusion, gender equality, or digital transformation is an asset.

Contract

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The UNICEF office for Timor-Leste would like to welcome a UNV in a dynamic, green, and forward-looking office to support adolescent and youth Development and civic engagement in line with the National Child Action Plan and the National Youth Policy. The UNV will be a critical member of a team supporting one of the youngest nations in the world, helping unleash the potential of one of the youngest populations in the region, in the areas of employment with a focus on green jobs, entrepreneurship, skilling, and civic participation, with a specific focus on gender and disability. The UNV will work closely with the Chief of Social Policy and coordinate with other UN agencies to help strengthen UNICEF support for the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Art and Culture, CSOs, and technical agencies in the areas of adolescent and youth empowerment. She/he will be a critical contributor to the UNICEF programme of cooperation signed with the Government of Timor-Leste, which foresees a greater focus on adolescents and youth through all programme focus, including health, climate change, education, protection, and governance.

  1. Support to Programme Development and Planning • Contributes to updating the situation analysis by conducting assessments to establish evidence-based data for UNICEF advocacy and development and programmes to promote adolescent and youth development and participation. • Assists in providing operational support to sections to ensure cross-cutting issues such as gender, disabilities, and the rights of marginalized groups are integrated into projects, proposals, and programming. • Supports capacity-building initiatives for institutions and organizations working on adolescents and youth, focusing on Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and integrating CCA into Youth Parliament curricula. • Participate in organizing campaigns and workshops on Climate Change, disability to engage adolescents and youth, with a focus on green jobs. • Contributes to promoting access to and use of digital services and digital public infrastructure among adolescents and youth, leveraging digital transformation for sustainable and inclusive growth.

  2. Programme Management, Monitoring, and Delivery of Results • Participate in monitoring and evaluation exercises, programme reviews, and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and report on required actions. • Monitor and report on the use of programme resources, ensuring compliance with approved allocations, organizational rules, and donor commitments.

  3. Technical and Operational Support to Programme Implementation • Conducts regular field visits, exchanging information with partners to assess progress, provide technical support, and resolve issues. • Provides support to government counterparts, NGO partners, and UN system partners on UNICEF strategies and best practices for programme implementation.

  4. Innovation, Knowledge Management, and Capacity Building • Identifies, captures, and shares lessons learned to build the capacity of stakeholders and support knowledge development. • Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices, particularly in climate change, disability, and gender, to achieve sustainable programme results. • Research and reports on best practices for knowledge products and systems to contribute to achieving the SDGs. • Prepare required programme documentation for social media, other materials, and data to facilitate the programme advocacy, review, and approval process.

☒ Accountability ☒ Adaptability and Flexibility ☐ Building Trust ☐ Client Orientation ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☐ Creativity ☒ Empowering Others ☒ Ethics and Values ☐ Integrity ☐ Judgement and Decision-making ☐ Knowledge Sharing ☐ Leadership ☐ Managing Performance ☐ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☐ Technological Awareness ☐ Vision ☒ Working in Teams

  • Entry-level experience (internship, volunteer work, or academic projects) in areas such as youth development, community engagement, education, or social policy.
  • Exposure to programme support, event organization, or research activities is desirable but not mandatory.
  • Familiarity with issues related to climate change, disability inclusion, gender equality, or digital transformation is an asset.

The UNICEF Office is located on the UN compound, along with most UN agencies. UN House is in the city center, and safe accommodation options are available nearby as well as further away. Dili is a small city, and most expatriates live within a 6km radius / a 10 to 20mn car ride from UN House. As public transport is not recommended for international staff, most expatriates purchase a motorbike (price range: $700 to $2,000) or a car (price range: $4000 to $20,000), which they then resell upon leaving the country. The UNICEF office, and particularly the drivers, can help with purchasing a vehicle. There are a range of housing options in Dili, that range from the very basic to adequate, although many private houses in Dili have been renovated to a reasonable or even considered ‘luxurious’ level of comfort. Many expatriates live in fully serviced compounds, usually in individual houses but sometimes in apartments. Some choose private houses, which tend to be cheaper than compounds. Houses are very often fully furnished in Dili. Housing prices start at about $750 per month for a studio or one-bedroom place. Two-bedroom houses in a compound range from $1,000 to $2,500.

Potential interview questions

Can you describe your experience in community engagement or youth development? This helps assess your practical experience in relevant fields. Share specific examples of projects or roles you've undertaken, and highlight your contributions.
How do you incorporate gender equality into your work with youth? This question seeks to understand your commitment to inclusivity. Pro members can see the explanation.
What innovative approaches have you used in your previous roles? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with multiple stakeholders. How did you manage it? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you monitor the effectiveness of programs you implement? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What challenges have you faced in integrating climate change into youth programs? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you provide an example of a successful campaign or workshop you organized? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you approach capacity-building initiatives for institutions? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 3 months ago - Updated 2 months ago - Source: unv.org