Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) Associate

Support adolescent and youth development initiatives in Türkiye.

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

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Application deadline in 23 days: Sunday 19 Jul 2026 at 00:00 UTC

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Overview

Support adolescent and youth development initiatives in Türkiye.

You have:

  • Demonstrated interest or experience (up to 3 years) in the areas of child rights frameworks and global and national youth agendas.
  • Experience working with youth-led organizations, civil society, or development partners is an asset.
  • Experience supporting or engaging in youth-led initiatives on climate change, environmental sustainability, social cohesion or social innovation is an asset.
  • Strong coordination, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills are required.
  • Excellent writing, documentation, visualization and analytical skills are required.
  • Data management and basic data analysis skills (e.g. organizing datasets, tracking indicators, supporting reporting) are considered an asset.

Contract

This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.

UNICEF is seeking a motivated and committed International UN Volunteer to support its work on adolescent and youth development in Türkiye, a country home to more than 13 million young people. Young people today need to be equipped with essential skills and provided with meaningful opportunities for participation and civic engagement to ensure a healthy, confident, and successful transition into adulthood. Investing in adolescents and young people not only strengthens their individual well-being and future prospects but also contributes to Türkiye’s long-term social and economic development.

Within this context, the UNICEF Türkiye Country Office Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) Section works closely with government institutions, private sector partners, civil society organizations, and—most importantly—young people themselves. The section implements pro-grammes that strengthen systems enabling more adolescents and young people, including refu-gees, to access opportunities for personal development, participation, and civic engagement. Cen-tral to this approach is collaboration and co-creation with young people, ensuring that solutions are inclusive and relevant for young people. This UNV role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful change for adolescents and young people while working in a dynamic, collaborative, and mission-driven environment.

The UN Volunteer will be part of the Adolescent Development and Participation Section at the UNICEF Türkiye Country Office. The position supports initiatives that strengthen systems enabling adolescents and young people—including refugees—to access opportunities for personal development, participation, and civic engagement. Under the direct supervision of ADAP Specialist, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

• Support coordination with key partners, including government counterparts, civil society organizations, youth platforms, private sector actors, and UN agencies • Contribute to knowledge management initiatives, including documentation of good practices, lessons learned, and youth-led approaches • Support internal and external reporting, presentations, and communication materials for the ADAP Section • Support the implementation of volunteerism initiatives for adolescents and young people, in collaboration with partners and youth groups • Provide support to capacity-building initiatives for youth councils, networks, and platforms at national and local levels • Support youth-led initiatives and campaigns on key thematic priorities, including climate change, environmental sustainability, and social innovation • Support organization of key events, including youth themed events during COP31 • Assist data management of ADAP activity reporting, in collaboration with key partner institutions

During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check‑ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.

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

Demonstrated interest or experience (up to 3 years) in following areas : • Strong understanding of child rights frameworks and global and national youth agendas • Experience working with youth-led organizations, civil society, or development partners is an asset • Experience supporting or engaging in youth-led initiatives on climate change, environ-mental sustainability, social cohesion or social innovation is an asset

Skills in: • Strong coordination, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills • Ability to work collaboratively with diverse partners, including adolescents and young people • Excellent writing, documentation, visualization and analytical skills • Data management and basic data analysis skills (e.g. organizing datasets, tracking indicators, supporting reporting) are considered an asset • Commitment to youth participation, volunteerism, equity, inclusion, and UNICEF’s values and principles

The UN Volunteer will be stationed in Ankara, the capital city of Türkiye. Ankara offers a high quality of life in a safe, organized, and culturally rich environment. As a diplomatic and administrative hub, the city hosts numerous international organizations and embassies. The city provides a comfortable living experience with well-developed infrastructure and access to modern healthcare, education, and recreational facilities. Its central location within Türkiye also makes it easy to travel to other regions of the country, offering opportunities to explore Türkiye’s rich history, natural landscapes, and cultural diversity. With its combination of professional opportunities, cultural life, safety, and accessibility, Ankara offers an enriching and supportive environment for an international UNV assignment, enabling volunteers to focus meaningfully on their contribution to adolescents and young people while enjoying daily life in the city.

The UN Volunteers are responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials.

The Summary of UNV Entitlement (International Associate): All paid in USD currency • Current Monthly Living Allowance (MLA): USD 2,105 • Private insurance: Health, dental, life, and dismemberment coverage by CIGNA • Entry allowance (one-time payment): USD 3,500 • Dependent allowance and insurance are provided based on eligibility criteria. • Exit allowance: USD 225 per month, and upon the satisfactory completion of assignment • Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month • Free access to different learning platforms and the UN & UNV network

Notes: 1) The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the volunteer work. 2) It's important to note that UNV assignments are volunteer assignments, not employment. The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. 3) You can check full entitlements at the duty station: https://app.unv.org/calculator 4) Please read the complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos

Potential interview questions

Can you describe your experience working with youth-led organizations? This question seeks to understand your practical experience in a relevant area. Provide details of specific organizations you worked with and your role.
What strategies would you employ to engage young people in civic participation? Interviewers want to assess your approach to youth engagement. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you view the impact of climate change on youth in Türkiye? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a challenge you faced while coordinating with multiple stakeholders. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What is your understanding of child rights frameworks? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you promote inclusivity in youth programs? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you discuss any youth-led initiatives you have supported? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you manage performance and feedback in collaborative work? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 1 day ago - Updated 4 hours ago - Source: unv.org