Inclusive Youth Entrepreneurship Support Associate
Support youth social entrepreneurs through mentorship and program coordination
Overview
Support youth social entrepreneurs through mentorship and program coordination
You have:
- Demonstrated interest in youth development and economic empowerment
- Demonstrated interest in social entrepreneurship and innovation
- Demonstrated interest in diversity, equity and inclusion
- Demonstrated interest in Leave No One Behind in achieving 2030 agenda
More than half of the world’s young people alive today, live on this continent. At the moment, roughly 68 of every 100 people in Asia are of working age. It is a region facing the challenges of extreme poverty and climate change but brimming with economic dynamism and a young workforce to deliver on unfulfilled potential. Furthermore, nearly a billion people in Asia are below the age of 15, which means by 2050 the region will have more working-age people, and fewer older and younger dependents than at any point in its history. This ‘youth bulge’ offers the region a unique opportunity for economic progress to lift millions more out of poverty, and ultimately close the gap with the developed world.
The Youth Co:Lab co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation aims to establish a common agenda for Asia-Pacific countries to invest in and empower youth to accelerate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurship.
UNDP and its partners believe that youth can make a real and positive difference and create their own opportunities by engaging with these challenges ahead through social entrepreneurship. The Youth Co:Lab established the Springboard Programme in 2018 to enhance the investment readiness of young social entrepreneurs, working with founders and investor partners across the Asia Pacific region to bridge the knowledge gap in impact fundraising.
Guided by core principles of the 2030 agenda, we support youth social entrepreneurs to generate livelihoods, grow their initiatives and support vulnerable communities through: • Business training programmes delivered by investors, UN Agencies, experienced founders, private sector partners, and Youth Co:Lab alumni • Dedicated account management support to provide tailored growth support • Startup support hub to connect young social entrepreneurs with mentors, investors, partners, and global opportunities • Focused fellowship programme to increase representation of young social enterprises who represent or work with under-represented communities, such as Persons with Disability, LGBTI groups, Indigenous Peoples, migrants and refugees.
Under the direct supervision of Programme Specialist – Civil Society and Youth, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: Leave No One Behind (LNOB) Focused Programme Coordination
• Support the implementation of the Springboard Elevate Programme with startup men-tors, LNOB subject experts and Youth Co:Lab alumni; • Support the onboarding of program participants and maintain a great learning environment for the cohort community; • Conduct interviews and graduation surveys with the Springboard Elevate Programme participants to collect stories and case studies on youth-led initiative that help advance the Leave No One Behind agenda, identify the needs and support for youth social entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities; • Support to draft program report to highlight the key results and outcomes of the Springboard Elevate Programme and consolidate feedback for improvement for the next program cycle • Support to draft communication materials to communicate the program impact to potential partners
Account Management Support to Social Enterprises
• Schedule founder touch base calls to connect social enterprises with Springboard startup support team for tailored support • Compile a database to showcase the social enterprises and cohort members • Regularly update the global opportunity database to make sure young social entrepreneurs access to the latest opportunities for their venture growth • Support the rollout of leadership training to equip young social entrepreneurs with skills and mindsets to mobilize resources in order to expand their initiatives.
Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities: • 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; • Provide annual and end of assignment self- reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • 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.
Results/Expected Outputs:
• Support the virtual logistics of 12 live sessions for the Springboard Elevate 2025 • Schedule at least 20 founder touch base calls with social enterprises from the 2025 Springboard Elevate cohort • Support and conduct leadership training, share global opportunities to young innovators on a weekly basis • Assist in drafting two pagers and program report of the Springboard Elevate 2025 • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for decent work and economic growth during the assignment
☒ Accountability ☒ Commitment and Motivation ☒ Commitment to Continuous Learning ☒ Communication ☒ Ethics and Values ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Leadership ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Working in Teams
Demonstrated interest in:
• Youth development and economic empowerment
• Social entrepreneurship and innovation
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Leave no one behind in achieving 2030 agenda
Thailand is located in Southeast Asia. The climate is tropical, with the monsoon season running from May/June through October/November. Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, and it is also the most populated city in the country. It is in the Chao Phraya River delta in the central part of the country. Bangkok has an estimated population of 8.75 million as of 2017 (13% of Thailand’s total population), based on data from the 2010 census. Over the past decades, Bangkok has grown rapidly with little urban planning or regulation. This has led to traffic congestion and air pollution, and there is frequent flooding of streets during the rainy season in the City’s low-lying areas.
The cost of living in Thailand is moderate, as compared to many other capitals in Southeast Asia. Housing is widely available in various sizes and at various price points. Private healthcare in Thailand is of excellent standard, and there are numerous top hospitals in Bangkok, which fall far below countries like the US in terms of price. There are numerous high-quality international schools available in Bangkok, with English as the language of instruction. Bangkok has different public transportation options, including the BTS Skytrain and MRT Underground, metered taxis, mobile-based ride-hailing services (Grab, All Thai Taxi, etc.), tuk tuks, motorbike taxis, buses and boats.
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe a time when you helped a young entrepreneur expand their initiative? | This assesses your ability to apply skills in real-world situations. | Provide a specific example that highlights your involvement and the outcome. |
| How do you ensure inclusivity in programs you manage? | This evaluates your understanding of diversity and inclusion principles. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What methods do you use to evaluate the success of a program? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a challenge you faced while coordinating a project and how you overcame it. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What motivates you to work in youth development? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |