Youth Development Coordinator
Support youth engagement in governance and civic initiatives.
Overview
Support youth engagement in governance and civic initiatives.
You have:
- At least a bachelor’s degree in social science, disability studies, international development cooperation or humanitarian action, or other relevant degree, or equivalent relevant work experience in disability, development/humanitarian and international organizations
- Demonstrated interest and/or experience (up to 1 year) in youth engagement, gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), disability inclusion development and leave no one behind (LNOB) desired
- Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills
- Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team
- Computer skills (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others)
- Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills
- Adaptability and flexibility in working with different teams and environments
- Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions
Contract
This is a UNV contract. More about UNV contracts.
UNDP’s governance and civic engagement initiatives are grounded in the belief that sustainable peace and inclusive development depend on effective, accountable, and participatory institutions. A key condition for such governance is the ability of citizens, especially young people, women, and marginalized groups, to actively and meaningfully participate in public affairs, hold institutions accountable, and co-create solutions that strengthen trust and cohesion between citizens and the state. Youth represent a significant portion of Nepal’s population and play a crucial role in shaping the country’s democratic processes. However, barriers such as lack of access to information, political awareness, social exclusion, and structural marginalization continue to hinder equitable youth participation in civic spaces, particularly for young women and other marginalized youth.
In this regard, to translate civic engagement in practice, UNDP Nepal will focus on strengthening inclusive, participatory, and accountable governance in Nepal by advancing political literacy and civic education, empowering young people as informed, responsible, and engaged citizens, strengthening information integrity and fostering trust and cohesion between citizens and the state. Through civic learning, digital literacy, and critical engagement with information, the initiative seeks to transform civic awareness into active participation, ensuring that governance processes are transparent, responsive, and reflective of the voices of all citizens, particularly youth, women, and marginalized groups. The goal is to ensure that youth, including young women and youth from marginalized communities, hold more leadership roles and influence governance reforms, supported by safer civic spaces.
Considering this UNDP Nepal will be addressing these challenges through the project “Advancing Civic Engagement for Democratic Participation (the Project).” The project places particular emphasis on young women and marginalized groups who face structural, social, economic, and political barriers to meaningful participation in civic and democratic processes.
Under the direct supervision of Project Coordination Specialist, and in close coordination with Youth Engagement Analyst and Admin and Finance Associate the National UN Volunteer will provide support in following areas:
Project Support • Support youth-focused civic engagement initiatives in the preparation of events, workshops, and training. • Assess the overall context from youth perspective and provide updates to the project.. • Support the project team in regard to monitoring and review of the project activities. • Liaise with project partners at the community level • Support in the implementation of project activities as per the project workplan. • Assist in managing contracts issued to partners and follow up on deliverables.
Youth Engagement & Networking • Map existing youth-led organizations, clubs, networks and informal groups at local and sub-national levels. • Establish formal and informal partnerships to co-design activities and initiatives. • Provide technical support to youth groups to strengthen their organizational capacity. • Organize regular forums, roundtables, and consultations where youth can interact with local leaders, civil society, and private sector representatives. • Ensure diverse representation, including marginalized youth, in dialogue platforms. • Coordinate with stakeholders and assist in the formation and strengthening of youth councils at provincial levels. • Facilitate youth participation in national and subnational events like workshops, discussions and exchange programs. • Promote youth representation in local governance structures, community development committees, and advisory boards. • Develop mechanisms (surveys, consultations, digital platforms) to gather youth input on policies and programs.
Government Coordination • Serve as the liaison between youth stakeholders and government institutions. • Maintain regular communication with government counterparts to ensure smooth collaboration. • Share project updates, challenges, and opportunities with relevant ministries and councils. • Provide technical input to ensure project interventions complement government priorities. • Participate in meetings, policy dialogues, and thematic workshops. • Advocate for youth-centered approaches in government planning and budgeting processes. • Support in development of reports and ensure they are evidence-based, incorporating data and feedback from youth beneficiaries. • Submit timely updates to the government counterparts like Provincial Youth Council, and other relevant bodies.
Operation Support: • Document meetings and maintain accurate records for project activities. • Organize workshops, seminars, trainings, and other events, including venue, logistics, transportation, and documentation. • Make travel arrangements for the project team, including requisitions and claims.
Overall, Field Coordination: • Coordinate directly with youth networks, clubs, and community groups to ensure inclusive participation. • Liaise with youth stakeholders at grassroots level to strengthen engagement and representation. • Conduct regular field visits to monitor program delivery and gather feedback from youth beneficiaries. • Document field-level success stories, challenges, and lessons learned
Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI): · Facilitate creating an environment to address GESI issues. · Assist in ensuring gender and inclusion issues in managing events and preparing reports wherever possible.
Other: · The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the civic engagement project · Strictly comply with the UNDP policies, strategies, code of conduct, guidelines on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA). · Strict compliance with the UNDP applicable rules, regulations and policies related to ethics and integrity.
• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management
Note: Candidates from the listed localities are strongly encouraged to apply and preference will be given to them.
· Academic: At least a bachelor’s degree in social science, disability studies, international development cooperation or humanitarian action, or other relevant degree, or equivalent relevant work experience in disability, development/humanitarian and international organizations · Demonstrated interest and/or experience (up to 1 years) in youth engagement, gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), disability inclusion development and leave no one behind (LNOB) desired. · Motivated to contribute towards peace and development and to serve others. · Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills. · Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team. · Flexible and open to learning and new experiences. · Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions. · Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded. · Computer skills (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, social media, and others).
• Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Desirable: valid national driver’s license and proven ability to drive manual gear 4x4 over rough terrain; • Sound security awareness; • Have affinity with or interest in governance and volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system. • Support in development of reports and ensure they are evidence-based, incorporating data and feedback from youth beneficiaries. • Submit timely updates to the government counterparts like Provincial Youth Council, and other relevant bodies.
As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.
Potential interview questions
| Can you describe your experience with youth engagement initiatives in previous projects? | The interviewer wants to understand your direct experience in engaging youth within projects. | Highlight specific projects you've worked on, your role, and the outcomes. |
| How do you ensure inclusive participation in community initiatives? | The interviewer is interested in your approach to inclusivity in community work. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you give an example of a time you facilitated a discussion among diverse groups? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What methods do you use to assess the needs of youth in a community? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How would you handle conflicts that arise during youth engagement activities? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What techniques do you use to promote digital literacy among youth? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you describe a successful partnership you've developed in a previous role? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple stakeholders? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |