Youth Engagement and Social Cohesion Associate

Volunteering Communications & PR Elections & Governance

Overview

Support youth engagement in social cohesion initiatives and mediation networks.

You have:

• Demonstrated interest and/or experience in youth engagement, civic education, or dialogue facilitation
• Experience in peacebuilding, social cohesion or community development
• Experience in volunteerism, social activism, or intergenerational cooperation
• Skills in project coordination and event organization
• Skills in research, data collection or qualitative reporting
• Skills in intercultural communication and teamwork
• Experience of another culture (i.e., studies, volunteer work, internship)

Contract

This is a UNV International Youth contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Youth contracts.

UNDP supports the Government of Moldova in building democratic institutions, reducing poverty and inequality, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The organization fosters peacebuilding and resilience through inclusive governance, gender equality, and community empowerment. The second phase of the Social Cohesion Programme, jointly implemented by UNDP and UNFPA, will focus on promoting inclusive dialogue, strengthening local governance systems, and fostering trust across communities, with a special emphasis on youth and older people.

UNDP Moldova is expanding its work on social cohesion as part of its broader efforts to promote inclusive governance, community resilience, and conflict prevention. Building on the outcomes of a pilot initiative (2024–2025), the organization will continue to support initiatives that foster dialogue, social trust, and youth engagement across the country. The UN Youth Volunteer will play a key role in this growing portfolio: they will support the development of a national Youth Mediation Network, coordinate youth-led initiatives at the community level, and contribute to the organization of intergenerational and interregional dialogue platforms. This assignment offers a young professional the opportunity to take part in shaping innovative approaches to social cohesion while gaining hands-on experience within a dynamic international development setting.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist/Cluster Lead/Effective Governance, Justice and Human Rights, the UN Youth Volunteer will undertake the following tasks: -Support the conceptualization of the National Youth Mediation Network, assisting in training coordination, outreach, and network development. - Contribute to the design and facilitation of youth engagement and intergenerational dialogue events at local and national levels. - Assist with the coordination of social cohesion learning exchanges and interregional youth forums, including logistics, content preparation, and post-event reporting. - Liaise with local partners (CSOs, Hometown Associations, Youth Centers) to mobilize young people in community-based dialogue and peacebuilding activities. - Support monitoring and reporting efforts, including drafting human interest stories and collecting lessons learned from youth initiatives. - Support in the development of the monitoring indicators and framework. - Participate in field missions, community visits, and collect feedback from beneficiaries to help improve programme design and implementation. - Assist the team with day-to-day programme administration and documentation, including on visibility and outreach.

​​Accountability ​​Adaptability and Flexibility ​​Building Trust ​​Client Orientation ​​Commitment and Motivation
​​Communication ​Creativity Integrity ​Planning and Organizing ​Respect for Diversity Technological Awareness Working in Teams

Demonstrated interest and/or experience (ideally one year) in: - Youth engagement, civic education, or dialogue facilitation - Peacebuilding, social cohesion or community development - Volunteerism, social activism, or intergenerational cooperation

Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture (i.e., studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Skills in: - Project coordination and event organization - Research, data collection or qualitative reporting - Intercultural communication and teamwork

Living conditions Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with relatively low living costs and a stable security environment. Chisinau, the capital, is a A-duty station with modern infrastructure, access to international amenities, and a growing international community. Public transportation is affordable, and health services are widely available. Winters can be cold, and summers are hot and dry. Volunteers are encouraged to adopt a culturally respectful and adaptable attitude during their stay.

Visa process: Swiss nationals can enter Moldova and stay within the country for 90 days without a visa. For the duration of the assignment, UNICEF Moldova will support the volunteer in obtaining a temporary residence permit for volunteer activities through the General Inspectorate for Migration. The process usually takes 4-6 weeks, during which time the volunteer may commence their assignment.

Conditions of Service

The Conditions of Service outline the policies and rules governing UN Volunteer assignments. These, along with other resources, are available on the Unified Volunteer Platform (UVP) at https://app.unv.org/explore. You can also access the entitlement calculator here: https://app.unv.org/calculator.

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Potential interview questions

Added 7 months ago - Updated 7 months ago - Source: unv.org