Youth Engagement Associate

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a UN agency established to assist countries in eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, and building resilience. Operating in approximately 170 countries and territories, UNDP aims to help nations sustain progress and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In Ukraine, UNDP focuses on three main program priorities: Democratic Governance and Inclusive Social Fabric, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Recovery and Growth, and Sustainable Environment and Energy Transformation. Since the onset of hostilities in 2014 and the full-scale invasion in 2022, UNDP has maintained a presence in Ukraine, supporting local authorities and civil society partners in emergency response and crisis management. The organization has developed a Country Programme Document for 2025-2029, which emphasizes community recovery and the creation of conditions conducive to returning to a development pathway. UNDP's approach is holistic and systems-based, empowering all societal sectors, including government, local authorities, the private sector, and citizens, to respond effectively to the challenges posed by the war. The Youth Engagement Associate role is crucial in fostering inclusive participation among young people in decision-making and recovery planning, thereby enhancing community resilience and social cohesion in war-affected areas.

Job Overview:
The Youth Engagement Associate will play a pivotal role in strengthening local dialogue and trust-building within communities, particularly by engaging young women and men in decision-making processes. The position involves fostering interaction between youth and local authorities through joint decision-making, public consultations, and hearings, especially in communities most affected by the war and displacement. The incumbent will support the establishment of local platforms for networking and knowledge sharing among youth, volunteer networks, and various stakeholders, including national and local authorities, NGOs, and international development organizations. The role also includes advocating for the participation of youth civil society organizations (CSOs) in consultations with local administrations and promoting the establishment of youth CSOs to monitor local policies and budgets. The Youth Engagement Associate will organize regional and local consultations on youth inclusion and recovery planning, providing substantive inputs for analytical reports as needed. Additionally, the position requires assisting local authorities in implementing youth-oriented communication strategies and fostering civic activism and volunteerism among young people. The incumbent will contribute to the development of student self-governance bodies, youth councils, and youth-led CSOs through capacity-building initiatives that enhance local capacities for monitoring local development programs and strategies. The role also involves supporting social, cultural, and volunteer networks at the community level and facilitating the development of educational curricula that promote tolerance and proactive civic engagement.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Contribute to and support local dialogue and trust-building within communities, focusing on engaging young women and men and fostering interaction with local authorities through joint decision-making, public consultations, and hearings, especially in war-affected communities.
• Support the establishment of local platforms for networking, knowledge sharing, and partnership building with youth and volunteer networks, national and local authorities, NGOs, and international development organizations.
• Advocate for the participation of youth CSOs, leaders, and networks in consultations with regional and local administrations, promoting the establishment and capacity building of youth CSOs for monitoring local policies and budgets.
• Organize and conduct regional and local consultations on youth inclusion and youth-led recovery planning, providing inputs for analytical reports.
• Assist local authorities in implementing youth-oriented communication strategies and public awareness approaches.
• Contribute to the development of civic activism and a culture of volunteerism among young people.
• Support the functioning of student self-governance bodies, youth councils, and youth-led CSOs through capacity-building initiatives.
• Facilitate and support the development of educational curricula and extra-curricular activities in schools to promote tolerance education and civic engagement.
• Identify, synthesize, and document best practices and lessons learned from the project and implementing partners. 1
• Ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality and women's empowerment considerations in all activities, promoting a safe and enabling environment free of discrimination. 1
• Perform other duties as necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Required Qualifications:

• Secondary Education is required; a university degree (bachelor's degree) in Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Psychology, Youth Work, or other relevant areas is preferred but not mandatory.
• A minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible project experience in youth work and engagement or related fields with secondary education, or 3 years with a university degree.
• Experience in using computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel) and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly to field sites in Mykolaiv oblast (Ukraine).

Educational Background:
The minimum educational requirement for this position is secondary education. However, candidates with a university degree (bachelor's degree) in relevant fields such as Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Psychology, or Youth Work will be given due consideration, although it is not a strict requirement.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience in youth work and engagement or related fields if they possess secondary education. If they have a university degree, a minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible project experience is required. Experience in organizing and monitoring workshops, roundtables, and community dialogues, particularly those promoting the inclusion of marginalized youth, is highly desirable. Proven experience in supporting community-based projects focused on youth and volunteer engagement is also preferred, along with prior experience working with youth infrastructure such as youth centers and youth-led civil society organizations.

Languages:
Fluency in Ukrainian and English is required for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and may involve regular travel to partner hromadas throughout Mykolaiv oblast. UNDP is committed to equal opportunity employment and values diversity, encouraging qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply. The organization does not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or abuse of authority and ensures that all selected candidates undergo relevant checks. UNDP reserves the right to select multiple candidates from this vacancy announcement and may retain applications for similar positions at the same grade level.