UNOPS Youth Engagement Platform: Calling Young Leaders for the 2025–2026 Cohort (Remote)

Programme Overview

The UNOPS Youth Engagement Platform (YEP) is a high-impact advisory initiative designed to integrate youth perspectives into global development strategies. Established under the motto “30 below 30, to get 2030,” the Platform enables young leaders to collaborate with UNOPS senior management, contributing insights that enhance youth-inclusive decision-making.

Through the YEP, young participants:

• Advise on emerging challenges affecting youth in UNOPS areas of work
• Provide practical, youth-informed recommendations for policies and programmes
• Represent UNOPS in internal discussions and selected international forums
• Collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds to influence sustainable development initiatives

This 12-month, home-based internship offers exposure to the UN system, practical experience in policy analysis, public speaking, advocacy, and strategic development, without financial remuneration (except for travel costs incurred on behalf of UNOPS).

Role Purpose

Members of the YEP serve as youth advisors to UNOPS leadership, contributing their lived experiences, innovative ideas, and insights to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The role encompasses:

• Analysing emerging development trends affecting young people
• Reviewing and advising on UNOPS strategies from a youth lens
• Proposing practical, youth-informed recommendations for more inclusive programmes
• Representing youth perspectives at select internal and external engagements

This platform empowers participants to influence global development practices while building skills in leadership, advocacy, and strategic policy analysis.

Key Responsibilities

The YEP’s functions are grouped into four main areas:

1. Generate Youth-Led Insights on SDGs and Development Trends

• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities affecting young people across UNOPS sectors, including infrastructure, procurement, project management, climate, and fragility
• Provide rapid youth-focused feedback to inform strategies, policies, and programming
• Contribute perspectives to internal analyses, strategy reviews, and foresight exercises

2. Provide Strategic Advisory Input to UNOPS Leadership

• Review and advise on selected strategic frameworks, policies, and flagship initiatives from a youth and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) perspective
• Participate in consultations with the Executive Director and senior management
• Co-create recommendations to enhance the relevance, legitimacy, and impact of UNOPS initiatives for youth

3. Advance Youth Representation in External Engagement

• Represent UNOPS youth perspectives at international and regional events
• Contribute to advocacy messages, panel discussions, and speaking points highlighting youth priorities
• Support participation in system-wide youth engagement initiatives and partnerships

4. Strengthen Youth-Inclusive Operational Approaches

• Provide feedback to improve youth participation and benefit-sharing in projects
• Identify good practices and lessons from youth-engaging projects
• Advise on safe, ethical, and meaningful engagement of young people as partners and innovators

Qualifications and Skills

Education Requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent

Experience Requirements:

• Demonstrated youth leadership or community engagement
• Participation in national, regional, or international youth platforms
• Experience representing youth perspectives in forums, advocacy, or community initiatives
• Exposure to SDG-related issues through coursework, volunteering, activism, or personal experience
• Experience collaborating across diverse groups and teams

Desired Experience:

• Familiarity with the UN system, multilateralism, or global development
• Contribution to policy discussions or youth advocacy initiatives

Skills and Competencies:

• Leadership and intercultural communication
• Policy analysis and research
• Public speaking and advocacy
• Stakeholder management

Language Requirements:

• English (intermediate, required)
• Spanish and French (desirable, fluent)

Application Process

Applicants must submit a combined PDF including:

• Resume/CV highlighting relevant experiences and qualifications
• Description of a project or initiative demonstrating commitment to sustainable development (max. 2000 characters)
• Open-source video link (up to 90 seconds) explaining motivation and potential contributions to the YEP

Applications must be submitted before the deadline, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for assessments.

Eligibility and Commitment

• Open to young leaders aged 17–29, with diverse backgrounds and experiences
• Positions available for 15 internal UNOPS talents and 15 external visionaries
• Pro-bono participation; no remuneration except travel expenses
• Commitment to contribute insights, engage in advisory activities, and participate in external representation as requested

Impact and Opportunities

Participation in the YEP provides young leaders with:

• Practical experience influencing UN development programmes
• Opportunities to engage with global experts and leadership
• Skills in advocacy, policy analysis, and inclusive project design
• Networking with a diverse cohort of peers across the world

This initiative empowers youth to contribute meaningfully to the 2030 Agenda, promoting inclusive and sustainable development through their ideas and perspectives.

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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the calling organization. For any inquiries, please contact the hiring organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.