National Consultant on Youth Participation, Leadership and Advisory Mechanisms
UNFPA · Kyiv
The Position:
The consultant will work closely with UNFPA Ukraine, the Youth Sectoral Working Group (SWG), relevant government and youth stakeholders, and the selected Implementing Partner (IP) to establish a practical, inclusive and sustainable model for the Youth Advisory Board (YAB). Consultant will report to the Deputy Representative of UNFPA Ukraine
The consultant will undertake the following:
1. YAB Participation, Governance and Inclusion Framework
- Develop the overall YAB Participation and Governance Framework (defining its purpose, added value, membership and tenure, roles and responsibilities, decision making and agenda setting, relationship with UNFPA, the Youth SWG, government and existing youth structures, wider youth engagement, safeguarding, confidentiality, accessibility, conflict of interest, communication, feedback and accountability mechanisms) based on the initial concept note
- Develop a practical Recruitment and Inclusion Framework to guide transparent and diverse selection, including targeted outreach to underrepresented groups such as IDPs, young veterans, young people with disabilities, youth from war affected communities, youth living outside Ukraine and young people not already connected to established NGO/youth networks.
- The consultant will provide technical guidance and quality assurance to the IP during recruitment and onboarding but will not directly select YAB members.
2. YAB Learning and Leadership Package
- Develop a structured YAB Learning and Leadership Package providing a 12 month learning pathway rather than one off training. This should cover youth leadership, policy engagement and advocacy, communication and facilitation, evidence-informed recommendations, meaningful participation and safeguarding and relevant UNFPA technical areas such as SRHR, GBV, MHPSS and gender equality.
- The package should also incorporate mentoring, peer learning, exposure to policy processes and selected national/international forums, recognition of learning and leadership and opportunities for continued engagement and alumni support.
- The consultant will work with the IP to translate the package into an achievable 12 months learning and engagement calendar.
3. Youth Participation, MEL and Accountability Framework
- Establish a practical Youth Participation,MEL Framework to assess not only participation numbers, but also the diversity, quality and influence of youth participation.
- The framework should track representation, quality of engagement, youth-led agenda setting, recommendations and responses, participation in policy processes, leadership and skills development, wider youth engagement, youth led initiatives, member experience and changes in institutional practice if any.
4. First-Year Implementation Roadmap and IP Delivery Framework
- Translate the above frameworks into a practical 1-year YAB Implementation Roadmap covering establishment, recruitment and onboarding, meetings and youth led agenda-setting, wider youth consultations, learning and mentoring, policy engagement, youth led initiatives, communications, feedback and MEL.
5. Technical Guidance, Establishment Support and Learning
- Provide technical guidance and quality assurance to UNFPA and the IP during the initial establishment and implementation period, including review of implementation plans, recruitment and outreach approaches, learning activities, participation tools and MEL data.
- Support the initial YAB orientation, participatory priority setting and development of its first workplan and ways of working.
- Conduct periodic learning reviews, identify inclusion or implementation gaps, recommend adaptations and document emerging good practices and lessons.
At the end of the consultancy, provide recommendations to enable UNFPA and the IP to sustain the mechanism without continued dependence on the consultant.
Academic/professional Qualification:
- Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in social sciences, international development, public policy, youth development, public health, development studies, education, sociology, psychology, human rights or a related field
- Additional qualifications or demonstrated expertise in youth participation, youth leadership, programme design, monitoring and evaluation, or social inclusion would be an advantage.
Experience:
- At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in youth participation, youth development, youth leadership, social inclusion, policy engagement, programme design or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience in designing or strengthening youth advisory, youth leadership, youth participation or youth governance mechanisms.
- Demonstrated experience in developing participation frameworks, governance arrangements, selection processes or youth engagement strategies.
- Experience in developing monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks, particularly for participation, empowerment or governance programmes.
- Demonstrated experience working with diverse and/or marginalised groups of young people.
- Experience working with government, UN agencies, international organisations, development partners or civil society organisations in Ukraine is strongly desirable.
- Knowledge of the Ukrainian youth policy and participation ecosystem, including youth councils, youth organisations, youth centres and other youth participation mechanisms, is highly desirable.
- Experience working in humanitarian, recovery or conflict-affected contexts is an advantage.
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system
- Embracing cultural diversity
- Embracing change
Core Competencies:
- Achieving results
- Being accountable
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
- Thinking analytically and strategically
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships
- Communicating for impact
Functional Competencies:
- Strong understanding of meaningful youth participation and youth leadership principles.
- Strong strategic and analytical skills.
- Demonstrated ability to translate concepts into practical frameworks, tools and implementation plans.
- Strong facilitation and consultation skills.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to both technical stakeholders and young people.
- Strong understanding of inclusion, accessibility, safeguarding and do-no-harm approaches
- Ability to work collaboratively with government, UN agencies, NGOs, youth organisations and young people
- Demonstrated ability to provide constructive technical guidance and quality assurance without taking over implementation responsibilities.
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
UNFPA Ukraine will establish a Youth Advisory Board (YAB) under the Sectoral Working Group “Youth” to promote meaningful youth participation in policy and recovery processes. The YAB will connect young people with UNFPA, government and development partners, complementing existing participation mechanisms. It will prioritise inclusion, accessibility and underrepresented groups, including young people with disabilities, internally displaced youth, young veterans and those from war-affected communities. The consultant will develop the YAB’s governance, recruitment, inclusion, capacity-building and monitoring frameworks, provide technical guidance and quality assurance to the Implementing Partner (IP), and establish mechanisms to assess meaningful youth influence. The consultant will focus on design, technical support, capacity strengthening and learning, while the IP manages operational and logistical implementation.