Organization Mission

In the Asia-Pacific region, UNDP’s work on Youth in Governance aims to enable young people’s civic engagement and meaningful participation in decision-making, political processes and governance structures for peaceful and inclusive societies. We aim to boost young people’s interest, capacity, engagement and active participation in politics, governance and democratic institutions that affect their daily lives, both now and in the future. Making sure that no one is left behind, our efforts include the active engagement of young women, those from low income backgrounds, migrant and displaced youth, Indigenous youth, LGBTI+ youth, and young people with disabilities to shape a future of inclusive governance and foster a society where every voice is heard and valued.

Context

The UNDP Youth in Governance team is exploring innovative and inclusive approaches that strengthen youth participation in governance across the Asia-Pacific region. This includes youth-led CivicTech and GovTech initiatives, youth-inclusive climate governance (with a focus on NDC/NAP processes), and youth engagement in urban governance. We aim to understand how participatory approaches and digital platforms have paved the way for more inclusive climate governance, as well as strategies for financing and scaling youth-led CivicTech solutions. To support this work, we are seeking an Online Volunteer to assist with desk research and analysis related to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Key Responsibilities

We are seeking one Online Volunteer to assist our Youth in Governance team with desk research related to Youth-led CivicTech, Youth-inclusive Climate Governance and Youth Urban Governance in Asia-Pacific. The Online Volunteer will play a key role in supporting our efforts by:
– Supporting in the development of 5–6 country-level case studies on participatory approaches that enabled inclusive climate governance, particularly where digital platforms were used for consultations.
– Preparing an issue brief (max 10 pages) on financing and growth strategies for youth-led CivicTech and GovTech initiatives in Asia-Pacific, based on desk research and interview data from UNDP’s Regional Innovation Challenge on Governance.
– Supporting the development of an analysis report for the Youth Urban Governance mapping exercise.

This research will provide insights into how youth-led innovations and participatory governance models can create meaningful spaces for youth engagement in climate action and urban governance.

Required Skills and Experience

The candidate should have:

– Demonstrated skills in qualitative and quantitative research are a must
– Exceptional analytical and writing abilities, with the capacity to derive and present research insights clearly and effectively, are essential.
– A strong grasp of climate action, governance systems, youth political participation and CivicTech/GovTech is essential for meaningful research.