Coordination Assistant

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

The 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) consultations led by NITI Aayog and supported by the UN in India, explicitly prioritized Scheduled Tribes and Adivasis among 13 critical “Leave No One Behind” (LNOB) groups. These consultations highlighted persistent gaps in capacity, access and meaningful representation for tribal youth, underscoring the urgent need for targeted investments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In alignment with Youth2030: The UN Youth Strategy (Phase 2: 2025–2030) which places youth at the centre of global transformation and SDG acceleration, the United Nations in India is launching a structured, first-of-its-kind one-UN initiative: the Adi Yuva Fellowship. This innovative programme will bring together the expertise of UN agencies to mentor, train, and place tribal and marginalised youth in impactful roles across government and development sectors at central, state, and district levels through the UN Volunteers modality. The fellowship will offer paid, well-supported opportunities, aiming to build a future workforce that is inclusive, empowered, and representative.

It is designed to directly complement and support the Government of India’s flagship national initiative—the PM-JANMAN (Prime Minister’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) Development Mission). The mission’s goal to saturate PVTG households with basic facilities, secure livelihoods and socio-economic empowerment provides a critical framework for aligned and synergistic UN action.

Within this strategic context, the National UN Associate Volunteer for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Jharkhand under the Adi Yuva Fellowship programme will play a pivotal role. The volunteer will directly contribute to operationalizing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) by ensuring DRR and climate resilience actions are fully integrated into development efforts for tribal communities - who are often disproportionately vulnerable. This includes linking community-based DRR with the habitat resilience and livelihood security goals of PM-JANMAN.

The UN Volunteer will act as a key coordination link, mapping and aligning UNICEF and broader UN system interventions in tribal areas with the priorities and implementation pathways of the PM-JANMAN mission in Jharkhand. By facilitating this synergy, the volunteer will help ensure that UN support is coherent, additive and effectively contributes to the national mission’s objectives of universal access and sustainable development for PVTGs.

This role is fundamental to translating high-level commitments from the VNR, the Youth2030 Strategy and the SFDRR into tangible, coordinated action that supports national priorities. It directly advances SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 4 (Quality Education), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Communities) and 13 (Climate Action). Through this assignment, the UN Volunteer will gain invaluable experience in policy coordination, community-led development and resilience building, making a direct contribution to the inclusive and sustainable development of tribal communities in Jharkhand.

Under the overall supervision and guidance of WASH Specialist, UNICEF Jharkhand, the national UN Volunteer will perform the following tasks:

Core Tasks: Programmatic Support & Coordination

1. Tribal Affairs & Inclusive Development:
• Support mapping of UNICEF’s and other UN Agencies ongoing and planned interventions in tribal districts of Jharkhand (e.g., Khunti, West Singhbhum, Gumla).
• Assist in identifying gaps and opportunities to ensure programs are culturally sensitive, inclusive, and aligned with the needs of tribal children, youth and women across the state.
• Support documenting programming in vulnerable tribal areas and resilience initiatives.
• Support liaising with tribal community leaders, youth groups and local civil society organizations in the state to foster trust and participatory planning.

2. Inter-Agency Coordination:
• Facilitate and participate in inter-agency coordination meetings in Jharkhand on issues related to tribal development and DRR.
• Assist in documenting shared priorities and action points across states and ensure cross-learning.

3. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) with a Youth & Tribal Lens:
• Assist in integrating DRR principles into youth-focused and tribal-area programming (health, education, WASH, child protection, social protection) in the state. Support state-led school safety initiatives aligned with the National School Safety Policy.
• Support the organization of community-based DRR training and simulation drills, specifically targeting youth and tribal volunteers as first responders in Jharkhand.
• Map traditional knowledge and indigenous practices of tribal communities in Jharkhand related to environmental conservation, climate change and disaster preparedness.

4. Youth Engagement & Capacity Building:
• Support the formation and training of Youth Volunteer Clubs in schools and communities in the state on DRR, climate change, adolescent health and child protection.
• Assist in organizing awareness sessions on adolescent health, nutrition, mental health, education, WASH and child protection tailored for tribal youth in Jharkhand.
• Facilitate youth-led initiatives and campaigns on climate action and community resilience across the state.

5. Knowledge Management & Reporting:
• Support in preparing meeting agendas, minutes and diligently track action items and follow-ups for coordination forums.
• Contribute to drafting periodic reports, briefs and presentations highlighting results, challenges and youth/tribal community contributions from Jharkhand

UNV Mandate & Volunteerism Tasks
• Learning & Reflection: Proactively learn about volunteerism concepts through UNV resources; participate in reflection sessions to improve the quality of voluntary action.
• Community Integration: Research and document local forms of volunteerism in Jharkhand and integrate these insights into program approaches.
• Advocacy & Communication: Write articles, field experiences or case studies for the UNV website, newsletters and local media to highlight volunteer contributions.
• Peer Support: Serve as a ‘Buddy’ for newly arrived UN Volunteers, helping them settle in and understand the context.
• Promote Online Volunteering: Encourage local NGOs and youth groups to use the UNV Online Volunteering service for skill-based support.

Additional Responsibilities
• Undertake field visits to Jharkhand monitor activities, engage with communities and gather firsthand information.
• Perform any other relevant duties assigned by the supervisor to support the overall goals of the DRR and tribal development portfolio.
• Uphold UN values and principles, ensuring a commitment to do no harm and to leave no one behind.