Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.


UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges.

In Thailand, UNDP partners with the host government, civil society including the business community, the United Nations system, the development partners and other development actors to help the country achieve sustainable development including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP Thailand is currently implementing its Country Programme 2022–2026, which sets out the direction for a new UNDP and is optimized to help Thailand achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Reducing gender inequalities and empowering vulnerable groups is vital to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Youth (15-30 years old) around 20% of Thailand's population are vulnerable to various development issues, especially in the time of COVID-19. Youth have voiced their concerns and challenges regarding the financial situation of the family, mental health, education, violence in various forms, and unemployment. UNDP Thailand Youth Strategy was created in 2020. The strategy highlights 3 pillars of civic engagement, economic empowerment, and change agent for SDGs, which covers all types of engagement from beneficiaries, contributors, and initiators. In order to ensure human security and resilience in Thailand in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak with Leave No One Behind and safeguard the progress made towards the SDGs, the assignment is expected to assist the strengthening of the programme in engaging with youth and LNOB communities, as well as relevant counterparts to create a human rights-based and gender-sensitive approach to progressively advance inclusive, sustainable and people-centered development for all people including youth in Thailand and safeguard and promote progress towards the SDGs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision and strategic guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative (DRR), UNDP Thailand is seeking a Youth and Community Engagement Advisor to manage Youth Portfolio in UNDP Thailand as well as expand their work to a wider Leave No One Behind portfolio. The incumbent will be responsible for designing and facilitating policy dialogues, capacity building, and training using innovative approaches to create meaningful participation of youth and other vulnerable groups with government agencies, CSOs, and private sectors. 

Youth and Social Innovation Specialist will work across the teams in UNDP Thailand to develop and implement innovative methods that meaningfully engage youth and other vulnerable groups in UNDP programme. S/he works to coordinate with UNDP Asia Pacific office to leverage the voices of vulnerable groups from Thailand regionally and connect LNOB communities at the local, national, and regional levels through the Development Solution Network on Diversity, Equity, and inclusion (DSN on DEI).
 

1.Managing Youth Portfolio    

  •  Manage youth-related programme in UNDP Thailand such as Youth Co:Lab programme, Youth dialogues, Capacity Building on social innovation for youth, etc.
  • Provide consultation across the team on meaningful youth engagement and intergenerational approach. Lead in designing and facilitating youth-related or Intergenerational dialogues, capacity building, and training using an inclusive innovative approach to create meaningful participation of youth and other vulnerable groups with government agencies, CSOs, and private sectors.
  • Coordinate with youth network, youth-led and youth-related organizations, and engage them with UNDP Thailand. Build their capacity to become change agents for SDGs
2. Inclusive Innovation to engage LNOB group
 
2.1 Lead in design and facilitate Inclusive Innovation to engage LNOB group
  • Provide consultation across the team on an inclusive innovation approach. Lead in designing and facilitating policy dialogues, capacity building, and training to engage vulnerable groups with UNDP Thailand programme
  • Convene and facilitate policy dialogues through innovative approaches between government and LNOB group at the national and sub-national levels.
  • Design and facilitate capacity building for private sectors and CSOs to increase inclusive activities for various LNOB groups.

    Incubate local solutions from LNOB group
  • Search for local solutions from vulnerable groups, amplify and scale them to mainstream development solutions.
  • Design and facilitate capacity building programme on social innovation for local communities. Support in incubating innovative solutions by LNOB groups.

 2.2 Incubate local solutions from LNOB group

  • Search for local solutions from vulnerable groups, amplify and scale them to mainstream development solutions.
  • Design and facilitate capacity building programme on social innovation for local communities. Support in incubating innovative solutions by LNOB groups.

3. Coordinate with Development Solutions Network at UNDP Asia Pacific Office

3.1 Support to facilitate learning exchanges between UNDP Country offices, Global Policy Network teams, and external partners related to Youth and DEI through Development Solutions Network (DSN)

  • Coordinate to share voices of vulnerable populations and case practices from LNOB portfolio in UNDP Thailand to DSN.
  • Manage a database of useful knowledge, toolkits, and publications related to youth and DEI
  • Regular review of DEI activities across UNDP to identify opportunities to replicate/scale up national initiatives. 
  • Support to facilitate communities of practice, learning exchanges around Youth & DEI

 3.2 Support to convene learning programmes to improve understanding on DEI 

  • Improve existing content related to DEI on Youth Co:Lab programme
  • Design learning tools and facilitate learning opportunities related to DEI content across regional youth portfolios.
  • Collect inputs from participants and partners to further improve the content 
Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements 
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible 
Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination 
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Business Management: Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience
Business Development: Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge relevant for context, or responsive to stated need
Business Development: Knowledge Facilitation: Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share particularly externally
Business Direction & Strategy: System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system
Business Development: Human-centered Design: Ability to develop solutions to problems involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving Process
Business Management: Partnerships Management: Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
 
Required Skills and Experience
Education
Min. Education requirements: Advanced university degree (Master or equivalent) in social sciences, development studies, education or a related area is required, OR A first university degree (Bachelor) with two additional years of relevant experience can be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree
 
Experience
Min. years of relevant work experience:Minimum 2 years (with Master’s degree) or 4 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant experience in Social Innovation, Development, Youth empowerment area is required.
Required  skills: 
  • Experience in working on innovation/social innovation landscape in Thailand 
  • Experience in engaging stakeholders from diverse groups and ensure the inclusivity in convening partners
  • Experience in working on youth engagement

Desired skills 

  • Experience in an international organization, UN agency or international NGO is an advantage
  • Experience in co-ordinating or implementing activities for different stakeholders in different contexts is an asset. 
  • Experience in knowledge sharing and knowledge management is an advantage
Required Language(s): Excellent written and spoken English and Thai

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:

a) A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.

b) Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as  reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

 
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  

 UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

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