Organization Mission

The Integrated Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC (IO) coordinates the work of the UN in Somalia towards the achievement of the National Transformation Plan (NTP) and Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals. The IO supports the implementation of the Strategic Priorities of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Somalia (2026-2030). Within the IO, the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) has five standardized core functions: Strategic Planning; Economics; Partnerships and Development Finance; Data and Results Management; and Reporting; and Communications and Advocacy. Beyond the RCO, the IO incorporates advisory functions – such as on youth – a risk management unit, and state-based decentralized coordination support. The IO also provides secretariat support to the UN Somalia Joint Fund, the Peace Building Fund, the UN Country Team (UNCT), the Programme Management Team (PMT), the Operations Management Team (OMT) as well as the Nexus, Durable Solutions and Peacebuilding Fund Working Groups on policy, planning and operational issues.

Context

Somalia is home to one of the most youthful populations in the world with over 70% of its population under the age of 35. The UN Somalia Youth Advisory Board (YAB) Online Volunteer assignments support UN Somalia’s strategic objective to make UN action more participatory, inclusive, and youth responsive by channeling lived youth perspectives into strategic vision, policy, programme design, monitoring, and advocacy. Moreover, the YAB supports the broader UN Somalia Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2026–2030 and the UN Youth Strategy 2.0 (Youth2030), and its role is to ensure youth priorities inform UNCT and Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) decision making.

The YAB is an advisory, non remunerated body that bridges Somali youth and UN Somalia leadership and works closely with the UN Inter Agency Working Group on Youth (IAWGY), and other technical working groups, to translate youth recommendations into action. The YAB meets three times a year chaired by the Resident Coordinator, and four times a year with IAWGY co-chaired by UNFPA and UNESCO. As Online Volunteers, the YAB members are expected to commit for a total period of one year, with contracts issued in renewable three-month increments subject to performance. YAB members will receive onboarding to familiarize them with the UN Somalia context and workstreams, information and guidance necessary for volunteers to contribute effectively to UN Somalia’s youth agenda, and, where resources allow, logistical support for approved activities.

The YAB will consist of 13 members with a gender balance—young women are strongly encouraged to apply—and will prioritize geographic representation across Somalia while ensuring deliberate outreach for, among others, young women, displaced, rural, and youth with disabilities as well as youth from minorities and historically marginalized communities, to guarantee inclusive participation.

Key Responsibilities

Please note that online volunteers are not UN staff. In addition, these positions do not involve contracts or any other entitlements.

We are looking for 13 Online Volunteers who will support us as members of the YAB. In this function the Online Volunteers work closely with the IAWGY with the support of the Resident Coordinators Office. As part of the YAB the Online Volunteers are asked to:
• Attend and actively participate in online YAB meetings and ad hoc consultations, working with other members of the YAB.
• Review UN Somalia policies, programme documents and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework from a youth perspective and prepare concise written and oral inputs and feedback.
• Provide strategic guidance on youth priorities across thematic areas e.g., (governance, economic transformation, social and human capital, environment/climate, gender and inclusion).
• Support youth sensitive monitoring and evaluation by contributing to indicators, feedback collection and quarterly reporting inputs.
• Engage and connect with youth-led networks to ensure geographic and intersectional representation and feedback from youth.
• Respond to other requests for input from UNCT, HCT, and IAWGY.

This assignment allows Online Volunteers to connect with UN experts and technical focal points and provides an opportunity to develop and hone their skills and contribute to the UN”s mission of leaving no one behind.

DISCLAIMER: This assignment is a voluntary one. The Online Volunteers who join the UN Somalia Youth Advisory Board are not UN Staff Members or representatives of the UN.

Required Skills and Experience

• Age 18–35 and resident in Somalia.
• Active involvement with local youth or professional youth-led organizations; demonstrated link to community networks.
• Strong communication and advocacy skills; ability to analyze policy and draft concise recommendations.
• Ability to join meetings online.
• Experience with youth engagement, Monitoring and Evaluation, or programme design is an asset.
• Commitment to voluntary service, confidentiality, and the YAB code of conduct.
• Availability for regular online meetings and timely written inputs.