Youth Engagement Specialist (Consultant), Astana, Kazakhstan

Please apply via the following link: https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/job/580568/youth-engagement-specialist-consultant-astana-kazakhstan

Deadline for submission of application: March 31st, 2025, 23:55, Astana time-zone.

Purpose of the assignment
The Youth Engagement Specialist will provide technical support to UNICEF Kazakhstan in the following areas:
• Developing and scaling up UNICEF’s volunteering programme as a cross-sectoral youth engagement strategy.
• Supervising and supporting the Youth Engagement Consultant to establish and strengthen volunteers networks across Kazakhstan.
• Expanding U-Report Kazakhstan as a platform for youth-led advocacy, opinion gathering and information dissemination, youth community development and nurturing responsible and active citizenship.
• Strategic planning and stakeholder engagement to ensure youth participation in national and regional policies and advocacy efforts.

Scope of Work:
Kazakhstan has a growing youth population, with young people aged 10-24 constituting a significant portion of the country's demographics. Their participation in social, environmental, and digital initiatives is crucial for national development. UNICEF has been committed to strengthening youth engagement through volunteering programmes, U-Report Kazakhstan, and initiatives addressing climate action, education, and child online safety.
Since 2020, UNICEF Kazakhstan has launched various volunteering initiatives, including #PlasticFreeKazakhstan, #BeKind, #BeGreen, #BeSafe, Road Safety Volunteering, and Volunteering for Education. These initiatives have successfully mobilized around ten thousand youth across multiple regions, promoting skills development, climate action, and peer-to-peer education.

U-Report Kazakhstan was launched in August 2024 as a digital youth engagement platform that empowers young voices to influence policies and advocacy efforts. The platform has grown to include over 10,000 U-Reporters across 10 regions and has conducted three national polls on issues such as volunteering, health and SDGs. These insights have contributed to state youth consultations and programmatic interventions. The Country Office has launched and manages a dedicated U-Report Kazakhstan Instagram channel to promote initiative and engage U-Reporters.
To further expand and coordinate these initiatives, UNICEF Kazakhstan seeks a Youth Engagement Specialist (Consultant) who will oversee the development of UNICEF’s volunteering programme, supervise the Youth Engagement Consultant, and lead the expansion of U-Report Kazakhstan and its integration into the UNICEF volunteering programme.
The consultant will work under the supervision of Communication Specialist and in close collaboration with programme teams across sectors.

1. Strategic Coordination
• Develop and implement a comprehensive youth engagement strategy, integrating volunteering and U-Report into a unified programme, in full compliance with child safeguarding principles and ethical considerations.
• Oversee and provide strategic direction for the volunteering programme overall and in the regions: 5 regions of Kazakhstan in 2025 and in 10 regions in 2026.
• Inspire and mobilize young people for grassroots volunteer actions and advocacy, including activities such as tree planting, air quality monitoring, water education, and waste recycling (the list is not final and will be identified later).
• Establish and maintain partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, private sector stakeholders, and international organizations to support youth engagement initiatives.
• Supervise the Youth Engagement Consultant and M&E framework development, ensuring effective implementation of regional programs and U-Report expansion, and alignment with the Country Office’s M&E framework.
2. Development and Coordination of UNICEF’s Volunteering Programme
• Develop and manage UNICEF’s Volunteering Programme, ensuring scale-up, sustainability, impact, and resource mobilization.
• Establish and maintain partnerships with stakeholders and organize national forums on youth engagement and volunteering.
• Manage a volunteer database, ensuring accurate data tracking, reporting, and communication.
• Monitor and evaluate programme effectiveness and manage the budget in line with cost-effectiveness principles.
3. Overseeing the Implementation of U-Report Kazakhstan
• Develop and implement the 2025 U-Report Kazakhstan expansion plan, integrating it into the volunteering program and aligning with the new Country Programme Document (2026-2030).
• Coordinate U-Report activities, including steering committee meetings, campaigns on key youth issues, and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage U-Report Kazakhstan’s digital presence, including Instagram, ensuring alignment with polls, campaigns, and social media trends.
• Maintain partnerships and seek funding opportunities, engaging government, NGOs, private partners, and the U-Report Global Support Team to ensure sustainability and best practice implementation.
• Conduct regular reviews of global polls, launching relevant ones for Kazakhstan and contributing to UNICEF grant proposals.
• Produce and share analysis and briefs on U-Report activities, polls’ results to support advocacy and policy dialogue

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
• Education: Master’s degree in Project Management, Communications, International Relations, International Development, or another related field.
• A first-level university degree with an additional two years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Experience:
- At least 5 years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in advocacy, campaigning, and communication with young people.
- Proven experience in volunteer management, youth engagement, and stakeholder coordination.
- Experience in building and maintaining partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and private sector stakeholders.
- Strong experience in managing people.
- Demonstrated expertise in project design and management, including budget oversight and monitoring and evaluation of programme results.
- Experience in training, facilitation, and capacity building for youth-led initiatives is an asset.
- Strong strategic planning and leadership skills, particularly in youth engagement, volunteering, and program implementation.
- Proven ability to build networks and coalitions, ensuring multi-sectoral cooperation.
- Knowledge of child safeguarding principles and ethical considerations when working with children and youth.
- Strong communication, networking, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
- Proven ability to work independently, take initiative, and develop innovative approaches in youth engagement.
- Fluency in both written and spoken English, Kazakh and Russian languages are required.

• Competencies:
- Competency in Youth Engagement and Volunteering (25%)
- Competency in Programme Management

For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability