Imagine wielding real influence in crafting a more sustainable world – the UNOPS Youth Engagement Platform (YEP) is your gateway to making that happen as a young changemaker. This isn't just any opportunity; it's a high-stakes, home-based role where you'll advise top UNOPS leaders and infuse fresh, youth-driven insights into decisions that affect global development. But here's where it gets intriguing: you'll do it all from the comfort of your home, collaborating with peers worldwide for a full 12 months. And this is the part most people miss – even though it's pro-bono, the exposure and growth it offers could catapult your career in ways no paid gig might. Controversial? Absolutely – some argue that unpaid roles in prestigious organizations like this perpetuate inequality, favoring those who can afford to volunteer time without financial strain. What do you think: Is this a fair trade-off for elite networking and impact? Let's dive in and explore why this platform could be your launchpad to leadership in sustainable development.
First off, let's unpack what UNOPS is all about. The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is a powerhouse in delivering essential services like building infrastructure, managing procurements, overseeing projects, and providing operational support to drive sustainable development across the globe. Think of them as the behind-the-scenes experts ensuring that critical projects – from climate-resilient roads to emergency procurement in fragile regions – happen smoothly and effectively.
Now, enter the Youth Engagement Platform, affectionately nicknamed '30 below 30, to get 2030.' Launched by the UNOPS Executive Director, this initiative is designed to channel the voices, innovative ideas, and real-life experiences of young people straight into the highest levels of UNOPS decision-making. It's not merely an internship; it's a hub for sparking innovation, swaying policies, and establishing yourself as a thought leader in the UN ecosystem. Participation is volunteer-based (pro-bono), but don't let that fool you – you'll gain unmatched visibility within the UN network, sharpen your professional skills, and champion youth voices in both internal discussions and public arenas. Just a heads-up: any travel you undertake for UNOPS will be compensated, so it's not entirely without perks.
Delving into the Role Purpose: As a YEP member, you're stepping into the shoes of a youth advisor to UNOPS leadership. Your mission? To inject fresh ideas, personal stories, and youth-centric perspectives into the organization's operations. This helps UNOPS tackle challenges impacting young people head-on, design programs that truly include youth, and bolster its contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – those 17 global targets set by the UN to eradicate poverty, fight inequality, and protect the planet by 2030. For beginners, think of SDGs as a roadmap for a better world; for instance, Goal 3 focuses on health, while Goal 13 tackles climate action, and your role directly influences how these are implemented.
Your key responsibilities will keep you engaged and impactful:
Generating Youth-Led Insights on SDG and Development Trends
Here, you'll spot emerging risks, untapped opportunities, and shifting trends that affect young people in UNOPS's key areas, such as infrastructure building, procurement processes, climate adaptation, working in fragile states, and project management. You'll offer quick, youth-focused feedback on global and regional events to shape UNOPS's strategies, policies, and programs. Plus, you'll add youth angles to internal reports, future-planning sessions, and strategy evaluations – imagine analyzing how a new climate policy might affect young entrepreneurs in developing countries.Providing Strategic Advisory Input
You'll review and suggest improvements to UNOPS's frameworks, policies, and projects through a youth, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) lens. This could mean joining consultations with leaders and key teams to share practical advice tied to youth experiences. You'll even help co-create proposals that make UNOPS's work more relevant and effective for young people – for example, ensuring that infrastructure projects include training for youth in sustainable building techniques.Advancing Youth Representation and Thought Leadership
You'll be the voice of youth in UNOPS's internal meetings and select external events, like international conferences. Contribute to speeches, advocacy campaigns, and panel discussions that spotlight youth priorities, such as education access or job creation in green industries. You'll also support UNOPS's involvement in broader UN youth efforts, aligning with the UN Youth Strategy and the Youth2030 initiative to amplify young voices on a global scale.Strengthening Youth-Inclusive Operational Approaches
Your feedback will help boost youth involvement and fair benefit-sharing in UNOPS projects. You'll highlight successful examples from other youth-focused initiatives and incorporate them into UNOPS's operational guidelines and standards. Moreover, you'll guide the organization on ethical, safe, and meaningful ways to engage young people – think advising on how to avoid tokenism and ensure authentic participation in project cycles.
Who Should Apply? The YEP is on the lookout for 15 talented internal UNOPS staff and 15 external youth trailblazers aged 17 to 29. Ideal candidates are passionate about sustainable development and the SDGs, with a track record of leadership or active involvement in community groups, student organizations, or advocacy work. If you've represented youth views locally, nationally, regionally, or internationally, that's a big plus. Collaboration across diverse groups and meaningful contributions to decision-making forums are key. Bonus points for experience with SDG issues or international development via volunteering, activism, studies, or networks. While English fluency is a must, knowing Spanish or French will make you even more valuable.
Why Join? This isn't just a checkbox on your resume – it's a chance to drive real change. You'll influence UNOPS policies and strategies with your youthful perspective, gain visibility by representing young voices in UN decisions and global events, and build skills in policy analysis, public speaking, stakeholder relations, and advocacy. Networking with fellow youth and experts in sustainable development and the UN will open doors you didn't know existed. Most importantly, you'll make a tangible difference in promoting youth-inclusive global development, pushing us closer to the 2030 Agenda. For instance, your input might lead to more youth-led climate projects, directly benefiting millions.
How to Apply: Compile everything into one PDF file, including:
Your resume or CV, highlighting your experiences and qualifications.
A description of a project or initiative that shows your dedication to sustainable development (keep it to 2000 characters max – that's about 300-400 words).
A link to a 90-second video where you share your enthusiasm for sustainable development and how you'll add value to the YEP.
The deadline is December 31, 2025, at midnight Copenhagen time. UNOPS values diversity, equity, and inclusion, so they especially welcome applications from underrepresented and marginalized groups.
This is a golden chance for young visionaries to inject youth perspectives into the core of global decision-making, fostering a world that's more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient. Ready to shape the future? Apply now at https://careers.unops.org/careersmarketplace/JobDetail/Member-UNOPS-Youth-Engagement-Platform/1326.
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) (https://www.globalsouthopportunities.com/) isn't the employer here. Reach out directly to the official organization for questions. Don't send applications to us – we can't handle them. With so many inquiries, we might not reply to every email, but thanks for understanding.
What about you? Do you believe opportunities like this truly empower youth or just benefit those already privileged? Should pro-bono roles in UN bodies be phased out in favor of paid positions? Drop your opinions in the comments – we'd love to hear your take and spark a debate!
