National Consultant on Youth Participation, Leadership and Advisory Mechanisms

The consultant will work closely with UNFPA Ukraine and partners to establish a practical, inclusive and sustainable model for the Youth Advisory Board (YAB). Responsibilities include developing participation, governance, learning, MEL frameworks and providing technical guidance during implementation.

Responsibilities

• Develop the overall YAB Participation and Governance Framework defining purpose, membership, roles, decision making, relationships, safeguarding, confidentiality, accessibility, conflict of interest, communication, feedback and accountability mechanisms
• Develop a practical Recruitment and Inclusion Framework guiding transparent and diverse selection including outreach to underrepresented groups
• Provide technical guidance and quality assurance to the Implementing Partner during recruitment and onboarding
• Develop a structured YAB Learning and Leadership Package providing a 12 month learning pathway covering youth leadership, policy engagement, advocacy, communication, facilitation, safeguarding and relevant UNFPA technical areas
• Work with the Implementing Partner to translate the package into a 12 months learning and engagement calendar
• Establish a practical Youth Participation, MEL Framework to assess participation numbers, diversity, quality, influence, representation, youth-led agenda setting, recommendations, policy participation, leadership, skills development, youth-led initiatives, member experience and institutional changes
• Translate frameworks into a practical 1-year YAB Implementation Roadmap covering establishment, recruitment, meetings, consultations, learning, mentoring, policy engagement, youth initiatives, communications, feedback and MEL
• Provide technical guidance and quality assurance to UNFPA and the Implementing Partner during establishment and implementation including review of plans, recruitment, learning activities, participation tools and MEL data
• Support initial YAB orientation, priority setting, workplan and ways of working
• Conduct periodic learning reviews, identify gaps, recommend adaptations and document good practices and lessons
• Provide recommendations to enable UNFPA and the Implementing Partner to sustain the mechanism without continued consultant dependence

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in social sciences, international development, public policy, youth development, public health, development studies, education, sociology, psychology, human rights or a related field
• Additional qualifications or demonstrated expertise in youth participation, youth leadership, programme design, monitoring and evaluation, or social inclusion would be an advantage
• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in youth participation, youth development, youth leadership, social inclusion, policy engagement, programme design or a related field
• Demonstrated experience in designing or strengthening youth advisory, youth leadership, youth participation or youth governance mechanisms
• Demonstrated experience in developing participation frameworks, governance arrangements, selection processes or youth engagement strategies
• Experience in developing monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks, particularly for participation, empowerment or governance programmes
• Demonstrated experience working with diverse and/or marginalised groups of young people
• Experience working with government, UN agencies, international organisations, development partners or civil society organisations in Ukraine is strongly desirable
• Knowledge of the Ukrainian youth policy and participation ecosystem, including youth councils, youth organisations, youth centres and other youth participation mechanisms, is highly desirable
• Experience working in humanitarian, recovery or conflict-affected contexts is an advantage
• Strong understanding of meaningful youth participation and youth leadership principles
• Strong strategic and analytical skills
• Demonstrated ability to translate concepts into practical frameworks, tools and implementation plans
• Strong facilitation and consultation skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to both technical stakeholders and young people
• Strong understanding of inclusion, accessibility, safeguarding and do-no-harm approaches
• Ability to work collaboratively with government, UN agencies, NGOs, youth organisations and young people
• Demonstrated ability to provide constructive technical guidance and quality assurance without taking over implementation responsibilities

Skills

• Youth Participation
• Youth Leadership
• Programme Design
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Social Inclusion
• Youth Advisory Mechanisms
• Governance Arrangements
• Youth Engagement
• Participation Frameworks
• Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Frameworks
• Working with Marginalised Youth
• Policy Engagement
• Youth Development
• Strategic Analysis
• Facilitation Skills
• Consultancy Skills
• Technical Guidance
• Quality Assurance
• Written Communication
• Oral Communication
• Inclusion and Accessibility
• Safeguarding
• Do-No-Harm

Languages

English, Ukrainian