CORPORATE BACKGROUND

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

UNDP is working to strengthen new frameworks for development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. We support countries' efforts to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals, which will guide global development priorities through 2030. The key 2030 Agenda principle of leaving no one behind and stamping out inequality is at the core of everything we do.

UNDP focuses on helping countries build and share solutions in three main areas:

• Sustainable development
• Democratic governance and peacebuilding
• Climate and disaster resilience

In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women, minorities and the poorest and most vulnerable.
 

INTERNSHIP OFFICE BACKGROUND

UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific (RBAP), with 24 Country Offices covering work in 36 countries and decades of experience in the region, is a trusted adviser and a ‘development partner’ of choice for governments across the region in supporting the localization and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We help our partners in identifying relevant solutions to today’s complex, trans-boundary development challenges. We support them to design and implement large scale development initiatives that deliver lasting social, economic and environmental improvements in countries across the region. 
 
Our support to governments, civil society, the private sector and communities is at every level of their organization: we provide legislative and regulatory advice that transforms governance systems; we provide capacity building and trainings that build nations; and we organize employment schemes that bring jobs to the most vulnerable groups. Guided by UNDP’s 2022-25 Strategic Plan, advisory and implementation work focuses on the following areas: Structural Transformation, Leaving No-one Behind and Building Resilience. In addition to these areas of focus which reflect regional developmental priorities, we emphasize gender, climate change, social protection and inclusive growth, in all aspects of our work.    
 

The Context of Youth Empowerment 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes young people as critical agents in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and calls for urgent action to address structural barriers that limit their economic, social, and political inclusion. Today, young people are growing up in a period of rapid technological advancement, particularly in artificial intelligence and digital technologies, which is fundamentally reshaping labour markets, skills demands, and pathways to employment. While these technologies offer unprecedented opportunities for innovation, productivity, and new forms of work, they also risk deepening inequalities for young people who lack access to relevant skills, networks, and enabling ecosystems. 
Across Asia and the Pacific, many young people face heightened employment uncertainty due to automation, job displacement, climate shocks, and uneven digital transformation. At the same time, young people remain underrepresented in decision-making processes that shape the technologies, policies, and economic systems affecting their futures. In this context, empowering youth with future-ready skills, entrepreneurial mindsets, and opportunities to apply technology for social and environmental good is essential to enhance employability and enable young people to drive inclusive, locally led solutions that advance sustainable development.

Youth Co:Lab and its Startup Support Programmes 

UNDP and its partners have supported youth-led social enterprises across the region through a suite of startup support programmes designed to help young entrepreneurs translate ideas into scalable, impact-driven solutions. These programmes focus on advancing inclusion, climate action, and digital innovation, while strengthening the capacity of young founders to generate livelihoods and address pressing development challenges in their communities. 

Over the last 9 years, Youth Co:Lab has been implemented in 25 countries and territories in Asia and the Pacific. The national dialogues, regional summits and social innovation challenges have reached over 200,000 youth participants. The initiative has benefitted over 11,000 young social entrepreneurs and helped to launch or improve over 1,240 youth-led social enterprises. Youth Co:Lab has also established partnerships with 200+ key ecosystem players through a Youth Empowerment Alliance. Guided by the core principles of the 2030 Agenda, Youth Co:Lab curates thematic innovation challenges and startup support initiatives to surface, nurture, and scale youth-led solutions that contribute to the SDGs. Through these programmes, young entrepreneurs are equipped with the skills, networks, and resources needed to grow sustainable ventures and support vulnerable communities. 
Youth Co:Lab supports youth social entrepreneurs through: 

• Business training programmes delivered by investors, UN agencies, experienced founders, private sector partners, and Youth Co:Lab alumni; 
• Dedicated account management and tailored growth support to address founders’ evolving needs; 
• A regional startup support hub that provides dedicated coaching and connects young social entrepreneurs with ecosystem partners, and global opportunities; 
• Targeted fellowship and inclusion-focused initiatives to increase the participation and representation of youth-led social enterprises that improve the lives of marginalised communities.

Program Implementation Support - Climate Startup Support Programme (50%):

• Support the open call process, including startup profile management, coordination of screening processes, and onboarding of selected participants; 
• Assist with the coordination and execution of weekly learning sessions and community learning events, including speaker coordination, session logistics, attendance tracking, and follow-up, with a strong client-oriented and service mindset;
• Support the consolidation of inputs for final programme reports and results showcasing.

Youth Co:Lab Summit – Startup Track Support (40%):

• Support startup founders in preparing for showcasing opportunities, including pitching and speaking sessions;
• Support on-site or pre-event preparations to ensure smooth execution of startup-related sessions;
• Curate monthly opportunities relevant to founders and draft communication materials to showcase their achievements.

Other (10%):

• Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed;

• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization, particularly in programmes that support youth, entrepreneurship, climate action, and inclusive development;
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to gather, consolidate, and interpret information for practical programme implementation, and a willingness to continuously learn and improve;
• Service-oriented, proactive, and initiative-taking, with a goal-oriented mindset and a genuine commitment to supporting youth founders and ecosystem partners with care, responsiveness, and professionalism;
• Communicates effectively when working both independently and as part of a team, with the ability to engage respectfully, transparently, and constructively with colleagues, partners, and programme participants;
• Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities; 
• Demonstrates cultural sensitivity and adaptability, showing humility and openness when engaging with people from diverse cultural, socio-economic, gender, religious, and geographic backgrounds;
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view, demonstrating self-awareness, intellectual humility, and a growth mindset;
• Consistently approaches work with energy, integrity, and a positive, constructive attitude, and is able to instill confidence, optimism, and belief in the people they support, especially those working on complex social and climate challenges.
   

• Currently in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree; or
• Currently enrolled in a Master’s degree; or
• Have graduated no longer than 1 year from a bachelor’s or master’s degree or equivalent studies;