Mission and objectives

Who we are 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). What we do 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. For every project, we provide our partners with a team of experts who link local challenges to national, regional and global knowledge and resources. Guided by UNDP’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan, advisory and implementation work focuses on the following areas: • Structural Transformation • Leaving No-one Behind • 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. Recognizing the complexity of development challenges, increasing advances in technology in the region, as well as the call for a data revolution, we have been investing in innovation, using approaches such as design thinking and foresight tools such as games, mobile applications, and big data to challenge business as usual and develop the next generation of development solutions.

Context

The context of Youth Empowerment Young people today are responding to the world’s challenges with innovative approaches, contributing fresh ideas, creating the world they want and driving human development for themselves, their communities and societies. Asia-Pacific region is home to more than 660 million youth aged 15-24 years. The devastating effects of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic crisis have exacerbated challenges and are putting enormous pressure on the next generation. 63% of people in Asia and the Pacific recognize climate change as a major “global emergency” and want more action from their leaders. Civic space in Asia and the Pacific continues to shrink, as evident by measures restricting civic space adopted in the past five years. Furthermore, across countries, women and girls, people in rural areas, Indigenous Peoples, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, gender and sexual minorities, youth and older persons are disproportionately present among those left behind. Through the Youth Empowerment Portfolio in Asia-Pacific (YEP-AP), UNDP addresses these challenges by engaging youth on : 1. Youth Social Entrepreneurship (Youth Co:Lab): Fostering entrepreneurship and transformative startups. 2. Climate Action (Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform): Engaging youth in addressing climate challenges. 3. 21st Century and Digital Skills (Skill Our Future): Cultivating skills for the modern era. 4. Youth Civic Engagement and Political Participation (Youth in Governance and Peacebuilding): Encouraging active involvement in societal and political processes. 5. Leaving No One Behind: Focusing on a comprehensive LNOB agenda across all pillars. Reaching Every Youth Changemaker, Everywhere: The Youth 2030 Moonshot Youth 2030 Moonshot is UNDP’s bold leap toward a future shaped by young people—greener, more inclusive, and deeply resilient. By 2030, it is committed to building the world’s largest initiative on accelerating the achievement of the SDGs through over 7 million youth-led social innovations. With a decade in the making, this growing movement remains hopeful and driven. Its purpose: to create a one-stop solution hub that supports every young entrepreneur throughout their journey, bringing social entrepreneurship to every youth, everywhere. At the heart of it all are young people, positioned front and centre, not as beneficiaries, but as solutionists and architects of a better future. Our pathways to reach the 2030 Youth Moonshot : • Leverage multi-sectoral partnerships for programming and solutions by young people • Establish a network of universities • Leverage on the success in 30 Asia-Pacific countries while enhancing local capacity • Serving government and policymakers • Strategic visibility and advocacy

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of Programme Specialist – Civil Society and Youth, the UN University Volunteer will undertake the following tasks : 1. Assist in facilitating youth training workshops within the Skills & Employability pillar of the Youth Moonshot 2030: • Contribute to organizing training sessions for youth on digital, green & soft skills, entrepreneurship, employability, and green jobs; • Support UNDP Country Offices in implementing Skills & Employability activities; • Support in developing content to facilitate knowledge exchange among youth networks; • Assist in providing mentorship support to youth and youth organizations. • Support data entry, collection, analysis and visualization; • Support in developing communication materials for engaging external partners; 2. Assist in engaging with UNDP’s network of educational institutions • Assist in implementing network building activities with UNDP’s network of educational institutions: sharing of opportunities, learning sessions, needs assessments, communication features, etc. • Support in consolidating best practices of UNDP’s collaboration with educational institutions, both at regional and national levels; • Support data entry, collection, analysis and visualization of members’ Youth Moonshot activities. 3. Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to : • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day). • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country. • Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.. • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers. • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Competencies and values

• Accountability • Adaptability and Flexibility • Building Trust • Commitment and Motivation • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Communication • Empowering Others • Ethics and Values • Planning and Organizing • Respect for Diversity • Self-Management • Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

Thailand is located in Southeast Asia. The climate is tropical, with the monsoon season running from May/June through October/November. Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, and it is also the most populated city in the country. It is located in the Chao Phraya River delta in the central part of the country. Bangkok has an estimated population of 8.75 million as of 2017 (13% of Thailand’s total population), based on data from the 2010 census. Over the past decades, Bangkok has grown rapidly with little urban planning or regulation. This has led to traffic congestion and air pollution, and there is frequent flooding of streets during the rainy season in the City’s low-lying areas. The cost of living in Thailand is relatively low, as compared to many other capitals in Southeast Asia. Housing is widely available in various sizes and at various price points. Private healthcare in Thailand is of excellent standard, and there are numerous top hospitals in Bangkok, which fall far below countries like the US in terms of price. There are numerous high-quality international schools available in Bangkok, with English as the language of instruction. Bangkok has different public transportation options, including the BTS Skytrain and MRT Underground, metered taxis, mobile-based ride-hailing services (Grab, All Thai Taxi, etc.), tuk tuks, motorbike taxis, buses and boats.