Mission and objectives

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan, focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. UNFPA has been operating in India since 1974. The India Country Office is now in its 10th Country Programme (CP-10). CP-10 envisions an India where every woman and young person, including those from the most vulnerable groups, enjoys gender equality, fully realizes sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, and fully contributes to sustainable development. The country programme was developed in consultation with national and State governments, civil society, United Nations organizations and other stakeholders, including women and youth-led organizations, based on the principles of inclusion, human rights and gender equality.

Context

The Government of India accords high priority to the socio-economic development of Scheduled Tribes (STs), who constitute 8.6% of the country’s total population and continue to lag behind the national average across key human development indicators such as health, education, gender equality, and related indices. To address these disparities, the Government has adopted a range of multifaceted development strategies. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) serves as the nodal Ministry responsible for policy formulation, planning, and coordination of programmes aimed at the holistic development of Scheduled Tribes. In this role, the Ministry undertakes activities in accordance with the subjects allocated to it under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, and subsequent amendments. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing innovative and inclusive strategies to address the multiple and interlinked deprivations faced by tribal communities. These efforts are designed to deliver sustainable development outcomes while ensuring social inclusion and equity. MoTA also oversees international cooperation initiatives to promote sustainable tribal development and to showcase India’s indigenous heritage at the global level. Its core international engagements include facilitating scholarships for international students and fostering strategic partnerships with UN agencies and other global and multilateral development organizations. Through these collaborations, MoTA works to improve tribal health and well-being, promote life skills education, and enhance awareness and uptake of government programmes and schemes among tribal communities. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is actively advancing its engagement with international agencies to build strategic collaboration to promote inclusive and sustainable development outcomes through global cooperation. This evolving approach aims to strengthen mutual exchange of knowledge, cultural understanding, and development partnerships, especially with countries with significant tribal and indigenous populations. As part of its inclusive development agenda, UNFPA is partnering with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs at the national level, as well as with State Tribal Development Departments in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. This collaboration focuses on strengthening monitoring and implementation of tribal development schemes and demonstrating innovative, scalable, and integrated development solutions in tribal-dominated areas. The National UN Specialist Volunteer, located in an impactful role at the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in New Delhi, will support international cooperation and partnership-building initiatives for tribal development through research, coordination, documentation, and stakeholder engagement. The volunteer will contribute to facilitating collaboration between the Ministry, UN agencies, and international partners, and promoting knowledge exchange through programmes and joint initiatives. He/she will also support the mapping of international interventions and advancing innovative approaches to improve development outcomes for tribal communities.

Task Description

Under the direct supervision of the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs and in coordination with the Adolescent and Youth Unit - UNFPA Country Office, the UN Volunteer - International relations (Tribal Development) will undertake the following responsibilities: ● Support the identification, documentation, and compilation of global best practices across key sectors such as education, health, livelihoods, and the preservation and protection of tribal culture and heritage, including innovative interventions and successful strategies that improve human development outcomes for indigenous communities. ● Support the development of bilateral and multilateral collaborations through knowledge exchange, joint initiatives, research partnerships, cultural and youth exchange programmes, study visits, exposure visits, and people-to-people engagements, while assisting in monitoring and evaluation of collaborative efforts. ● Assist in facilitating Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), Letters of Intent (LoIs), institutional partnerships, technical cooperation arrangements, and other collaborative programmes between the Ministry and international stakeholders. ● Support the mapping of international interventions, programmes, funding opportunities, and technical assistance for tribal and indigenous communities to ensure synergy with national priorities and flagship schemes of the Ministry. ● Support the identification of key areas of intervention, emerging global trends, international policy developments, and innovative approaches relevant to tribal welfare, and provide analytical inputs for decision-making and future collaborations. ● Support the preparation of concept notes, background papers, policy briefs, speaking points, reports, presentations, communication materials, and other knowledge products relating to international cooperation and tribal development. ● Support the organization of international conferences, workshops, seminars, roundtables, cultural events, and knowledge-sharing platforms in collaboration with national and international partners. ● Assist in establishing monitoring, reporting, and evaluation frameworks for international partnerships and collaborative projects to assess outcomes, document lessons learned, and promote scalability. ● Support initiatives aimed at promoting tribal art, culture, languages, traditional knowledge, indigenous innovation, and heritage at regional and global platforms. ● Assist in fostering international youth leadership and capacity-building opportunities for tribal youth through scholarships, fellowships, internships, exchange programmes, and global networking platforms. ● Contribute to strengthening South-South and Triangular Cooperation by documenting and sharing India's successful tribal development models and facilitating learning from international experiences. 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.; ● 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 ☒ Integrity ☒ Knowledge Sharing ☒ Planning and Organizing ☒ Professionalism ☒ Respect for Diversity ☒ Self-Management ☒ Technological Awareness ☒ Working in Teams

Living conditions and remarks

The assignment will be based in New Delhi. New Delhi is the capital city of India and experiences a diverse climate and distinct living conditions influenced by its weather, infrastructure, and culture. It is a melting pot of cultures, languages, and cuisines, reflecting the diverse nature of India. Overall, living in Delhi offers a mix of modern urban life with deep-rooted traditions and challenges typical of a large, bustling metropolis. As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. This position is based in New Delhi. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. National UN Volunteers are expected to be culturally sensitive and adjust to the prevailing culture and traditions. The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment. The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents - except for UN Community Volunteers), as well as final repatriation (if applicable). You can check full entitlements at https://app.unv.org/calculator . For information specific to your assignment, please see below: • Monthly Voluntary Living Allowance (VLA): INR 70158.41 • Entry lump sum (one-time payment): USD 350 (equivalent in INR) • Relocation costs: $175 at the beginning and end of the assignment if the duty station is outside of commuting distance (as determined by UNV) • Exit allowance (paid on successful completion of the assignment): $120 for each month served, paid on completion of contract • Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for health, life, and malicious acts • Annual leave: 2.5 days per month • Learning: Access to UNV's learning and career development resources Must be a member of a recognized Scheduled Tribe. Preference to be given to youth with intersecting vulnerabilities (gender, income, disabilities etc.)