Adolescent and Youth Coordinator

** Deadline to apply is 2 July 2026 **
Description of assignment title
Adolescent and Youth Coordinator
Host entity
UNICEF Vietnam
Modality
Onsite
Type
National
Volunteer category
Specialist UCoS from Apr2026
Work schedule
Full-time
Number of Assignments
1
Assignment country
Viet Nam
Duty stations
Ho Chi Minh City
Work location
On UN premises
Context
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. At UNICEF, we are committed and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job - it is a calling. We offer diverse opportunities for personal and professional development while delivering on a rewarding mission. Visit our website ([protected info]) to learn more about our work.
At the core of UNICEF's mandate is our commitment to protect and uphold the rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) for all children, without discrimination and without leaving any child behind. The rights enshrined in the CRC apply equally to all children in a country. This means the rights of every child, irrespective of nationality, gender, religion, or ethnicity, to:
• survival - to basic healthcare, peace, and security;
• development - to a good education, a loving home, and adequate nutrition;
• protection - from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour, and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation - to express opinions, be listened to, and take part in making any decisions that affect them.
Recognizing that children, adolescents, and youth have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives, UNICEF aims to promote inclusive platforms and spaces for young people to share their perspectives, make recommendations, and engage on issues that matter to them.
Viet Nam has been experiencing a demographic dividend, with the highest proportion of young people in the country's history. In 2023, the number of adolescents aged 10-19 exceeded 15 million, accounting for 15% of the total population (UNICEF Adolescent Data Portal). This demographic opportunity presents Viet Nam with a unique chance to make adolescents and young people drivers of social and economic progress.
Adolescence is a critical period marking the transition between childhood and adulthood. UNICEF Viet Nam promotes the rights and well-being of adolescents and young people aged 10-24, requiring action across multiple aspects of their lives, notably health and nutrition, education, protection, and participation.
In the 2022-2026 programme cycle, adolescent development and participation (ADAP) is identified as a cross-cutting issue. The cross-sectoral ADAP work of the Viet Nam Country Office is coordinated through the office-wide ADAP Working Group (WG), chaired by the Chief of Social Policy & Governance and comprising members from all programme sections. The WG serves as a platform to exchange knowledge, share good practices, mobilize resources, and coordinate ADAP-related initiatives and activities.
The UN Volunteer will provide technical assistance to the implementation of different cross-sectoral ADAP initiatives and help strengthen the operations of the cross-sectoral ADAP programming, thus contribute to the advancement of adolescent development and youth engagement, in alignment with UNICEF Programme Guidance for the Second Decade: Programming with and for Adolescents as a contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Adolescents and Youth Engagement Officer, Social Policy & Governance section, the Adolescent and Youth Coordinator will undertake the following tasks:
• Provide technical assistance to the implementation of the UPSHIFT Programme ([protected info]innovation/upshift), Youth-led Action Initiative ([protected info]youthledaction/initiative) and other youth partnership opportunities in Viet Nam.
• Provide technical and operational assistance to explore feasibility, design relevant programmatic approach and activities, and support the implementation of the Generation Unlimited (GenU) agenda and Public-Private-Youth Partnership (PPYP) model in the country, in collaboration with different stakeholders.
• Provide technical assistance in the execution of other relevant cross-sectoral adolescent development and participation (ADAP) initiatives and in nurturing strategic connections with different youth-led groups and organizations, including with regional and global youth networks.
• Provide support as relevant to strengthen the operations of the cross-sectoral ADAP working group, and assist in resource mobilization efforts for cross-sectoral ADAP work as needed.
• Provide support in other tasks as requested and as deemed necessary to achieve the cross-sectoral ADAP programme objectives.
Furthermore, Adolescent and Youth Coordinator is encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work as a UN Volunteer. As such, Adolescent and Youth Coordinator should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:
• 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;
• Provide annual and end-of-assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.
• 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.