Local Youth Advisory Board Coordinator

Host entity: UNICEF Italy

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Art, design, culture, Volunteer management and advocacy, Youth

Application deadline: 15/09/2026

Mission and objectives

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF’s Programme in Italy was set up in 2016 to respond to a large influx of unaccompanied minors arriving primarily through the Central Mediterranean route.

Assignment context

Starting in 2020 UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia’s National Response in Italy supported the Government of Italy in the establishment the European Child Guarantee to tackle child poverty and social exclusion through evidence generation of child-focused policies and programmes and piloting of innovative approaches, effectively reaching out to disadvantaged children and adolescents. Amongst the models piloted, the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) was set up in December 2021 by UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies (MLSP) and the Department for Family Policies of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers to provide a space for adolescents & young people to be meaningfully involved and participate in all phases of the Child Guarantee in Italy.

Following the pilot phase, the MLSP has requested UNICEF to assist in the design and implementation of a youth engagement model at the local, regional, and national levels through a 3 year programme. In line with the principles enshrined in the CRC, particularly Article 12, and the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, this three-year programme aims to strengthen the national YAB and to create YABs at regional and local levels, developing an innovative participatory model connected across three levels of governance (national, regional, and local) in collaboration with local (Municipalities and Regions) and national authorities (MLSP, NAP steering committee, Social Protection and Inclusion Network, managing authorities of the National Programs of the European Social Fund (NP-FSE), and other relevant organizations and bodies.

At its core is the shared goal of making a concrete contribution to reducing and preventing child poverty and social exclusion by enhancing the skills of adolescents and young people, promoting their meaningful engagement and creating opportunities that allow them to develop their talents and full potential.

This United Nations Volunteers (UNV) assignment is part of the programme to scale this youth engagement model, starting with strengthening of the national YAB and the creation of 6 local YABs with regional representation and then gradually engage institutional partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector for the transfer of costs and management, logistical, and organizational responsibilities, in order to achieve sustainability of the YAB model by the end of the intervention.

Task description

Under the guidance of the Adolescent Development Manager, and under the technical supervision of the YAB National Coordinator, the Local YAB Coordinator is responsible for strengthening youth participation at local level in a selected Municipality/”Area Territoriale e Sociale” (ATS) and in supporting the strengthening of youth participation at regional level, in accordance with the 3-year Youth Advisory Board project and in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, the selected local municipality/ATS, CSOs, youth associations and networks, private sector and other relevant organizations and bodies.

Outreach and planning
• Supports in the development and implementation of the community outreach strategy at local level: (i)identifying and engaging young people, (ii) identifying and engaging local partners and stakeholders to amplify the outreach, (iii) holding information sessions on the YAB activities and project as required.

• In collaboration with the Project manager and the National Coordinator, drafts a Local Workplan (LWP) for Local YAB’s activities and oversees its implementation throughout the project duration.

• Provides operational support to the Youth Facilitator and the YAB National Coordinator in the mapping of existing youth participation mechanisms at local level.

Implementation and Coordination
• Defines local priorities for youths, through the network of schools, youth organizations and youth spaces, in collaboration with the National Coordinator, the Youth Facilitator and the Local YAB members.

• Facilitates dialogue between Local YAB members and institutions, as well as service providers and community-based organizations at the local level.

• Supports the preparation and running of bi-monthly local meetings and bi-yearly regional meetings and contributes to the preparation of bi-yearly national meetings as needed.

• Support the Local YAB to establish and formalize collaborations and partnerships at local level.

• Provides operational support to the preparation and implementation of training and workshops for local YAB members, in collaboration with the Youth Facilitator, the Capacity Development Consultant, and trainers.

• Provides support to Local YAB’s activities, including via digital platforms: supports the development of advocacy messages, supports the planning and implementation of awareness-raising initiatives, provides support to direct activities if needed.

• Provides operational support in the organization of webinars with institutional stakeholders, civil society organizations, the private sector, and other entities involved in project implementation, aiming at promoting the tools developed and best practices and lessons learned through mutual exchange.

• Provides operational support to the documentation of best practices of the YAB model, including youth participation in advocacy, awareness raising campaigns, and direct actions.

Networking and partnerships
• Initiates and strengthens networking at local level with public and private stakeholders interested in youth participation and in strengthening measures to combat child poverty and social exclusion.

• Supports the National Coordinator in the integration of recommendations of the Local YAB in municipal planning frameworks.

• Provides operational support in the participation of Local YAB representatives in strategic events organized by the EU and in advocacy with EU institutions.

Capacity building
• Supports the preparation and running of bi-monthly local and bi-yearly regional meetings, contributing to the preparation of bi-yearly national meetings as needed.

Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Performs monthly, quarterly, and annual data entry for the monitoring dashboard.

• Drafts monthly reporting on activity implementation.

• Provides operational support to the M&E Consultant for planning and implementation of the evaluation.

Skills and experience

Required skills and experience:
• At least 2 years of experience in youth work, social development or community development projects, volunteerism, or other relevant programmes;

Other required technical knowledge;
• Excellent oral and written skills in Italian; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills;

• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with disadvantaged youth, partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.

• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a complex environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;

• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet, and office technology equipment;

• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;

Desirable but not mandatory:
• Valid national driver’s license and proven ability to drive.
• Have affinity with or interest in working with and for children and young people, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Judgement and decision-making
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Living conditions

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

This is a volunteer assignment, not employment. By sharing your time, energy, and talents, you can support communities in need and become part of something greater than yourself — a global movement for peace, development, and humanitarian aid. Volunteering strengthens trust, solidarity, and reciprocity among citizens, and it can promote a sense of belonging and purpose.

The UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials.

The Summary of UNV Entitlement (Type and Category of UNV assignment): All paid in EUR
• Current Monthly Living Allowance (MLA): EUR 665.04
• Entry allowance (one-time payment): USD 50
• Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month.
• Private insurance: Private Health Insurance by CIGNA
• Annual leave : 1.25 days per month


Notes:
1) The allowances are in no way to be understood as a compensation, reward or salary in exchange for the volunteer work.
2) It's important to note that UNV assignments are volunteer assignments, not employment. The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs.
3) You can check full entitlements at the duty station: https://app.unv.org/calculator
4) Please read the complete UN Volunteer Conditions of Service is available at https://explore.unv.org/cos

Full eligibility requirements, conditions of service and application instructions are available on the official UNV platform.