Skills Development Assistant

Host entity: UNDP ARE

Volunteer type: National

Areas of expertise: Project management, programme development, strategy, Education, Economics, poverty reduction, livelihoods

Application deadline: 01/09/2026

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) partners with countries across the Arab States and globally to promote sustainable, inclusive, and knowledge-based development.


The UNDP Knowledge Project, implemented in partnership with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), aims to enhance the production and use of knowledge as a tool for advancing sustainable human development. The project supports evidence-based policy, skills development, and the creation of inclusive knowledge ecosystems through flagship tools such as the Global Knowledge Index and the Future Skills Academy.

Assignment context

The UNDP Knowledge Project promotes knowledge-based development in the Arab States region and beyond. With a focus on youth empowerment, skills development, and the production and dissemination of data and research, the project contributes to national and regional efforts to build inclusive knowledge societies. This assignment involves managing learners’ progress, enrollments, and daily support while maintaining organized databases and preparing regular reports. It includes assisting with data tracking to monitor programme performance and supporting engagement activities such as workshops, events, and the Knowledge Summit. Additionally, the role contributes to partners’ coordination, follow-up, and documentation, providing overall
operational support to the Future Skills Academy (FSA) and its related initiatives.

National UN Associate Volunteers in UAE are entitled to:

• Volunteer living allowance AED 15,072.53

• Free Medical and life insurance;

• Free access to different learning platforms.

For more information on UN Volunteer benefits, entitlements and support, please visit:
https://www.unv.org/volunteer-your-country-conditions-service

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Skills Development Analyst, and overall guidance of the Chief Technical Adviser/Project Manager of the Knowledge Project, the UN Volunteer Skills Development Assistant will support Future Skills Academy (FSA) activities of the Knowledge Project. Specific responsibilities include:

A. Learners’ Management & Support

1. Manage learner progress and activity across the platform.
2. Coordinate enrollments, licenses, programme pathways, and access.
3. Provide daily multilingual (Arabic & English) learner support through email, Telegram, Zoom, and other communication channels.

B. Learning Monitoring

1. Maintain and update learners and partners records, databases, and documentation.
2. Prepare and share progress reports, datasets, and content for presentations and communications.
3. Support basic data tracking and analysis to monitor programme performance and inform decision-making.

C. Awareness Raising & Community Engagement

1. Coordinate FSA activities, sessions, and workshops.
2. Support learners’ engagement initiatives such as alumni activities, and thematic skills talks.
3. Contribute to the organization and delivery of high-visibility events such as the Knowledge Summit.

D. Partnerships & Coordination

1. Support partner engagement through coordination, follow-up, and documentation.
2. Contribute to academic partners collaboration as part of the technical team, including coordination and tracking programme-development discussions.
3. Provide operational and coordination support to the FSA and its related project activities as required.

Skills and experience

• Strong writing, editing and communication skills in both English and Arabic.

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Experience working with international organizations.

• Familiarity with UN or development sector processes is an advantage.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and statistical analysis software (STATA or similar
software).

• Basic design and communication skills using tools such as Canva, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or other visual
content platforms are an asset.

Competencies and values

Accountability

Adaptability and flexibility

Creativity

Judgement and decision-making

Planning and organizing

Professionalism

Self-management

Communication

Living conditions

The assignment is based in Dubai, UAE, a highly developed urban setting with modern infrastructure, excellent healthcare, and a diverse international community. The cost of living is high, especially housing and transportation. Dubai is a safe city with efficient public services, but cultural sensitivities must be respected. Weather conditions include very hot summers and mild winters

Conditions of Service for international UN Volunteers
The initial contract is issued upon arrival for the period indicated above. The contract can be extended depending on continuation of mandate, availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectancy of renewal of the assignment.
A UN Volunteer receives a Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), which is composed of a Monthly Living Allowance (MLA) and a Family Allowance (FA) for those with dependents (maximum three).

The Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) is paid at the end of each month to cover housing, utilities, transportation, communications and other basic needs. The VLA can be calculated using by applying the Post-Adjustment Multiplier (PAM) to the VLA base rate of US$ 1,736. The VLA base rate is a global rate across the world, while the PAM is duty station/country-specific and fluctuates on a monthly basis according to cost of living.

This method ensures that international UN Volunteers have comparable purchasing power at all duty stations irrespective of varying costs of living. The PAM is established by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) and is published at the beginning of every month on the ICSC website - https://icsc.un.org/


In non-family duty stations that belong to hardship categories D or E, as classified by the ICSC, international UN Volunteers receive a Well-Being Differential (WBD) on a monthly basis. Furthermore, UN Volunteers are provided a settling-in-grant (SIG) at the start of the assignment (if the volunteer did not reside in the duty station for at least 6 months prior to taking up the assignment) and in the event of a permanent reassignment to another duty station. UNV provides life, health, permanent disability insurances as well as assignment travel, annual leave, full integration in the UN security framework (including residential security reimbursements). UN Volunteers are paid Daily Subsistence Allowance at the UN rate for official travels, flight tickets for periodic home visit and for the final repatriation travel (if applicable). Resettlement allowance is paid for satisfactory service at the end of the assignment. UNV will provide, together with the offer of assignment, a copy of the Conditions of Service, including Code of conduct, to the successful candidate.

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