Social Norms Programme Associate

Host entity: UNFPA

Volunteer type: International

Areas of expertise: Administration, Communication, advocacy, public information, Community development

Application deadline: 27/09/2026

Mission and objectives

UNFPA is the sexual and reproductive health and rights agency of the United Nations. Our mission is to deliver a world in which every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA is working with governments, civil society, regional partners, and other UN agencies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, with specific focus on Goal 3 (health and well-being), Goal 5 (gender equality), Goal 10 (reduced inequalities) and Goal 17 (partnerships).

The English-and Dutch-speaking Caribbean is part of the United Nations' “Delivering as One” initiative, and as such, the UNFPA Sub-Regional Programme for the Caribbean (2022-2026), is aligned to the United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNMSDCF) 2022-2026. UNFPA’s programmes apply gender, human rights and culturally sensitive approaches, supported by evidence-based advocacy and policy dialogue to address issues of sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and women’s empowerment, youth and population. Helping to create an enabling environment for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR); increasing national capacities to advocate for and deliver gender informed policies and programmes for access to sexual and reproductive health information and services; strengthening systems for the implementation of laws, policies and programmes to combat gender-based violence (GBV), and supporting national population and data systems are at the heart of UNFPA’s support in the Caribbean

Assignment context

This United Nations Volunteer (UNV) assignment is part of UNFPA's programmes in the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean.

UNFPA's Caribbean Sub-Regional Programme (2027–2031) recognizes that discriminatory social and gender norms and harmful practices remain among the principal structural barriers to achieving gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), preventing adolescent pregnancy and gender-based violence (GBV), advancing citizen security, and ensuring inclusive and sustainable development across Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Transforming these norms requires coordinated action across governments, civil society, communities, educational institutions, media, faith-based organizations and the private sector to promote equitable gender relations, violence-free lives and meaningful participation, particularly for populations furthest behind. Transforming harmful social norms is therefore a strategic priority underpinning UNFPA's efforts to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action.

UNFPA is supporting governments and partners to strengthen gender-transformative approaches that address the underlying social, cultural and behavioural drivers of inequality through advocacy, community engagement, institutional strengthening, strategic partnerships and evidence-informed programming. This includes supporting initiatives that promote healthy relationships, shared responsibility, respectful behaviours, meaningful youth participation, community leadership, and positive engagement of women, girls, boys and men, while strengthening regional collaboration to advance gender equality, reproductive rights and violence prevention.

This assignment will contribute to laying the foundation for implementation of the new Sub-Regional Programme by supporting evidence generation, stakeholder mapping, partnership engagement, knowledge management and coordination of strategic initiatives that advance social norms transformation across the Caribbean. The assignment will also contribute to ongoing youth innovation initiatives, including the continued implementation and documentation of the Next Wave Climate Data Challenge, supporting UNFPA's commitment to meaningful youth participation and innovation as catalysts for sustainable social change.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of the Liaison Specialist for the Trinidad and Tobago Liaison Office, who also serves as the Sub-Regional Technical Specialist for Gender and Human Rights, and in close collaboration with technical and programme colleagues across the Caribbean Sub-Regional Office, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

1. Programme Implementation and Social Norms Transformation

· Support the planning, coordination, implementation and follow-up of programme activities aimed at transforming discriminatory social and gender norms and harmful practices through gender-transformative and human rights-based approaches.

· Contribute to the preparation of technical inputs, background notes, presentations, concept notes, workplans and other programme documentation supporting initiatives on gender equality, SRHR, GBV prevention, adolescent pregnancy prevention and violence-free communities.

· Conduct literature reviews, environmental scans and evidence synthesis to inform programme design, advocacy, policy dialogue and resource mobilization.

· Identify and document promising practices, innovations, lessons learned and emerging approaches from national, regional and global social norms programmes.

· Support the integration of evidence and behavioural and social change approaches into programme planning and implementation.


2. Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

· Support the identification and mapping of strategic partners, including women’s rights organizations, youth-led organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities, faith-based organizations, educational institutions, community-based organizations, private sector entities, media actors and initiatives engaging men and boys as partners for gender equality and violence prevention.

· Maintain and periodically update stakeholder maps, partnership databases and related programme tools.

· Support engagement with government counterparts, civil society organizations, United Nations entities and other partners involved in gender equality, SRHR, GBV prevention and social norms transformation.

· Assist in the organization and documentation of consultations, technical meetings, policy dialogues, partnership forums and regional events.

· Support follow-up on agreed actions and opportunities for collaboration emerging from stakeholder engagements.


3. Youth Leadership, Innovation and Meaningful Participation

Support initiatives that strengthen the meaningful participation and leadership of adolescents and young people in advancing gender equality, SRHR, GBV prevention, social cohesion and social norms transformation.

· Contribute to the implementation, monitoring and documentation of the Next Wave Climate Data Challenge and other youth-led innovation initiatives.

· Capture lessons learned, behavioural insights, good practices and opportunities for adaptation or scale-up emerging from youth-led initiatives.

· Support collaboration with Youth Advisory Groups, youth-led organizations, academic institutions and innovation partners.

· Contribute to approaches that promote safe, inclusive and meaningful participation of young people, including those from marginalized and underserved populations.


4. Knowledge Management, Advocacy and Communications

· Support the development of knowledge products, policy briefs, case studies, presentations, advocacy materials, human-interest content and digital resources related to social norms transformation.

· Document programme achievements, community experiences, innovations, lessons learned and promising practices to strengthen institutional learning and knowledge management.

· Support the development and maintenance of resource libraries, knowledge repositories and databases related to gender equality, SRHR, GBV prevention and behavioural and social change.

· Contribute to the dissemination of evidence, programme results and knowledge products across UNFPA teams and external partners.

· Collaborate with UNFPA communications colleagues to strengthen the visibility of programme results, initiatives and partnerships, in accordance with UNFPA communication standards.


5. Monitoring, Reporting and Programme Coordination


· Support the monitoring of programme activities, results and deliverables against established workplans and indicators.

· Contribute to the preparation of programme updates, donor reports, annual reports, corporate reporting and other results-based documentation.

· Maintain programme monitoring tools, trackers, partnership databases and supporting documentation.

· Support the logistical and substantive coordination of workshops, consultations, learning exchanges, technical meetings and regional events.

Prepare meeting notes, summaries, action points, briefing materials and follow-up documentation to facilitate timely programme implementation.

· Support the collection, consolidation and organization of qualitative and quantitative information required for programme monitoring and reporting.


6. Cross-Cutting and Institutional Responsibilities

· Stay informed of emerging evidence, global guidance, regional developments and promising practices related to social norms transformation, behavioural and social change, gender equality, human rights, SRHR and GBV prevention.

· Contribute to knowledge sharing and cross-team collaboration within the Caribbean Sub-Regional Office and across relevant UNFPA technical portfolios.

· Promote gender equality, inclusion, diversity and human rights principles throughout the implementation of the assignment.

· Support the documentation and dissemination of lessons learned and practices that may contribute to programme adaptation and scale-up across Caribbean SIDS.

· Perform other related programme support functions, as required, that are consistent with the scope and level of the assignment and contribute to the implementation of the Caribbean Sub-Regional Programme.

During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check-ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance feedback.


Furthermore, UN Volunteers are 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 such, UN Volunteers 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

Skills and experience

Experience description: Demonstrated interest and/or experience (up to two years) in:

● Gender equality, social norms transformation, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender-based violence (GBV) prevention, youth engagement, community development, human rights, behavioural or social change, public health, or international development.

● Supporting research, stakeholder engagement, programme implementation, partnership development, advocacy, communications, knowledge management, event coordination or youth-led initiatives.

● Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.


Skills in:

● Research, analytical writing, information synthesis, knowledge management, stakeholder mapping, partnership coordination and programme support.

● Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with governments, civil society organizations, youth-led organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities, academia, faith-based organizations and other development partners in a multicultural environment. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams), with excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Competencies and values

● Accountability

● Adaptability and Flexibility

● Building Trust

● Client Orientation

● Commitment and Motivation

● Commitment to Continuous Learning

● Communication

● Creativity

● Empowering Others

● Ethics and Values

● Integrity

● Judgement and Decision-making

● Knowledge Sharing

● Leadership

● Managing Performance

● Planning and Organizing

● Professionalism

● Respect for Diversity

● Self-Management

● Technological Awareness

● Vision

● Working in Teams

Living conditions

Trinidad and Tobago is a dual-island Caribbean nation, with Trinidad located just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and Tobago to its northeast. Port‑of‑Spain, the capital, is a lively coastal city nestled against the Northern Range. The islands cover approximately 5,130 km², featuring tropical rainforests, rolling hills, sandy beaches, and coastal lowlands. The climate is tropical: warm year-round, with an average temperature between 24 °C and 32 °C. There are two main seasons - a wet season from June to December and a dry season from January to May. The country is also vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms, particularly between June and November, and occasional heavy rain may lead to flooding in low-lying areas.

Health care is provided by both public and private agencies. Other areas of social welfare, notably childcare, family life, pension plans for the elderly and disabled, and the status of women, have benefited from government attention. Community centres and playing fields have been established throughout the island.

Most visits are trouble-free, but there have been incidents of violent crime including armed robbery, sexual assaults and gang-related shootings. Living conditions: The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity, and satisfactory performance.

Travel to duty station will be provided in the event the duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA) 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, in the case they are authorized to travel to the duty station), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and exit allowance for satisfactory service.

Specific UN Volunteer entitlements, including insurance coverage, Volunteer Living Allowance (VLA), Expertise differential, Entry / Exit lump sums, among others, are available at: https://app.unv.org/calculator. 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.