Support Volunteer Mobilization for SDG Research & Data Fellows

Host entity: UNV

Application deadline: 28/10/2026

Mission and objectives

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, headquartered in Bonn Germany, contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. UNV work with partners to integrate qualified, highly motivated and well supported UN Volunteers into development programming and promote the value and global recognition of volunteerism. UNV is administered by the United Nations Development Programme (https://www.undp.org/).

The UNV Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, one of six Regional Offices in different locations around the world, forges opportunities for the mobilization of UN Volunteers in support of the UN system’s activities on peace and development, as well as to support volunteerism as a form of civic engagement through increased capabilities and regional partnerships with UN and non-UN entities.

At the country level, UNV Field Units interact with UN entities to integrate volunteerism into their development agenda and for deployment of National UN Volunteers.

Assignment context

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a global framework for addressing development challenges and promoting a sustainable future. Adopted by 193 countries, including India, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development came into effect on 1 January 2016. India follows a ‘whole-of-government’ approach to SDG implementation, with NITI Aayog serving as the nodal agency for national coordination. At the subnational level, SDG Coordination Centres (SDGCCs) and Technical Support Units, established in collaboration with State governments and UNDP India, support policy advisory and the integration of SDG priorities into State and district development planning.

In line with the SDG commitment to “Leave No One Behind,” the socio-economic advancement of Scheduled Tribes (STs), who constitute approximately 8.6 percent of India’s population, remains a key national priority. Despite sustained efforts, tribal communities continue to face disparities in health, education, gender equality, livelihoods, and access to basic services. UNDP India supports the Government of India through policy advisory, planning, monitoring, and implementation support for tribal development initiatives and central sector schemes. It also provides technical assistance to tribal welfare departments in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Tripura, and Andhra Pradesh, focusing on improving service delivery, strengthening departmental convergence, and promoting sustainable livelihoods for tribal communities. Target Cities: Guwahati, Kohima, Chennai, Dehradun, Raipur, Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Vijayawada, and Agartala.

The United Nations Volunteer (UNV) SDG Research and Data Fellow will work closely with UNDP’s SDG Acceleration and Finance Unit and State-level teams to support research, data analytics, surveys, knowledge products, and report writing.

In support of the recruitment for the SDG Research and Data Fellows, UNV is recruiting 12 Online Volunteers who will virtually support in attracting the right talent to be engaged as the SDG Research and Data Fellow along with helping candidates in registering and creating profiles in UVP (https://app.unv.org)

Task description

The Online Volunteers will be directly supervised by the UNV Country Coordinator for India, with the implementing partner of this project being UNDP. Online Volunteers will be expected to support in virtual outreach and provide guidance on applying to candidates from target cities including Guwahati, Kohima, Chennai, Dehradun, Raipur, Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Vijayawada, and Agartala.

-Conduct virtual outreach to youth networks, academic institutions, and volunteer groups to promote the SDG Research & Data Fellow opportunities.
- Disseminate information on volunteering opportunities through social media platforms, email networks, and other communication channels.
- Engage with interested youth and respond to basic queries related to the fellowship and volunteer registration process.
- Assist prospective applicants in creating and completing their profiles on the UVP (https://app.unv.org/) and then guide profile completion, document uploads, and application submission on the UVP.
- Attend one virtual orientation and training session at the start of the assignment.
- Remain available for virtual communication and collaboration via email, Microsoft Teams calls, and WhatsApp throughout the assignment.

Skills and experience

The candidate should have:

- Experience in project coordination, youth engagement, or community mobilization
- Strong coordination and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders and timelines
- Familiarity with social media platforms and a strong understanding of digital engagement.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.

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