Research and Volunteer Promotion Specialist (External)

Job Description Tiered Approach In Line With The Commitment To Safeguard Capacity And Support Personnel Already In The Organization, a Majority Of UNDP UNCDF/UNV Vacancies Are Advertised Using a Tiered Application Process Whereby

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. UNV works with partners to integrate qualified, highly motivated and well- supported UN Volunteers into development programming and promote the value and global recognition of volunteerism. The Volunteer Advisory Services Section (VASS) contributes to position UNV as a Knowledge and Policy hub on volunteerism for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), generating knowledge, consolidating evidence and advocating with Member States and the UN system to integrate volunteerism in their policies and plans, as a cross-cutting means of implementation into the 2030 Agenda, in alignment with UNV 2022-2025 Strategic Framework.

Reporting to the Policy Specialist (Evidence), VASS, the Research and Volunteer Promotion Specialist supports the implementation of research and evidence-based volunteerism promotion with diverse stakeholders. Her/his core responsibility in the role is to ensure technical coordination and production of knowledge products through research, including UNV’s flagship publication on volunteerism, the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR).

Scope of Work Contribute to research efforts for knowledge products, SWVR and relevant policy workstreams

• Support Policy Specialist (Evidence) in coordination of research and writing process of the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report (SWVR) and knowledge products on volunteerism.
• Provide inputs to the SWVR drafts including re-writing case studies, background papers, and knowledge products, facilitating research collaboration with Academia, UN entities, and others, and analyzing specific pieces of work in support of the SWVR research, writing, and editing.
• Contribute to outreach and knowledge exchange for the SWVR and knowledge products through the UNV Knowledge Portal and online events, particularly with respect to engaging academic partners.
• Contribute to the review and feedback processes for various knowledge products, the SWVR workflows and drafts including liaising with the advisory groups related to the preparation of the knowledge products including case studies.
• Work with the Knowledge Management Specialist to shape the development of innovative graphics and multi-media products that add value to the SWVR report.
• Provide summaries of relevant research and policy findings for publishing on the UNV Knowledge Portal.
• Coordinate the regular convening of the two advisory groups of the SWVR.
• Develop and write the content of key analytical materials including strategic and thematic notes, think pieces, and blogs for the SWVR.

Ensure the development and implementation of advocacy, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement plans for UNV’s Volunteerism Research outputs

• Identify partnerships to improve the scope, audiences, and strategic impact of the SWVR among diverse stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for the policy-oriented launch of the SWVR including in key r