National Consultant on Youth Ecosystem Mapping and Youth Engagement

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

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UNICEF Turkmenistan is implementing its Country Programme of Cooperation for 2026–2030, which is aligned with national development priorities, the National Action Plan for the Realization of Children's Rights in Turkmenistan (2023–2028), the Sustainable Development Goals and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. (UNICEF)

The Country Programme identifies climate action and youth as one of its three flagship areas and aims to strengthen climate resilience through education and meaningful youth engagement, recognizing young people as agents of change. (UNICEF)

Recent UNICEF-supported initiatives, including the Youth Climate Summer School, have demonstrated both the growing interest of young people in leadership and community action and the value of building nationwide networks of engaged youth. The 2026 programme brought together young people from across all regions and supported the development of youth-led community initiatives. (UNICEF)

At the same time, there is a need for a more systematic understanding of the broader youth ecosystem in Turkmenistan. Information on existing youth initiatives, volunteer networks, youth interests, capacities, opportunities and regional differences is fragmented. A consolidated evidence base would support UNICEF and national partners in designing more inclusive, relevant and geographically balanced opportunities for young people.

UNICEF therefore seeks to engage a national consultant to conduct a comprehensive mapping of the youth ecosystem in Turkmenistan and develop practical tools and recommendations to strengthen youth participation, volunteering, leadership and youth-led action.

The purpose of the consultancy is to develop a comprehensive and practical evidence base on the youth ecosystem in Turkmenistan to inform UNICEF's programming and partnerships related to youth participation, leadership, volunteering, climate action and community engagement.

The consultancy will identify and map:

1. Existing youth initiatives and youth-led activities across the country;
2. Youth interests, priorities, skills, aspirations and areas of engagement;
3. Existing professional, personal and volunteering network opportunities available to young people and gaps in access to such opportunities;
4. Key institutions, organizations and stakeholders working with and for young people;
5. Database for UNICEF engagement of youth across subjects and initiatives.

The consultant will undertake field missions to all regions of Turkmenistan, subject to UNICEF-approved travel plans and in coordination with relevant national and local partners. Travel will support direct consultations with young people, youth groups, institutions and other relevant stakeholders to ensure geographically representative findings.

Based on the findings, the consultant will develop practical recommendations and tools to support a more systematic, inclusive and sustainable approach to youth engagement.

For the purposes of this assignment, the term “youth” shall be understood in accordance with the Law of Turkmenistan “On State Youth Policy” (Türkmenistanyň Kanuny «Ýaşlar barada döwlet syýasaty hakynda») as citizens of Turkmenistan aged from 14 to 35 years, as defined in Article 1, paragraph 3 of the Law.

• University Degree      

• Experience in qualitative and quantitative research and consultations;
• Experience in stakeholder mapping and consultation processes;
• Experience developing databases, mapping tools or analytical reports would be an asset;

• Knowledge of youth-related institutions and the context in Turkmenistan;
• Experience working across regions and engaging diverse communities;
• Experience with UNICEF, United Nations or international development organizations would be an asset;

• Strong facilitation and communication skills;
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills;
• Ability to translate findings into practical programme recommendations.

Fluency in Turkmen and Russian (spoken and written) is required. Working knowledge of English is an asset.

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, fraud, corruption and other forms of misconduct.
UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference, safeguarding and background verification checks. These checks may include verification of academic credentials and employment history, screening against relevant United Nations misconduct databases, and requests for misconduct disclosures from current and former employers, professional associations, other relevant organizations and participating organizations under inter-agency safeguarding initiatives, including the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS), where applicable.

Appointment, selection and continued engagement are subject to the satisfactory completion of all required checks. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information and consent to enable UNICEF to undertake these checks.
Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel.
Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. 

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Download the detailed TOR for the consultancy  TOR national consultancy for youth ecosystem mapping_for publishing.docx. 

Advertised: 01 Oct 2026 West Asia Standard Time
Applications close: 14 Oct 2026 West Asia Standard Time

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