United Nations
Climate Change Secretariat

Nations Unies
Secrétariat sur les changements climatiques

Announcement for Consultancy (Consultant)

Implementation of the Youth4Capacity Programme

Capacity-building Subdivision,
Means of Implementation Division

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Publication date: 01 July 2026

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the focus of the political process to address climate change. The UNFCCC secretariat supports the Convention, its Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement through a range of activities, including substantive and organizational support to meetings of the Parties and the implementation of commitments. It is a dynamic organization working in a politically challenging environment to help resolve one of the defining environmental issues of our time.

The Capacity-building sub-division supports intergovernmental work and negotiations on capacity-building under the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, as well as activities that strengthen the capacities of stakeholders to accelerate climate action and implementation. This includes any tasks or mandates emanating from COP 25 pertaining to enhanced institutional arrangements for capacity-building under the Convention and the adoption of the initial institutional arrangements for capacity-building to implement Article 11 of the Paris Agreement and fostering collaboration among governments, organizations and other stakeholders through various capacity-building initiatives and partnerships.

The importance of strengthening the engagement of youth in activities pertaining to the implementation of the Convention and the Paris Agreement is widely recognized. At the same time, there are capacity needs and gaps to be addressed for youth to effectively engage in climate action. The Glasgow work programme on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) recognizes young people as important agents of change in addressing climate change and advancing sustainable development.

United Nations

Climate Change Secretariat

Nations Unies

Secrétariat sur les changements climatiques

In June 2022, the UNFCCC and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE) signed a MoU to support the implementation of the Youth4Capacity programme, which seeks to support concrete activities aimed at strengthening the capacities of young people, particularly in developing countries and vulnerable contexts, and promote the active exchange of experiences and lessons learned. The programme is implemented within the framework of the Youth4Climate initiative, developed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and MASE.

Through various channels and partnerships, Youth4Capacity delivers learning opportunities, capacity-building activities, knowledge products, and engagement spaces. These include e-learning courses, flagship events at international and regional levels, the “Becoming...” webinar series, communication products, and the Climate Catalysts mentorship programme, supporting young people to build the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to engage in climate action and policy processes at all levels, and contributing to the implementation of the Convention and the Paris Agreement. It has also mobilised a global youth community of nearly 10,000 young people, fostering peer-to-peer learning and sustained engagement in climate action.

Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy assignment is to support the strategic planning, coordination and implementation of the Youth4Capacity programme, aimed at strengthening the capacities of young people to effectively engage in climate action and climate policy processes. Specifically, the consultant will:

• Lead the implementation and strategic development of the Youth4Capacity programme and its flagship initiatives.

• Coordinate programme governance and collaboration with key partners, including MASE, the UNDP Rome Centre and other relevant stakeholders.

• Strengthen partnerships and foster synergies between Youth4Capacity and relevant youth engagement and capacity-building activities within and beyond the UNFCCC secretariat.

• Support programme communications, outreach, knowledge management and stakeholder engagement activities.

• Monitor and report on programme results, contribute to programme learning and continuous improvement, and support programme reporting requirements related to the implementation of the Youth4Capacity programme.

• Support resource mobilization, strategic planning and programme development.

• The incumbent consultant works under the supervision of the Team Leader on Capacity-building subprogramme. He or she works closely with the Capacity-building team.

Tasks

With respect to the above-mentioned objectives, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

United Nations

Climate Change Secretariat

Nations Unies

Secrétariat sur les changements climatiques

1. 1. Programme delivery: Lead the planning, coordination and implementation of Youth4Capacity activities, including learning programmes, technical bootcamps, e-learning opportunities, engagement activities, knowledge products and learning resources.
2. 2. Flagship initiatives: Coordinate the development and delivery of the Climate Catalysts Mentorship Programme (CCMP) and other Youth4Capacity flagship initiatives, including engagement with participants, mentors, facilitators and partner organizations.
3. 3. Programme governance and coordination: Maintain effective coordination and collaboration between the UNFCCC Secretariat, the UNDP Rome Centre, MASE and other relevant partners to ensure alignment of activities, facilitate information exchange and support the effective implementation of the Youth4Capacity programme. This includes supporting the coordination of the Joint Committee and related programme governance processes.
4. 4. Partnership development: Establish and maintain partnerships with youth organizations, academic institutions, UN entities, civil society organizations, private sector actors and other relevant stakeholders to support the design, delivery and expansion of Youth4Capacity activities.
5. 5. Secretariat integration: Collaborate with the ACE team and other relevant divisions, programmes and constituted body support teams across the UNFCCC secretariat to identify opportunities for collaboration and synergies between Youth4Capacity and relevant youth engagement and capacity-building activities, initiatives and processes under the Convention and the Paris Agreement.
6. 6. Communications and outreach: Coordinate communications and outreach activities related to the Youth4Capacity programme, including the preparation of communication products, maintenance of relevant webpages, newsletters and social media content, and monitoring of programme visibility and reach.
7. 7. Knowledge management and programme learning: Support the documentation, dissemination and exchange of knowledge generated through Youth4Capacity activities, including lessons learned, good practices, participant insights and programme results.
8. 8. Programme development and continuous improvement: Identify emerging youth capacity-building needs, gaps and opportunities, facilitate peer learning and stakeholder exchange, and contribute to the continuous improvement and ongoing development of the Youth4Capacity programme.
9. 9. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting: Monitor, evaluate and report on programme activities and results, including the development and implementation of the Youth4Capacity monitoring and evaluation framework; tracking participation, partnerships, outputs and outcomes; coordinating annual narrative and financial reporting requirements; and supporting the preparation of annual programme reports, donor reporting requirements and programme performance assessments.
10. 10. Resource mobilization and strategic planning: Support resource mobilization, donor engagement and strategic planning efforts, including identifying funding opportunities, supporting engagement with existing and prospective partners, and contributing to programme planning and future development activities.

United Nations
Climate Change Secretariat

Nations Unies
Secrétariat sur les changements climatiques

Outputs

The consultant is expected to contribute to the delivery of the following outputs:

1. Youth4Capacity activities and flagship initiatives successfully delivered;
2. Programme governance, partnerships and stakeholder collaboration effectively maintained;
3. Communications, knowledge products and programme reporting requirements successfully delivered;
4. Resource mobilization and programme development efforts effectively supported.

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United Nations
Climate Change Secretariat

Nations Unies
Secrétariat sur les changements climatiques

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Timeframe

Starting mid-August 2026 to 31st December 2026.

Duty station and places of travel

The contractor will be working remotely with a couple of missions to Bonn foreseen within the period to support the delivery of activities.

Requirements

The consultant shall have the following competencies and qualifications:

Academic qualifications

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, climate change, sustainable development, international relations, public policy, education, communications, social sciences or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience

• At least five years of professional experience in climate change, sustainable development, capacity-building, youth engagement, programme management or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience in the design, coordination and implementation of capacity-building, learning or training programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement, partnership development and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
• Experience in programme monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
• Experience in communications, knowledge management and outreach is desirable.

United Nations
Climate Change Secretariat

Nations Unies
Secrétariat sur les changements climatiques

• Experience working with youth-focused initiatives and/or within the United Nations system or other international organizations is desirable.
• Familiarity with climate policy processes and the work of the UNFCCC is desirable.

Skills and competencies

• Strong programme management, organizational and coordination skills.
• Excellent analytical, drafting and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively with diverse stakeholders in an international environment.

Language requirements

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an asset.

How to apply:

Candidates, whose qualifications and experience match what we are looking for, should use the on-line application system available at http://unfccc.int/secretariat/employment/recruitment

Please note:

1. UNFCCC is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities to apply.
2. We will confirm receipt of your application. However, only candidates under serious consideration and contacted for an interview will receive notice of the final outcome of the selection process.