United Nations Youth Affairs Contractor 2026: Programme Management Role in New York Supporting AI, Innovation and the First UN Youth Townhall

Overview

The United Nations Youth Office is seeking an individual contractor in Youth Affairs to support the inaugural UN Youth Townhall and to advance meaningful youth participation in discussions on technology, artificial intelligence, innovation and digital cooperation. The contractor is based in New York, United States, and works with the Office's Partnerships, Advocacy and Communications Section under the supervision of its Chief.

The assignment is short-term, running from September through December 2026 and ending on 31 December 2026. It is an individual-contractor engagement rather than a regular UN staff appointment, and it covers programme management, research, coordination, monitoring and policy support during a period of parental leave within the Section.

Requirements

One workstream is programme management for the Townhall, which takes place from 8 to 10 December 2026 in Heidelberg, Germany. The contractor builds and maintains project plans, schedules, milestone trackers, risk registers and similar tools. They coordinate colleagues, other UN entities, external partners, Member State representatives, youth organisations and speakers, and develop monitoring, evaluation and impact frameworks that look at participation, representation, commitments made and follow-up. Programme support may be needed before, during and after the event, including on-site.

The second workstream is strengthening youth engagement in technology, innovation, artificial intelligence and digital-cooperation policy processes, with substantive input to policy discussions.

About the Office

The Youth Office was created by UN General Assembly Resolution 76/306 to lead system-wide coordination on youth, strengthen advocacy and promote young people's participation in decision-making.

How to apply

Applications go through the official UN Careers vacancy page. The deadline is 25 August 2026 at 11:59 p.m. New York time, which is 26 August 2026 at 03:59 UTC.