Futures and Inclusion Engagement Officer

The UN Development Programme is the lead UN agency fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in more than 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

In the Pacific, UNDP provides regional and country support to ten countries (Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu) and regional support to five countries (Cook Islands, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tokelau), together with a total population of 2.4 million.

UNDP is guided by a Sub-regional Programme Document for the Pacific Island Countries and Territories 2018-2022, which in turn contributes to the achievement of an overarching UN system-wide Pacific Strategy. The Programme is shaped to assist countries to advance the global 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda tailored to each country's priorities, through focus on data, policy prioritization, participatory planning, and budgeting and monitoring - and with accelerated action to meet the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UNDP seeks to target the most vulnerable i.e. people experiencing hardship, the marginalized living in remote rural areas, those who are vulnerable to climate and disaster risks, as well as women and youth excluded from socio-political and economic participation. UNDP adheres to an inclusive, pro-poor and human rights-based approaches that leverage cross-practice, multi-disciplinary expertise of UNDP.

This assignment is part of UNV’s disability inclusion strategy. UNV seeks to 1) provide opportunities for persons with disabilities to serve as UN Volunteers 2) enable UN partners to expand diversity and inclusion of persons with disabilities in their workforce worldwide 3) build a talent pipeline of qualified professionals with disabilities who can contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at national and global levels, with focus on national capacity.

The successful candidate will work under the direct supervision of the Strategic Communications and Advocacy Specialist, in close partnership with Regional Innovation Specialist and Management Performance Unit. The successful applicant will:

1. Identify and interpret signals and trends
• Support scanning and consolidation of signals of change (political, economic, social, technological, environmental, values) relevant to UNDP’s mission.
• Scan weekly for signals across various countries in the Pacific and themes. Research the background to signals and themes identified as significant.
• Support sensemaking: grouping and categorizing signals; identifying emerging trends; generating insights and meaning for UNDP.
• Support and lead weekly Scanner Squad meetings where UNDP staff meet to discuss the insights and how they can use them productively
• Produce Horizon Scans on key topics which deep dive into the signals
• Support the development of key policy briefs that focus on inclusion, and are grounded in the lived experiences and needs of Pacific peoples.

2. Support UNDP Pacific Futures Practice
• Support the dissemination and strategic engagement efforts related to the Pasifika Futures Report, ensuring its findings are effectively shared with key stakeholders.
• Assist in the planning and coordination of the 2025 Pacific Futures Forum, including logistical support, stakeholder engagement, and content development.
• Contribute to futures and foresight initiatives by gathering insights, supporting re-search, and identifying opportunities to integrate foresight approaches into UNDP programming

3. Mainstream foresight and inclusion across UNDP programming
• Strengthen partnerships with sub-national, national, and regional disability and LQBTQI organizations
• Support the development of strategic initiatives that promote inclusion across UNDP’s programs and partnerships.
• Assist in the preparation of background documents, reports, and briefing materials to facilitate engagement with stakeholders in both the futures and inclusion spaces.
• Contribute to knowledge-sharing efforts by documenting best practices and lessons learned in futures and foresight, as well as inclusion.

4. Support on strategic big bets, policy innovation and digital transformation
• Use various futures and design methodologies to integrate futures and foresight into UNDP decision-making
• Help to design and deliver effective communications on futures and foresight throughout UNDP and beyond (eg slides or videos for presentations, written guidance)
• Help to develop (and possibly deliver) training on futures and foresight for UNDP staff
• Contribute to or lead on other reports, blogs or other resources on foresight for UNDP

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by read-ing relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities;
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering, or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service when-ever technically possible.

Results/Expected Outputs
• Strengthened Futures and Foresight Engagement: The UN Volunteer will support the dissemination of the Pasifika Futures Report, ensuring key findings are effectively communicated to stakeholders at sub-national, national, and regional levels. This will enhance awareness and integration of futures and foresight approaches within UNDP’s programming.
• Successful Organization of the 2025 Pacific Futures Forum: The UN Volunteer will con-tribute to the planning and coordination of the 2025 Pacific Futures Forum, supporting logistical arrangements, stakeholder engagement, and content development. This will ensure a well-organized, high-impact event that fosters strategic discussions on the fu-ture of the Pacific.
• Enhanced Engagement with the Disability Sector: The UN Volunteer will strengthen UNDP’s relationships with sub-national, national, and regional disability organizations, facilitating meaningful engagement to advance disability inclusion. This will lead to in-creased collaboration and more effective integration of disability perspectives across UNDP’s initiatives.
• Strategic Knowledge Sharing and Advocacy: The UN Volunteer will contribute to knowledge-sharing efforts by documenting best practices and lessons learned in both futures and foresight and disability inclusion. This will result in the production of re-ports, briefing materials, and strategic insights that inform policy and programming.
• Effective Stakeholder Coordination: The UN Volunteer will support the organization of high-level meetings, consultations, and workshops, ensuring seamless coordination and meaningful participation from key partners in the futures and disability inclusion spaces.