Youth Associate - UNDP

job Description

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context:
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization in fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP

Project background:
It is estimated that around 40% of Lesotho's youth (persons between 15 and 35 years of age) are neither in employment, education, or training. The 2024 Human Development Report Index (HDRI) points to ‘’the labor force (15-64) in Lesotho is likely to grow, which is already happening, as the share of this age groups change from 53% in 1990 to 62% in 2020 and is predictable to increase even more to around 67% in 2050’’. These indicators show a significant loss of human capital and contribution to the Kingdom’s economy, a missed opportunity.

A gender crisis is at the centre of youth unemployment which impact on young women than their male counterparts. Ironically, the former age group is more educated than the latter, but their educational levels do not necessarily translate into better career attainment. The challenges young women face in accessing decent employment opportunities despite their higher levels of education is greater.

In general, young Basotho could drive economic and social development with the right skills and opportunities.

The country’s National Development Strategy Plan II (NSDP II) takes cognizance of the importance and role of and by the youth in the country’s development trajectory. The NSDP II (extended) identifies and promotes youth participation in development through a variety of action points, and especially advocates for the establishment and institutional capacity strengthening of the National Youth Council (NYC) to advance the interests of the youth.

Different youth groups and individuals identify with different political parties in a bid to gain influence and support for opportunities that might exist. Several attempts at establishing the NYC in the past, have haemorrhaged. The passage and adoption of the Lesotho National Youth Policy 2017-2030 by the Cabinet has not shown much progress. Despite having coordination of youth work and youth empowerment endeavours/initiatives across all sectors as its main tenant, policy remains largely ineffective.

There is a growing global concern about youth apathy and alienation from the political processes and Lesotho is not an exception to this. This is even though every citizen in terms of the Constitution is allowed to participate in governance and decision-making processes. The decades of subjugation had alienated several citizens, especially young people from both the political and the social life of the country. Young people are victims of social and economic problems such as unemployment and neglect by parents and society at large, including lack of active participation in such processes that cuts across all socio-economic groups.

This conflicts with Article 11 of the African Youth Charter that entrenches the notion that every young person shall have the right to participate in all spheres of society. The realisation of this calls for space as well as resources to be provided for youth to articulate, mobilise, and be informed of the various avenues of participation available to them.

According to the World Bank Youth Survey in 2021, “contrary to popular belief, youth are not simply waiting for public sector jobs. Instead, about two-thirds of the youth aspire to become entrepreneurs or self-employed. To further explore their entrepreneurial potential, the survey included a psychometric assessment to measure personality traits and mindsets linked to positive business performance. The assessment reveals that youth score relatively high (over 3.5 on a 5-point scale) on most dimensions (Figure 2). However, youth disproportionately focused on today’s needs (present bias), lacking future thinking, orientation, and planning. Youth also showed relatively low levels of a growth mindset the belief that success is not innate and can be changed with hard work and effort. Key structural constraints are a lack of access to finance and credit, inadequate skills, and competing household responsibilities’’.

The HDRI 2024 observes that, ‘’as the world is facing a transition into an older population and the number of elderlies is increasing at a higher rate than the size of the labor force, putting an economic pressure in the pension system; Lesotho will remain with a low old age dependency ratio in 2050, at 8.7. This ratio indicates the level of dependency on the working-age population and having a value of 8.7 means that for every 8.7 elderly, there will be 100 persons on working-age. (HDR 2024).

Youth marginalisation in both public space and policy, and issues directly impacting them, contribute to underdevelopment. Lesotho youth face numerous challenges, including high unemployment rates, inequality, and limited opportunities for economic participation. There is a critical need to engage young people in meaningful economic and policy discussions to harness their potential and drive national development.

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