Mission and objectivesUNDP operates in over 170 countries and territories, working to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. We support countries in developing strong policies, skills, partnerships, and institutions to help sustain their progress.
ContextThe 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (25 November โ 10 December) is a global campaign that unites individuals and institutions in a shared call to end violence against women and girls. Each year, the UNITE Campaign emphasizes a specific theme and mobilizes global action. In 2025, the campaign will focus on ending digital violence against all women and girls, including those with disabilities, by advocating for safer, more inclusive, and equitable digital spaces. Violence against women, whether physical, economic, or digital, is rooted in unequal power relations, systemic discrimination, and the exclusion of women from decision-making spaces. Addressing these inequalities requires not only protection and awareness but also empowerment, participation, and access to knowledge, especially in areas such as climate resilience and sustainable development, where women and girls are often among the most affected yet least represented. In this spirit, UNDP, the UNโs global development network, works with countries to build inclusive solutions that combine gender equality, climate action, and human development. Guided by the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNDP supports efforts to reduce emissions, enhance adaptation to climate impacts, and foster equitable, zero-carbon, and resilient societies. Climate change and gender inequality are deeply interconnected. Environmental degradation and disasters disproportionately affect women, particularly in regions where they face barriers to resources, mobility, and decision-making. Strengthening resilience, therefore, also means empowering women as agents of change, not just as beneficiaries but as active leaders and data producers who shape more sustainable futures. Within this framework, UNDPโs Climate and Disaster Resilience Team at the Istanbul Regional Hub, in partnership with UNV, will engage UN Community Volunteers as part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign. The initiative aims to both strengthen regional resilience and highlight the essential role of volunteerism in promoting gender-responsive climate action. The selected UN Community Volunteers will contribute to: โข Data Collection and Coordination: Gathering and structuring national datasets on climate hazards, exposure, and vulnerability from 18 countries and territories, with a gender lens to ensure womenโs vulnerabilities and capacities are better represented. โข Regional Coordination and Management: Engaging online volunteers across subregions to ensure consistent and inclusive data inputs, fostering collaboration that values diverse perspectives, including those of women and persons with disabilities.
Task DescriptionUnder the direct supervision of UNDP Team Leader, the UN Community Volunteer will: โข Collect and compile country-level data on gender, climate change, and disaster risk indicators from official national sources, open databases, and UNDP country offices. โข Organize and verify datasets to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency. โข Set up a team of online volunteers and manage inputs from other sub-regions. โข Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.
Competencies and valuesโข Accountability โข Adaptability and flexibility โข Creativity โข Judgement and decision-making โข Planning and organising โข Professionalism โข Self-management
Living conditions and remarksUN Community Volunteers are expected to be recruited locally and work within their communities. For this specific assignment, if the selected UN Community Volunteer is required to travel or attend specific events, travel and daily meal expenses will be covered by the host entity. Upon successful completion of the assignment, UN Community Volunteers will receive a UNV Certificate of Service. This is a volunteer assignment, not employment. By sharing your time, energy, and talents, you can support communities in need and become part of something greater than yourself โ a global movement for peace, development, and humanitarian aid. Volunteering strengthens trust, solidarity, and reciprocity among citizens, and it can promote a sense of belonging and purpose. The UN Volunteer will be based in Istanbul, and will preferably be working from the office (location is Istanbul, Sisli area) up to two days a week to connect and collaborate with staff members. The UN Volunteers are responsible for arranging her/his own housing and other living essentials within UNV contract period. Summary of this national UN Volunteer Entitlements: โข Private insurance: Health, dental, life and dismemberment (coverage by CIGNA) โข Certificate of Service โข Experience with UN programme โข There will be no payment, stipend, or any allowances. UN Volunteer supporting SPI in Europe and Central Asia region: The support provided by the UN Volunteer for tasks supporting the host UN entity in the region of Europe and Central Asia is a Special Programme Initiative (SPI) by UNV. SPIs respond to volunteer-specific needs of the United Nations system and donor entities. They are established by specific policy documents that address the desired programmatic aims and broader SDGsโ outcomes in line with UNV guiding principles. UN Volunteers for this SPI in the Europe and Central Asia region are governed by the particular conditions set out in their offers and contracts.