Sustainable Livelihoods and Institutional Capacity Specialist

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. We help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress. In Angola, the Country Office (CO) is currently implementing its Country Programme (CPD) for the period of 2020 – 2022, which is based on the premise of ‘leaving no one behind’ and ‘reaching those furthest behind first’. The programme includes integrated solutions to complex, interconnected development challenges. These challenges are currently being addressed through three complementary priorities: 1. fostering poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth; 2. increasing resilience to shocks and crises and enhancing management of natural re-sources for conservation and economic development; and 3. strengthening inclusive democracy, human rights, justice and rule of law. In partnership with the Government of Angola, the CO under programme priority 2 (increasing resilience to shocks and crises and enhancing management of natural resources for conservation and economic development) has been mobilizing efforts and resources to address development challenges in the areas of biodiversity and ecosystems, renewable energy, environmental policy and planning, natural resources management and governance, climate change, disaster risk reduction, resilience building, recovery and livelihoods. UNDP operates through offices in Luanda (for national level interventions), with site representations in Benguela, Cuanza Sul and Huíla.

Angola presents a critical opportunity to advance sustainable livelihoods and inclusive economic growth, particularly for youth and women. While the country has achieved steady economic growth, structural challenges persist, including high youth unemployment, informality, and limited access to productive opportunities in rural areas. These challenges are compounded by climate-related risks such as droughts and flooding, which affect agricultural productivity and community resilience. The Kurima- Embracing the Transformation of Rural Economies in Angola initiative responds to these challenges by promoting youth employment and strengthening rural livelihoods along the Lobito Corridor. The project supports youth and women through skills development, digital agriculture, enterprise support, and improved market linkages, with a focus on climate-smart and technology-enabled solutions. Anchored in Benguela Province, the initiative works with cooperatives, youth-led enterprises, and institutional partners to enhance productivity, resilience, and participation in agricultural value chains. It also promotes partnerships with public institutions, private sector actors, and international partners, including Japanese stakeholders, to strengthen knowledge transfer and innovation ecosystems. This assignment offers an opportunity to contribute to sustainable livelihoods and institutional capacity development by supporting program implementation, stakeholder coordination, and capacity-building efforts. The UN Volunteer will gain hands-on experience in inclusive economic development, rural transformation, and institutional strengthening, while working with government counterparts, communities, and development partners. This assignment also contributes to strengthening Angola–Japan cooperation under the TICAD framework and the Japan Supplementary Budget (JSB). The UN Volunteer will support knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and partnership development involving Japanese stakeholders, including private sector actors, development agencies, and research institutions. The role will provide a unique opportunity to engage with Japanese approaches such as KAIZEN and digital agriculture technologies while supporting their adaptation to local contexts. Japanese nationals are encouraged to apply.

Under the supervision of the Inclusive and Sustainable Growth Program Specialist, the UN Volunteer will: Program Implementation & Coordination - Support implementation of activities related to youth livelihoods, agribusiness development, and cooperative strengthening - Assist in coordinating project activities across stakeholders, including government, private sector, cooperatives, and youth groups - Contribute to planning and delivery of training, mentorship, and enterprise support activities Institutional Capacity Development - Support capacity-building of cooperatives, extension agents, and local institutions in sustainable agriculture and agribusiness practices - Assist in strengthening institutional coordination mechanisms and stakeholder platforms - Contribute to the application of KAIZEN and continuous improvement approaches in partner institutions Livelihoods and Enterprise Support - Support youth- and women-led enterprises through business development, mentoring, and market linkage activities - Assist in organizing calls for proposals, selection processes, and monitoring of supported enterprises - Contribute to strengthening access to markets and value chains Knowledge Management and Reporting -Support preparation of reports, briefs, and knowledge products on livelihoods, youth employment, and rural development - Document lessons learned, success stories, and best practices - Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting processes Partnerships and Coordination - Support engagement with government institutions, private sector, and development partners - Assist in facilitating collaboration with international partners, including Japanese stakeholders - Support organization of workshops, consultations, and stakeholder meetings During the first month of the assignment, the UN Volunteer will work closely with his/her direct supervisor to finalize an agreed-upon work plan. The work plan should outline key objectives and activities and include regular check ins with the supervisor to review progress and receive performance Expected Results / KPIs - Support delivery of training program reaching 400 youth and women - Contribute to strengthening 5 cooperatives adopting improved agricultural practices - Support development or mentoring of 10 youth-led enterprises - Assist in producing 3–5 knowledge products or reports - Contribute to at least 3 stakeholder coordination or capacity-building events - Support monitoring and reporting against project indicators - Support engagement of 3–5 Japanese technologies, partners, or practices - Contribute to at least 2 knowledge exchange activities involving Japanese stakeholders