UNOPS has signed an agreement with the United Nations to implement the activities for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC).

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is an initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, which responds to a broad consensus across nations, cultures, and religions that all societies are interdependent, bound together in their development and security, and in their environmental, economic and financial well-being. The Alliance seeks to forge collective political will and mobilize concerted action at the institutional and civil society levels to overcome the prejudice, misperceptions, and polarization that militate against such a consensus. UNAOC hopes to contribute to a coalescing global movement which, reflecting the will of the vast majority of people, rejects extremism in any society.

The complex, demanding dialogue of civilizations, cultures, and religions is necessary, possible, and fruitful. It is a critical tool against isolation, mistrust, and confrontation, and it is also the most powerful incentive for understanding and tolerance. History has shown that dialogue is not a simple process. If we fail to teach and cultivate it, the situation can give way to a monologue or to mutism, which is conducive to conflict and violent extremism.

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations was created to serve as a soft-power political tool of the United Nations Secretary-General for conflict prevention and conflict resolution. It is a coalition against extremist forces, a movement to advance mutual respect for cultures, traditions, and religious beliefs, and a platform to bridge divides and overcome prejudice, misconceptions, misperceptions, and polarization. The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations was intended to promote collective action in society as a means of addressing the threats that emerge from the hostile perceptions that foment violence, overcoming cultural and social barriers, reducing tensions, and improving relations between societies and communities with diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, and combatting violent extremism.

During its more than twenty years of existence, UNAOC has pioneered a range of approaches and activities across its five priority areas, namely, Youth, Education, Media, Migration, and Womenas Peace Mediators. The impact of many of its projects on the ground has been significant and measurable, particularly those implemented with civil society organizations (CSOs) and youth-led organizations. Nonetheless, the context of the current global challenges is more complex than ever before. The multidimensional nature of the scope of today’s conflicts requires a new approach to conflict resolution and conflict prevention. Around the world, there has been a rising wave of violent extremism conducive to terrorism, growing intolerance, hate speech, xenophobia, and discrimination, posing a threat to international peace and security. These new approaches are reflected in the UNAOC Action Plan 2024 - 2026. It builds on and develops existing UNAOC programming activities and suggests new focus areas that strengthen the Alliance’s ability to fulfill its mandate in a more effective and measurable way. The Plan further suggests new approaches for institutional development and political advocacy that should provide a viable framework for the way we respond to the current global challenges. Institutionally, the plan reaffirms the important role played by all stakeholders, including state and non-state actors, in developing and implementing national plans and regional strategies to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue, the mainstay of the Alliance. The framework aims to expand and consolidate the global scope of UNAOC in Africa, Asia, Europe, MENA, and Latin America.

This is a position in UNOPS for supporting the implementation of UNAOC. The incumbent of this position will be personnel of UNOPS under its full administrative and financial responsibility.

Guided by the principle that youth are key actors in achieving peace and preventing violent extremism—as affirmed in UN Security Council Resolutions 2250, 2419, 2535, and 2807, and the UN Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism—UNAOC develops educational programming to empower young civil society leaders. These initiatives enhance their ability to foster mutual respect, understanding, and long-term positive relationships across diverse cultures and religions.

Young Peacebuilder programme is a peace education initiative designed to support young people in gaining peacebuilding skills and competencies to enhance their positive role in issues of peace and security and in preventing violent conflict. Learning objectives include:

• Exploring diverse cultures and worldviews to foster intercultural cohesion and collaboration.

• Critically analyzing stereotypes to reduce their prevalence and impact.

• Gaining tools to peacefully transform identity-based conflicts at local, national, and regional levels.

• Identifying the push and pull factors conducive to violent extremism.

• Using media and expressive arts to create alternative narratives, reduce polarization, and promote social inclusion.

• Reflecting on strategies to increase meaningful youth engagement.

• Designing and managing impactful peacebuilding projects.

The programme aims to grow networks of young peacebuilders equipped to address prejudice, social exclusion, and polarization, ultimately building more inclusive and peaceful societies globally.

Programme Components:

• Part 1: Online Phase (3-4 months): Participants engage via a collaborative platform to explore core concepts, begin group reflection, and establish relationships with trainers and peers before meeting in person.

• Part 2: Face-to-Face Workshop (7-8 days): Participants complete intensive in-person training and develop specific action plans.

• Part 3: Implementation Phase (3-5 months): Participants execute their action plans with continued mentorship, consolidating the network and ensuring long-term mutual support.

• Part 4: Final Symposium (2-4 days): Participants share lessons learned and project outcomes with practitioners, policymakers, and the public to promote intercultural dialogue during in-person symposium.

Since 2016, the programme has been implemented in West Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Following the eighth edition's expansion to the South Caucasus and Central Asia, the ninth edition will continue to focus on this vital region.

UNAOC is currently seeking a Capacity Building Specialist [Lead Trainer] for the 9th edition. This remote position is tentatively scheduled to begin on September 1, 2026. Qualified candidates will undergo an assessment and a competency-based interview. The incumbent will be personnel of UNOPS under its full administrative and financial responsibility.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Project Delivery and Performance

Design curriculum: develop content and educational materials for 8-10 online modules, a face-to-face workshop, the implementation phase, and a symposium to meet the session’s proposed objectives and the learning needs of participants (tentatively by beginning of October 2026).

Facilitate the online modules on the interactive learning platform and ensure engagement by posting assignments, motivating participants, responding to questions, leading online discussions, etc. (tentatively October 2026 - January 2027).

Facilitate the face-to-face workshop at a location to be determined (tentatively Feb/March 2027) and participate in debrief sessions with UNAOC.

Mentor and guide the participants through implementing their action plans (tentatively March-June 2027).

If required, be able to attend the final symposium (tentatively June/July 2027) at a location to be determined).

Submit a mid-review and post-training report summarizing the workshops conducted, lessons learned, and recommendations.

Support logistics if requested.

Monitoring, Reporting and Quality Assurance

Milestone 1: Design online curriculum and facilitation of online modules. Initial due date 31 January 2027 with possibility of adjustment to 28 February 2027 (subject to project extension). The Capacity Building Specialist [Lead Trainer] will receive 50% of the total payment.

Milestone 2: Design 5-day in-person training and facilitation of face-to-face workshop, mentoring of participants and monitoring their project implementation, organization of the final symposium, if requested, and submission of a final report. Initial due date 31 July 2027 with possibility of adjustment to 30 September 2027 (subject to project extension). The Capacity Building Specialist [Lead Trainer] will receive 50% of the total payment.

Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination

Build and maintain regular communication with programme participants.

Maintain regular communication with the programme lead.

Ensure programme lead is informed of work progress, activities and results through timely and accurate information.

Knowledge Building and Sharing

Support the organization, facilitation and delivery of training and learning sessions on peacebuilding and project management.

Contribute to the drafting of reports, summaries and briefing notes as requested by programme lead.

Education requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) preferably in (peace) education, conflict and development studies, political science, international relations, social and humanitarian sciences, law, public administration, or a related field with five (5) years of relevant experience is required; OR

• A first level university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) preferably in (peace) education, conflict and development studies, political science, international relations, social and humanitarian sciences, law, public administration, or a related field with seven (7) years of relevant experience is desirable.

Experience requirements

Required

• Relevant experience is defined as work experience in peace education and/or designing/facilitating learning trajectories for multicultural youth is required.

Desired

• Experience in online training, intercultural and interfaith dialogue issues, media/communications as a medium for generating positive narratives, and other relevant peacebuilding themes.

• General knowledge or understanding of peacebuilding, youth-led organizations, capacity development, and/or international UN policy frameworks related to these fields.

• Exposure to the South Caucasus and Central Asia region is considered an asset.

• Ability to use a gender and intercultural approach.

• Ability to work in a multicultural team.

Language requirements

• Fluency in English is required.

• Fluency in any national language of the duty station is desired.

• Basic knowledge in any other official UN language is desired.

How to apply

For applying to this position, please access https://careers.unops.org/careersmarketplace/JobDetail/3115