CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR YOUNG FACILITATORS

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR YOUNG FACILITATORS

About the initiatives 

The Advancing Civic Engagement for Democratic Participation (Civic Engagement) Project is a joint initiative of UNDP Nepal and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Nepal. It is designed to strengthen inclusive and accountable governance in Nepal by expanding democratic civic space for citizens, particularly young people.

Under this initiative, Hami DajuVai (HDV) has partnered with UNDP Nepal for implementation of “Intergenerational Policy Dialogue Series on Youth Civic Engagement”. This initiative aims to foster meaningful youth civic participation and establish constructive, collaborative policy pathways between generations. By creating structured advocacy spaces, these dialogue series bridge the gap between youth, priorities, evidence-based research, and formal policymaking. They bring together young advocates and seasoned policymakers to exchange perspectives, identify systemic policy bottlenecks, co-create actionable policy recommendations, and jointly advocate for democratic accountability. 

Crucially, this initiative is designed not merely as a set of one-off events, but as a sustained, institutionalized process for intergenerational partnership. It offers a timely and constructive mechanism for collaborative civic engagement in Nepal, particularly in navigating the evolving aspirations and active civic expressions of the younger generation known as Gen-Z.

What is this call about? 

Young people have always stood at the vanguard of social movements, protests, and civic campaigns, yet they remain systematically sidelined from the formal policy processes that directly shape their futures. They have been mobilized as catalysts for social change, but not sufficiently institutionalized as actors in decision making. This growing disconnection between younger and older generations risks fostering mutual misunderstanding, institutional distrust, and social fragmentation

This call is part of the effort to create a constructive space for young people who want to work as a bridge between two generations to shape intergenerational policy conversations, engage with decision makers, make intergenerational dialogues meaningful, contribute to effective policy uptake of the dialogue outcome and sustain a culture of intergenerational collaboration in the society beyond the project period.

We are therefore establishing a structured, constructive platform where young people do not just witness policy discussions, but actively shape them. By facilitating meaningful, evidence-based intergenerational dialogues, this initiative bridges the gap between youth activists and senior decision-makers. However, we recognize that simply securing a seat at the decision-making table is not enough. To drive real, structural change, young leaders must be equipped with specialized advocacy skills, robust evidence, confidence, and institutional backing required for facilitating   negotiations, and influence and lead the processes effectively once they are there.

The Opportunity: Leading the Charge

To bring this vision to life, we are seeking 15 dynamic young leaders to take the helm of this initiative. Selected participants will undergo intensive capacity-building, and subsequently drive strategic policy conversations across six priority thematic areas.

• They will work hand-in-hand with experienced facilitators, researchers, and policy experts to shape agendas, bring diverse perspectives and lived experiences into policy discussions, facilitate intergenerational dialogues, and contribute to follow up on institutional commitments. This is an opportunity to move from being mobilized to being decision makers, from having a voice to shaping the process, and from generational divides to meaningful dialogue and collective action.

THE VALUE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY

This initiative offers a unique blend of practical learning, civic leadership, and professional development. Selected young leaders will gain access to a fully funded, high-impact pathway designed to build their careers in policy, governance, and advocacy. 

• By joining this cohort, you will: Build Strategic Policy Influence: Gain a practical understanding of how public policy is formulated in Nepal, identify critical entry points for advocacy, and learn how to strategically influence high-level decision-making.
• Master Advanced Policy Dialogue & Facilitation: Receive hands-on, expert-led training in structured policy dialogue frameworks, advanced facilitation methodologies, and active listening, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Directly Shape the National Policy Agenda: Take a lead role in identifying, refining, and prioritizing the core issues that will define the wider program and its six national-level policy dialogues.
• Learn from Senior Experts & Practitioners: Work in close, continuous mentorship with leading subject-matter experts, senior researchers, and key institutional actors, bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world governance.
• Gain Paid Professional Consultancy Experience: Build your professional portfolio with consultancy experience. Cohort members will be formally contracted and paid for their engagement during policy dialogue facilitations.
• Lead High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Convenings: Position yourself at the center of critical national conversations by actively engaging and negotiating with youth leaders, parliamentarians, senior bureaucrats, and civil society champions.
• Expand Professional Networks & Visibility: Build a robust professional network across Nepal's civic, policy, and research spaces while receiving formal attribution for your contributions to published policy briefs, position papers, and advocacy tools.
• Bridge the Generational Divide: Serve as a pioneer in a national effort to build constructive, collaborative spaces where younger and elder generations listen to each other, exchange perspectives and priorities, and co-create shared solutions for accountable governance.

WHO SHOULD APPLY? WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We invite applications from motivated young people interested in civic engagement, public policy, research, dialogue, advocacy, community engagement, governance, or social change.

Applicants may be students, young professionals, researchers, community volunteers, emerging civic leaders, or others interested in developing practical experience in civic and policy engagement.

We are particularly looking for applicants who demonstrate:

1. Genuine interest in youth participation and public policy
2. Curiosity and willingness to learn
3. Good listening and communication skills
4. Ability to work collaboratively with people from different backgrounds
5. Interest in research, facilitation, advocacy, or civic engagement
6. Commitment to respectful, inclusive, and constructive dialogue
7. Willingness to engage with young people and senior stakeholders
8. Availability and commitment to participate in relevant project activities

Note: You do not need to be a policy expert but Prior experience in policy, research, facilitation, advocacy, or community engagement is an advantage. However, the selection will also consider motivation, potential, lived experience, communication skills, and willingness to learn. The selection process will seek diversity across gender, caste and ethnicity, geography, disability, and other dimensions of social inclusion, with attention to groups that are often underrepresented in policy processes.

WHAT THE ROLE REQUIRES 

Selected Young Facilitators are expected to:

1. Participate fully and actively in the mandatory skill development traini9ng, preparatory workshops, co-creation workshops, and all scheduled program briefings.
2. Contribute substantively and responsibly to pre-dialogue research, localized stakeholder consultations, and the development of thematic dialogue agendas.
3. Cultivate a safe, inclusive environment that actively respects diverse perspectives, ensuring that marginalized voices and varied lived experiences are valued.
4. Work seamlessly as part of a multi-disciplinary team alongside professional senior facilitators/co-facilitators, academic researchers, policy experts, and UNDP/partner project staff.
5. Maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and confidentiality when engaging with high-level institutional stakeholders, policymakers, and partners.
6. Actively champion and facilitate constructive, non-discriminatory, and non-partisan dialogue, adhering strictly to code-of-conduct guidelines.
7. Support the project team in capturing key dialogue insights, compiling participant feedback, and drafting reflection pieces and follow-up action points.
8. Remain consistently and trustfully engaged throughout the agreed-upon duration of the cohort's mandate.
9. Approach the role with a strong sense of personal responsibility, intellectual curiosity, openness to feedback, and a proactive willingness to learn.

SELECTION PROCESS

The 15 Young Facilitators will be selected through an open and competitive application process.

Selection will consider:

1. Motivation and interest in civic and policy engagement
2. Relevant experience and demonstrated potential
3. Communication and interpersonal skills
4. Willingness to learn and collaborate
5. Availability for project activities
6. Commitment to inclusive and respectful engagement
7. Diversity and representation within the overall cohort
8. Minimum qualification required for this position is +2 complete

The aim is to build a cohort with different experiences, perspectives, skills, and backgrounds that can contribute meaningfully to intergenerational policy dialogue.

The candidates shortlisted based on their motivations and skills mentioned in the form will be invited for short focus group discussions, and interviews as part of the selection process.

WHY APPLY?

This is more than a training opportunity. It is a chance to “learn by doing, lead real conversations, and engage where policy is shaped”. The cohort will work with evidence, contribute to policy agendas, facilitate diverse groups, engage decision makers, and contribute to real policy and accountability processes.

Most importantly, this is an opportunity to be part of a group of young leaders working to bridge generational divides and strengthen the connection between young people and the institutions that shape public policy.

Your Next Step

Interested young people can apply through the Google Form by Sunday, 18 October 2026 5:00 pm. 

LINK : Google Form