The aims of Ireland’s United Nations Youth Delegate Programme are:

• To provide a platform for young people living in Ireland to be represented at the United Nations.
• To directly involve young people living in Ireland in international diplomacy, foreign policy, and decision-making.
• To hear and include the voices of young people living in Ireland on development, human rights, and global citizenship issues at local, national, and international levels.
• To promote development and youth policies among young people in Ireland.
• To familiarise young people in Ireland with global development issues, the Sustainable Development Goals, and opportunities for action.
• To support global citizenship activities and development initiatives in Ireland.

This Programme will support young people to be agents of change, and to foster active global citizenship through engagement with the UN, contributing to building a world of justice, equity, peace, and dignity for all.

The National Youth Council of Ireland manages Ireland’s UN Youth Delegate Programme which aims to represent young people in Ireland in the Irish delegations to the UN and other multilateral fora.

Note: The UN Youth Delegates participate in the Programme on a voluntary basis. Travel and accommodation expenses outside of Ireland, which are part of the United Nations Youth Delegate Programme, are paid by NYCI in advance. A daily stipend is also provided to each delegate, to cover food expenses while abroad.

Please also note: The application period for the respective opportunities of Ireland’s UN Youth Delegate and EU-UN Youth Delegate are open concurrently. Applicants may apply for both positions if they wish, but are reminded to tailor each application to the individual opportunity. If selected for both opportunities, the successful applicant will only be able to take up one opportunity (i.e. You could not hold both positions concurrently)

Call for Applications

Applicants should be:

• Aged between 18-25 years (on 19^th March 2025).
• Be resident on the island of Ireland for the duration of the Programme (September 2024-September 2025).
• Committed to giving significant time to the Programme, on a voluntary basis.
• Curious about the world, with an understanding of public diplomacy, and an interest in public engagement, development education, global citizenship education, and youth-related issues.
• Interested in policy making and writing, capable of digesting a lot of information and quickly turning around policy papers/speeches.
• A self-starter, experienced in organising events and committed to organising consultations with young people and others in Ireland (and possibly other locations).
• A team player and open to proactively collaborating with others.
• Experience in and commitment to using social media and online communications tools in order to share their experiences with others, through written reports and social media, including blogs, videos, webinars, and social media posts.
• Experienced public speakers.
• Passionate about solving today’s most pressing problems and engaging young people in the 2030 Agenda.

Skills and Qualifications:

Essential:

• Experience engaging with young people (e.g. through youth organisations, volunteering, etc).
• Knowledge and understanding of public diplomacy.
• Experience in policy making.
• Experience in event organisation, including leading workshops.
• Experience in social media and communications.
• Experience in negotiation.
• Experience in public speaking.
• Excellent report writing, oral and written communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to and experience of working collaboratively with others (e.g. young people, youth organisations, senior NGO representatives, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, National Youth Council of Ireland, and others).
• Knowledge of international current affairs.
• Culturally competent.

Desired:

• Knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Knowledge of the UN Youth Strategy.
• Knowledge of development policies in Ireland and at UN level.
• Knowledge of Development Education, Global Youth Work, Global Citizenship Education, and Youth Work.

What you must commit to if selected:

• Attend intergovernmental conferences in person: United Nations General Assembly (September/October 2025 tbc), the Human Rights Council (June/July 2026 tbc), and the High-Level Political Forum (July 2026 tbc). Note that attendance at intergovernmental conferences, including those listed above, is subject to funding. Also, note that some countries may require proof of COVID vaccination and/or recovery for non-citizens.
• Regular reporting to/meeting with the National Youth Council of Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on activities, actions, and consultations, including a mandatory End-Of-Term report on completion of the mandate in September 2026.
• Consultations, visits, and participation in events with young people, youth organisations, educational institutions, and NGOs in Ireland, to increase awareness on global issues, while promoting UN values.
• Participate in training at national, regional, and international levels.
• Regular participation in UN Youth Delegate support meetings with the National Youth Council of Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• Attend and organise in-person and online workshops, consultations, and meetings with young people and youth organisations in Ireland on issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals, with a special emphasis on Youth, Peace & Security, and Youth Rights
• Meet in-person and online with the National Youth Council of Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Irish Missions in New York and Geneva in preparation for attendance at intergovernmental conferences.
• Organise side events in Ireland and New York, during participation in relevant intergovernmental conferences (tbc).
• Work with Irish Missions in New York and Geneva on UN policy issues, planning meetings, networking, and team support, as appropriate.
• Work with UN Youth Delegates from other countries on policy issues, planning meetings, organising events, social media campaigns, and networking.
• Consistent PR and social media, as negotiated with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the National Youth Council of Ireland, throughout your term of office, particularly through the publication of blogs, videos, photos, and articles when travelling in UN Youth Delegate capacity, at local, national, and global level.
• Conduct a hand-over meeting with subsequent UN Youth Delegates.

Submitting an Application

All information must be submitted via the online form below, by 5pm on the 19^th of March 2025. Applications submitted after this time will not be considered. For any questions, please email: valerie@nyci.ie

Please note: Due to the volume of applications, please allow at least one month before expecting a response to your application. All applicants will be contacted in due course regarding the outcome of their application.

Please also note: No additional attachments will be accepted or considered as part of the assessment process. We kindly ask that you submit only the information requested, and that you abide by the word count (500 words per question in Section B).