UNFPA Somali Youth Fellowship 2026: 22 Positions in Somalia

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) invites eligible young Somali graduates to apply for the Somali Youth (SOYO) Fellowship Cohort II. The programme offers 22 full-time volunteer placements across Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Garoowe, providing 12 months of practical work experience, mentorship and professional development.

Job Summary

Responsibilities

Selected fellows will support UNFPA programmes and office operations in areas such as:

• Youth development, sexual and reproductive health, and gender equality.
• Programme coordination, monitoring and evaluation.
• Research, data analysis and report writing.
• Humanitarian response and climate resilience.
• Communications, advocacy and partnership development.
• Finance, administration, human resources, procurement and ICT.

Fellows will also participate in training, coaching and supervised workplace learning.

Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be Somali nationals living in Somalia or members of the Somali diaspora.
• Be within the programme’s target age range of 18 to 30 years.
• Hold a bachelor’s degree relevant to a placement area.
• Speak English and Somali fluently.
• Be available for the full-time, 12-month assignment.
• Demonstrate an interest in leadership, volunteerism or community development.

Previous professional experience is not required. Participants from the first SOYO fellowship cohort are ineligible for Cohort II. Qualified young women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should visit the United Nations Volunteers website and locate the official SOYO Fellowship Cohort II vacancy. Review the eligibility conditions and application instructions before submitting an application.