Result of Service

The study will examine global trends shaping peace and security; assess the evolution and implementation of the YPS agenda across the five pillars; analyze youth engagement in peacebuilding and violence prevention; identify barriers and enabling factors for meaningful youth participation; and provide forward-looking recommendations for strengthening implementation, accountability, financing, and partnerships. The study is also expected to contribute to broader intergovernmental and policy discussions. The individual contractor will serve as lead drafter and researcher responsible for finalizing the Second Independent Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security and an accompanying Abridged version of the report. Drawing on the substantial body of research, consultations, thematic papers, and data collection already completed, the individual contractor will consolidate and synthesize existing materials into coherent, evidence-based, and publication-ready outputs. The individual contractor will ensure the report:

addresses the agreed guiding research questions;
assesses progress in implementation of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda since 2015;
evaluates implementation of the recommendations from the 2018 Independent Progress Study, The Missing Peace;
reflects analysis across the five pillars of the YPS agenda; and
applies a gender-responsive, inclusive, and intersectional lens throughout the report. The final output should provide clear, evidence-based, and actionable recommendations to accelerate implementation of the YPS agenda at global, regional, national/local levels. The individual contractor will also be expected to develop a compelling analytical narrative that clearly communicates the evolving relevance, achievements, challenges, and future priorities of the YPS agenda.

Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

4 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of DPPA/PBPSO and in coordination with the YPS Secretariat (DPPA, UNFPA, UN Youth Office) and relevant UN partners, the individual contractor will be guided by the consultant's findings during the first phase of the YPS Independent Progress Study:

Review, consolidate and synthesize existing research and consultation materials, including: regional and global consultation reports; thematic papers and case studies; survey datasets; reports of the Secretary-General on Youth, Peace and Security; and findings and recommendations from the first Independent Progress Study, The Missing Peace.
Refine the analytical structure, methodology and narrative framing of the report to ensure coherence, consistency, and alignment across chapters and thematic areas
Analyze existing qualitative and quantitative evidence to assess: progress and gaps in implementation; emerging trends and risks; enabling factors and barriers; lessons learned and promising practices; and institutional, policy, financing, and partnership dynamics of the YPS agenda.
Ensure that inputs from stakeholder/regional consultations and youth perspectives, experiences, and recommendations are meaningfully integrated throughout the report, with attention to gender equality, inclusion, and intersectionality.
Identify enabling factors, barriers, innovations, and promising practices related to youth participation in peacebuilding, violence prevention, social cohesion, and conflict prevention.
Develop analytical summaries, charts, tables, infographics, and visualizations where relevant to strengthen accessibility and presentation of findings.
Prepare clear, evidence-based, and actionable recommendations to strengthen implementation, accountability, financing, institutional support, and intergenerational partnerships under the YPS agenda.
Prepare successive drafts of the report and Abridged version of the report and revise them based on feedback from the UN Secretariat on YPS, SIPS Advisory Group and other relevant stakeholders.
Ensure that all outputs meet high analytical, editorial, citation, and publication-quality standards.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or PhD) in Peace and Conflict Studies, International Relations, Political Science, Development Studies, Sociology, or a related field is required.

At least 10 years of demonstrated experience conducting high-level research nd drafting major analytical or policy publications related to youth, peace and security, peacebuilding, or international development is required.
Proven experience leading or finalizing large-scale international research studies or flagship reports is required.
Strong analytical, drafting, and editorial skills, including the ability to synthesize large volumes of qualitative and quantitative information into clear and policy-relevant outputs is required.
Demonstrated knowledge of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda and related UN policy frameworks.
Experience working with the United Nations system and multilateral stakeholders is desirable.

Languages

Excellent written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Additional Information

The Pact for the Future, adopted in September 2024, reaffirmed the importance of youth participation in peace and security and called for the completion of a Second Independent Progress Study (IPS) on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) by the end of the 80th session of the General Assembly. Building on the 2018 Independent Progress Study, The Missing Peace, the study will assess progress in the implementation of the YPS agenda since the adoption of Security Council resolution 2250 (2015) and subsequent resolutions, including resolutions 2419 (2018), 2535 (2020), and 2807 (2025), document youth contributions to peace and security, and identify recommendations to accelerate implementation of the YPS agenda. Substantial research and consultation processes for the study have already been completed, including regional consultations, thematic papers, case studies, and quantitative and qualitative data collection. The assignment is therefore focused on consolidating, synthesizing, analyzing, and finalizing these existing materials into a coherent, evidence-based, and publication-ready final full report and an Abridged version of the report. The individual contractor is not expected to undertake new primary research, but rather to review the consultant's findings during the first phase of the YPS Independent Progress Study: analyze, consolidate, and synthesize existing evidence; identify strategic insights; and finalize publication-ready outputs.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Individual Contractor - Finalization of the Second Independent Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security