Youth on the Move Program

The UNICEF UNV Youth on the Move Programme gives opportunities to talented and passionate refugees, asylum seekers, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and migrants aged between 20 and 32 years to work with UNICEF through a 12-month paid UN Volunteer assignment. This initiative aims to create a more inclusive environment at UNICEF for talented and passionate youth on the move who due to their migration or displacement face barriers to access UNICEF and other organizations' internships and entry-level positions.

The UNICEF UNV Youth on the Move Programme builds on the success of the Youth on the Move Fellowship Pilot Programme, which was implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Migration Youth and Children Platform. Under this pilot, 23 young people from refugee and displaced backgrounds from different nationalities worked with UNICEF country offices and teams worldwide between October 2022 and June 2024.

A snapshot of the history

MYCP's role in the program

  • Contributing to GFMD summits

    We have participated in GFMD Summits and Regional Meetings since 2018, sending youth participants and speakers. We have also organized Youth Forums as preparation spaces for young people and participants.

  • Participating in working groups

    We participate in year-round Working Groups as active members and contributors.

  • Regional Meetings

    We participate in all regional meetings, consulting and preparing young people’s inputs, that are then conveyed through young representatives.

  • Year Round Activities

    As the platform for youth engagement, we are also observers to the Friends of the Forum and GFMD Steering Group, where we can participate to represent youth voices in the coordination of the GFMD Strategy.

Relevant projects

Impact

  • 36

    Fellows working on different UNICEF country and regional offices around the world

  • 5

    Alumnis are enrolled in university

  • 5

    Alumni are actively engaged in volunteering in their communities 

  • 11

    Alumni are employed working with UNICEF, partner organizations or in other fields.

Latest report

Impact reports

How we engage

What is the GFMD?

Global Forum on Migration and Development

Created in 2007, the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) is a state-led, informal and non-binding process, which helps shape the global debate on migration and development. It provides a flexible, multi-stakeholder space where governments can discuss the multi-dimensional aspects, opportunities and challenges related to migration, development, and the link between these two areas. The GFMD process allows governments – in partnership with civil society, the private sector, the UN system, and other relevant stakeholders – to analyze and discuss sensitive issues, create consensus, pose innovative solutions, and share policy and practices.