UNDP Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces – Cohort 3: Remote UN Volunteer Opportunity

Application Deadline: September 3, 2026

Applications are now open for Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces – Cohort 3, a seven-week online leadership and learning opportunity supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Agenda 2063 Academy and its partners. The assignment offers volunteers an opportunity to explore Africa’s long-term development vision while helping other participants connect that vision to practical action.

Unlike opportunities that focus primarily on academic qualifications or technical expertise, this programme is centred on leadership, personal contribution, critical thinking, collaboration and development practice. Participants will examine how the spaces they already occupy—such as schools, businesses, nonprofits, communities, professional networks and government institutions—can become platforms for advancing Africa’s transformation.

The opportunity is particularly relevant for African students, professionals, educators, entrepreneurs, researchers, development practitioners and community leaders who want to deepen their understanding of Agenda 2063 while developing practical leadership tools.

The role is remote, making it potentially accessible to qualified applicants who can participate online without relocating to Ethiopia. The current listing gives 3 September 2026 as the closing date, so interested applicants should avoid waiting until the final day.

About the UNDP Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces Programme

Agenda 2063 is Africa’s long-term framework for achieving “The Africa We Want.” Turning that vision into reality requires more than governments and major institutions. It also depends on individuals making purposeful decisions and creating value in the environments where they have influence.

The Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces traineeship is built around this idea. A “Power Space” can be virtually any environment in which people make decisions, solve problems or influence others—from a classroom or workplace to a nonprofit, business, community organisation or professional network.

The seven-week Cohort 3 journey is designed to help participants move from simply understanding Agenda 2063 to identifying what they personally can contribute to its implementation.

Participants will work through seven leadership tools:

Contribution Statement – identifying the value they create.
Moonshot – defining an ambitious future they want to help create.
Delivery – identifying the changes required to move from the present situation to that future.
Leadership Values – clarifying the values that should guide their decisions.
Leadership Routines – developing repeatable actions that turn intentions into results.
Letter from the Future – imagining the future after successfully achieving their goals.
Future Review – using a cycle of reviewing, revising and recommitting to maintain progress.

The programme also aims to improve the learning materials and facilitation methods used to make this leadership practice accessible to more people in the future.

What Will the Online Volunteer Do?

Selected volunteers will support the learning experience rather than serve as technical experts on every aspect of Agenda 2063.

Key responsibilities include:

Studying the programme’s Reader and other learning resources.
Becoming familiar with the weekly concepts, questions and exercises.
Supporting participant engagement throughout the seven-week journey.
Participating in small-group learning conversations where assigned.
Helping participants connect the concepts to their own workplaces, communities or organisations.
Providing constructive feedback during the end-of-cohort review.
Helping identify ways to improve future cohorts.

The assignment is home-based/remote. Importantly, the opportunity does not require applicants to already be experts in Agenda 2063. Curiosity, disciplined learning, communication skills and a willingness to help others apply ideas are central to the role.

Benefits of the Opportunity

Although this is a volunteer assignment rather than a conventional paid employment opportunity, it can provide valuable professional and leadership exposure.

Potential benefits include:

Seven-week structured leadership development experience
Practical exposure to Agenda 2063 and African development
Experience supporting a learning and leadership programme
Opportunity to engage with participants from different backgrounds and sectors
Development of communication, facilitation and feedback skills
Exposure to UNDP-supported development work
Experience that can strengthen a CV, professional profile or development-sector portfolio
Opportunity to build a personal Leadership Portfolio
Remote participation without relocating to the listed duty station
Deeper understanding of how individuals can contribute to Africa’s long-term transformation

For professionals seeking careers in international development, nonprofit management, public policy, education, social innovation or community development, the experience can be particularly relevant.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity welcomes applicants from different professional and educational backgrounds. According to the current listing, applications are welcomed from professionals, practitioners, researchers, entrepreneurs, educators, students and community leaders working across different sectors and Power Spaces.

Applicants should demonstrate:

Strong interest in Agenda 2063, African development, leadership or development practice.
Interest in areas such as public policy, business, education, community development or related fields.
Ability to read and critically engage with learning materials.
Strong written and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to provide concise and constructive feedback.
Commitment to participating throughout the seven-week cohort.
Willingness to learn and help other participants connect ideas with their own contexts.

You do not need to present yourself as an expert on everything related to Agenda 2063. The role specifically values curiosity and disciplined engagement with the provided materials.

Application Process and Key Date

Applicants should apply through the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Unified Volunteering Platform. UNV explains that candidates generally need to create a profile before applying for volunteer assignments.

How to Apply

Create or update your candidate profile on the UNV platform.
Search for “Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces – Cohort 3.”
Review the full Description of Assignment carefully.
Ensure your profile reflects your relevant experience, interests and skills.
Prepare a focused motivation statement.
Submit the application through the UNV platform before the deadline.

Application platform: UNV Unified Volunteering Platform

Programme: Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces – Cohort 3
Organisation: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Assignment: UN Volunteer
Work arrangement: Remote/Home-based
Duration: Seven-week traineeship
Deadline: 3 September 2026

Because application systems can display deadlines according to different time zones, applicants—especially those applying from Nigeria and other African countries—should submit well before the closing date rather than relying on the final few hours.

Why You Should Apply

This opportunity is worth considering if you want more than another certificate-based training programme.

Its strongest feature is the emphasis on turning personal leadership into practical contribution. Instead of asking only what Agenda 2063 means, the programme encourages participants to consider questions such as: What can I contribute? What future am I trying to create? What needs to change, and what actions can I consistently take?

That approach can be useful whether you work in a nonprofit, school, business, government institution or community initiative.

It can also help applicants develop a clearer professional narrative. For example, instead of simply saying that you are “passionate about African development,” you can identify the specific problem you work on, the space where you have influence and the measurable change you want to contribute to.

Application Tips to Strengthen Your Profile

1. Connect your experience to African development

Do not list experiences without explaining their relevance. Show how your education, work, volunteering, research or community activities demonstrate your interest in development and leadership.

2. Demonstrate practical contribution

Think about your own “Power Space.” It could be your classroom, organisation, business, community, professional network or volunteer group. Explain what you already influence and what you want to improve.

3. Show curiosity rather than pretending to know everything

The programme explicitly indicates that applicants do not need to be experts in every aspect of Agenda 2063. Emphasise your willingness to learn, listen and support others.

4. Highlight communication and collaboration

Because volunteers may participate in small-group conversations and provide feedback, give examples that demonstrate your ability to communicate clearly, work with others and offer constructive input.

5. Be specific in your motivation statement

Avoid generic statements such as “I want to work with the United Nations because it is prestigious.” Instead, explain what you hope to learn, what you can contribute and how the experience connects with your longer-term development goals.

6. Apply early

Do not wait until the deadline. An early application gives you time to correct profile gaps, review your motivation statement and resolve technical problems on the application platform.

Conclusion

The UNDP Agenda 2063 in Power Spaces – Cohort 3 offers an interesting pathway for people who want to connect leadership development with Africa’s long-term transformation agenda. Its remote format and broad target audience make it particularly relevant to students, professionals, educators, entrepreneurs, researchers and community leaders interested in development.

If you can commit to the seven-week journey and are prepared to learn, contribute and engage constructively with others, this could be a valuable addition to your professional development journey.

For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE

Be one of the first to see new opportunities, Follow Us on social media: Facebook, Whatsapp Channel, LinkedIn