Call for Applications – Young Professionals on the Road to ICPD30

UNFPA is looking for young, unpublished researchers or other professionals who have recently conducted research into youth-related issues in the wider European region to submit a paper presenting their research. Selected papers will feed into a synthesis report on key concerns of young people which will be developed for the Global ICPD30 dialogue in 2024, and up to three authors will be invited to participate in the regional ICPD30 review conference in Geneva in October 2023.

The initiative aims to highlight a youth story that emerges from the research of young professionals undertaken between 2019 and 2023. The data analysis will build on submissions from interested candidates and will be used to develop a synthesis paper addressing the key concerns of young people in North America, Europe and Central Asia. The analysis will use existing data sources such as the World Values Survey, the European Values Survey or similar relevant datasets to shed light on the most important concerns of young professionals.

The initiative will give young professionals a voice at a regional conference celebrating the 30th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD30) – entitled “Population and Development: Ensuring Rights and Choices” – to be held in Geneva on 19 and 20 October 2023. The initiative is supported by the Global and Sexual Health (GloSH) research group from the Karolinska Institute and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Incentives for participation

• Your research will inform the dialogue on youth issues with Member states of North America, Europe and Central Asia.
• The selection process is organised in two phases:
  • Participants who pass the first phase of the screening process will be invited to attend three virtual workshops on how to use data for policy making, how to communicate research findings to influence your audience, the role of social norms and values for achieving gender equality. The workshops will be organised between December 2023 – March 2024.
  • Participants who successfully pass the second screening process will be invited to provide their submission for the development of a synthesis paper addressing the key concerns of young people. The paper will be utilised for the Global ICPD30 dialogue and UN SDG related events.
• Up to three candidates will be selected to attend both events in Geneva, Switzerland: youth dialogue segment on 17- 18 October and the ICPD30 regional conference on 19 and 20 October 2023.

Eligibility Criteria for Participants: They are looking for young professionals who are passionate about the topics discussed at the ICPD and who have a strong interest in data analysis and youth development. They are especially eager to receive submissions from graduate or post-graduate students, as well as those who have recently started a professional career. Applicants should have a background in a relevant field and possess excellent analytical skills.

Eligibility Criteria for Papers

• They are looking for unpublished researchers without an ISSN and/or DOI number. They can only consider submissions where the research has already been conducted. The research should only cover the period between 2019 and 2023 and must be related to topics within the scope of the ICPD.
• These are as follows:
  • Sexual and reproductive health and rights including family planning, prevention of sexually transmitted infections
  • Gender equality and empowerment
  • Population dynamics (such as ageing, intergenerational relationship, etc.)
  • Healthy lifestyles, comprehensive sexuality education, access to youth-friendly health services and social security coverage
  • Education, transition from education to employment and work/life balance
  • Migration, poverty eradication, economic development and social justice
  • Sustainable development and climate change.

Submission Requirements

• Length: The paper should not exceed 10 pages, excluding any images, tables, or figures.
• Content: The research must cover the period between 2019 and 2023 and can be from one or more countries.
• Format: Please use Calibri font size 11 throughout the paper and maintain a line spacing of 1.15. The document should be submitted as a PDF.
• References: Please include a list of references at the end of the paper using either APA or MLA citation style.

For more information, visit UNFPA.