UNDP and UNICEF Launch ‘See It, Be It’ Green Careers Campaign
By News

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and UNICEF have launched a global campaign designed to help young people discover careers that contribute to a sustainable future. Called “See It, Be It”, the campaign was announced on 22 October in Yerevan, Armenia, on the sidelines of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17). It aims to reach 500 million young people worldwide by the end of 2027. For young Africans weighing up their options, and for the NGOs that train and employ them, the initiative highlights a growing gap between emerging green jobs and the career guidance available to young people.

What the campaign sets out to do

According to UNICEF’s announcement, See It, Be It will showcase role models and stories of change from fields including science, technology, business, agriculture, communications, finance, the creative industries and community leadership. The idea is that young people need more than new opportunities: they need to know those opportunities exist, understand how to pursue them, and see people they can identify with already making a living from them.

Midori Paxton, UNDP’s Global Head of Biodiversity and Ecosystems, said the aim was to make the people and pathways driving change far more visible and to help many more young people recognise “that there is a place for their talents in building a sustainable future”. Silvia Mestroni, Acting Representative of UNICEF in Armenia, described young people as agents of change and said connecting them with diverse role models could broaden their horizons and build confidence.

Early supporters named in the announcement include the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, the Nature Working Group of YOUNGO, the official children and youth constituency of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Youth Negotiators Academy, which trains young people to take part in multilateral negotiations. Partners are invited to contribute stories and share profiles.

The career guidance gap

The campaign draws on research from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and from UNICEF and the European Training Foundation, which found that career guidance is failing to adequately showcase opportunities emerging from the green transition. Premium Times, reporting on the launch, quoted the UN as saying these gaps make it important to show a wider range of career pathways, particularly to young people in developing countries who have fewer chances to access career guidance and professional networks.

The launch coincided with CBD COP17, which runs from 19 to 30 October under the theme “Taking Action for Nature”. Countries at the meeting are undertaking the first global review of collective progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

What it means for the sector and young Africans

Africa has one of the world’s youngest populations, and many NGOs already run programmes in environmental education, climate adaptation, conservation and youth employment. A campaign that focuses on visibility and role models could complement this work by helping young people connect their interests, whether in data, design, farming or communications, with roles that support nature and climate goals.

For organisations, the emphasis on storytelling and partnership may create opportunities to profile local practitioners, link youth programmes with mentoring, and integrate green skills into existing livelihoods and education projects. It also signals that UN agencies see career awareness, not only technical training, as part of the green transition.

What this means for NGO job seekers

Green and nature-related work in the development sector is broader than many people assume. Alongside ecologists and climate scientists, organisations recruit for:

  • Programme and project management for conservation, climate adaptation and natural resource management projects.
  • Climate-smart agriculture and livelihoods specialists who work directly with farming communities.
  • Communications and advocacy officers able to tell compelling stories of change, the very skill the campaign highlights.
  • Data, GIS and monitoring roles that track environmental outcomes and biodiversity targets.
  • Green finance and partnerships professionals who help mobilise and manage funding.
  • Youth engagement and education coordinators who design training, mentoring and school-based programmes.

Practical steps include volunteering with youth biodiversity or climate networks, building a portfolio that shows measurable results, and seeking out mentors already working in the field. Short courses in GIS, climate finance or environmental impact assessment can strengthen applications. You can browse current NGO vacancies, explore NGO jobs by country to find openings near you, and use our career resources for advice on CVs, cover letters and interviews.

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