Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With presence in 170 countries and territories, UNDP endeavors to help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships, and institutions so they can sustain their progress. UNDP personnel are united by a common purpose: to help countries and communities across the world pursue peaceful, prosperous lives, lived in harmony with the planet.

Enabling UNDP to meet client and partner needs, the Office of Human Resources in the Bureau of Management Services (BMS/OHR) is the hub for the global HR function at UNDP, providing strategy, policy setting, guidance, and oversight. In addition, OHR provides a broad range of HR advisory and talent management services enabling UNDP to deliver fully integrated development solutions at corporate level. Within BMS/OHR, UNDP’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team serve as a center of excellence on a range of DEI matters, such as anti-racism, disability inclusion, LGBTIQ+ allyship and more, partnering across the organization to drive forward UNDP’s inclusive culture and strengthen its diverse workforce.

In 2023, UNDP launched the first phase of its ambitious DEI Strategy (2023-2025), which provides the organization with a progressive maturity model to enable action and growth around key areas. The strategy also mandated the establishment of a DEI Committee, which is a high-level oversight body which supports the acceleration of DEI commitments and implementation across the organization. In this context, BMS/OHR is seeking an intern to support UNDP’s DEI Committee and UNDP’s first ever DEI week of events, as well as contribute overall to strengthening the DEI footprint within the organization by contributing to DEI communications and engagement efforts.

Full-time for 6 months, the internship requires creativity, enthusiasm, ability to work independently, passion for DEI, eagerness to learn and motivation to empower personnel from marginalized backgrounds in the workplace.

Persons from minoritized backgrounds, including people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide support to UNDP’s DEI Committee and its thematic subgroups.

  • Work with the DEI Program Officer and DEI Analyst to prepare and implement UNDP’s DEI week, including by supporting promotional lead up to the event, as well as DEI week events through scheduling, coordination etc.
  • Support the DEI Committee Secretariat with ad-hoc needs such as gathering information, providing updates, and analyzing DEI engagement through internal channels.
  • Support the DEI Programme Officer with preparation of notes, reports, briefs, or presentations on the results of the Inclusion Survey and on the implementation of the DEI Strategy and polishing these to make visually appealing and in line with their respective branding.
  • In consultation with the UNDPListens Technical Specialist, support DEI committee members and HR focal points in navigating the results of the Inclusion Survey on Glint.
  • Provide support desk function for Inclusion Survey inquiries and requests (made through UNDPlistens inbox), in consultation with the UNDPlistens Technical Specialist and follow up to ensure issues were addressed.

2. Contribute to strengthening the DEI footprint within the organization:

  • With the DEI Analyst, co-manage the DEI community space on UNDP’s corporate social media (Viva Engage) and keep the community active and comments duly responded to.
  • Support the curation of relevant DEI internal and UN-wide updates, events, news, and announcements, and develop them into Viva Engage and SharePoint media posts.
  • In collaboration with the DEI team, contribute to the development of a DEI Newsletter template in line with the DEI brand and create a distribution plan for its quarterly issue.
  • Assist in reaching out to the DEI Committee and other partners across the organization to curate diversely rich content for the newsletter and inclusive images that best represent the topics being covered.
  • Organize and maintain the DEI and DEI Committee shared folders.

Competencies

Competencies and Selection CriteriaDescription of Competency at Level Required

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Level 1: Assesses work with critical eye

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow

Level 1: Takes responsibility for and ensures high quality of own work

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Level 1: Understands personal and team roles, responsibilities and objectives

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Level 1: Reliably and consistently listens and interprets information and instruction correctly

Delivery

Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Level 1: Meets goals and timelines for team deliverables

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
Applicants to UNDP internships must at the time of application meet one of the following academic requirements:

(a) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) in Human Resources, Marketing, Communications, Social Sciences or related field;

(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent) in Human Resources, Marketing, Communications, Social Sciences or related field.

(c) Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one year of graduation.

Experience:

  • Experience in writing, copy-editing, blogging, journalism, social media engagement or marketing would be a distinct advantage.
  • Knowledge of In-Design, Canva or other design or illustration software would be an asset.
  • Passion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, especially LBGTIQ+ inclusion or Anti-racism would be a benefit.


Language Requirements:

  • Fluency in English is required.
  • Knowledge of other UN languages would be an asset.