UNDP Jobs - 29668- Livelihoods and Economic Recovery Group

Livelihoods and Economic Recovery Group - External Relations

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

15-May-12 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Livelihoods and Economic Recovery Group (LRG) in the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) aims to reinforce UNDP’s work on livelihoods and economic recovery in crisis and post crisis situations by adopting an integrated approach to livelihood recovery, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, and mine action. Our specific goals on Livelihoods and Economic Recovery are:

• Stabilizing livelihoods through income generation and emergency job creation;
• Supporting livelihoods analysis and programming in conflict and disaster contexts;
• Supporting post-crisis socio-economic recovery through the sustainable reintegration of former combatants, internally displaced persons and returning refugees; and;
• Enabling livelihoods return and reintegration through improving national capacities for the control, management and destruction of land mines, cluster munitions, other explosive remnants of war, small arms and light weapons.

As an intern with the UNDP BCPR Livelihoods and Economic Recovery Group you will work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment with constant interaction with colleagues working in the three main service lines of the Livelihoods and Recovery Group. The intern contracted under this Terms of Reference will have s his or her focus area supporting External Relations to assist in determining programmatic and operational responses to man-made conflict and natural disasters.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Contribute to LRG policy and programme products by conducting research on issues related to livelihoods and economic recovery, economic reintegration of ex-combatants and displaced populations, link between effective mine action and economic recovery.
• Ability to adopt and incorporate as integrated a gender responsive lens into all areas of work.
• Contribute to LRG priority countries profile data base by conducting in depth analysis of UNDP project portfolio, relevant literature (academic, practitioners, etc.), important assessments, etc.
• Support the LRG External Relations focal point with collection, editing and webpage management of stories for public information and outreach purposes in accordance with UNDP Guidelines.
• Collect thematic human interest stories from country offices for in collaboration with LRG colleagues for the three service line for uploading on the LRG webpage.
• Provide a support function in gathering information for Monitoring and Evaluation of country level progress, result and achievements against established benchmarks.
• Draft various correspondence including Briefing Notes, Donor and related report, Terms of Reference and minutes of meetings.
• Develop various training materials for workshops and various presentations as needed.
• Input data, programme and related documents into UNDP/BCPR databases ensuring a well-organized, coherent and coordinated archival system is current.
• Assist LRG members with critical input utilizing reporting materials, external relations and public information efforts to assist in resource mobilization efforts.
• Other relevant tasks as deemed necessary by the supervisor.

Competencies

• Excellent writing and oral presentation skills, as well as strong analytical capacity.
• Excellent organizational, time management and strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work flexibly and meet tight deadlines.
• Attention to details and proven ability to work independently and effectively with minimum supervision.
• Networking skills to engage with key internal and external partners.
• Strong theoretical and practical understanding of livelihoods and economic recovery in crisis contexts both from policy and programming perspectives.
• A good level of understanding of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes and operations as well as mine action would be a plus.
• Computer proficiency: MS Office.
• Language requirements: Fluent in both written and spoken English, fluency in written and spoken French and/or Arabic is an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

Interested applicants must be:

I. Available for a full time internship of 6 months (Applicants must state their availability in the application).
II. Currently enrolled in a graduate-level degree programme as a full-time student in development related fields. Only those students who will return to their studies upon completion of their internship assignments are eligible.
III. Be able to sustain living expenses in New York for at least 6 months, including medical insurance. Please note that the UNDP internship programme does not provide any financial nor insurance support.

Interested applicants for internship will have to send their application with the following documents:

1) Resume;
2) A one page cover letter setting out the reasons why the applicant is seeking an internship with Livelihoods and Economic Recovery Group and what is expected from the experience, particularly from the learning perspective.
3) Official letter from the university confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme (and graduation date).
4) Copy of university transcript.
Please note that UNDP, as a matter of practice, does not charge any application, processing or training fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
Based on the review of the above documents sent by the applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. The interview will be done in person at UNDP office in New York or by telephone/Skype.

Before starting an internship, the selected candidate will be requested to provide the following documents:

1) Letter of endorsement from a senior faculty member who has directly supervised the student in the recent past and who is fully acquainted with the student's performance.
2) A Medical Certificate of Good Health from a recognized physician.
3) Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out.

Women are strongly encouraged to apply.