Background

Internships offer graduate-level students the opportunity to acquire direct exposure to UNDP's work. They are designed to complement development-oriented studies with practical experience in various aspects of multilateral technical cooperation, but also complement other international studies.
UNDP's support for development puts partnership at the centre of all aspects of our work. Our partners include governments, the United Nations system, international financial institutions, the private sector, foundations, academia/think-tanks and civil society organizations.
Through the work of the Crisis Prevention and Recovery practice area, UNDP helps more than 80 countries to prevent conflict, reduce the risk of natural hazards and disasters, and recover following crises. It strengthens development gains in post-crisis countries by addressing the underlying causes of violence; reinforcing governance and the rule of law; supporting livelihoods; and by using short-term employment schemes that allow local people to rebuild critical infrastructure following disaster.
Caribbean Risk Management Initiative (CRMI).

Through the CRMI project, UNDP assists Caribbean countries to strengthen national and regional climate-change adaptation (CCA)and coordination mechanisms; improve national disaster mitigation, preparedness and early-warning capacity; increase public awareness about disaster risk reduction (DRR/M); stimulate interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral partnerships; and mainstream risk management. The project aims to establish disaster risk reduction centres, based on the Cuban model, to map hazards, vulnerability and risk due to climate and geological hazards and provide a tool for informed decision making and early warning system at the local and community level. The project will build capacity and awareness among policy-makers and stakeholders in communities, technical agencies and government who work in the area of DRM and CCA, through courses, workshops, trainings and the sharing of best practices. The project strengthens documentation of best practices for improved south-south cooperation in the fields of DRM and CCA, as well as works to bring the two communities closer together. The CRMI II project has three expected outputs:
  • Capacity for disaster risk reduction and adaptation to DRR-CCA is developed within the region is strengthened; 
  • Management of knowledge on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction is improved; and 
  • Partnerships and Resource Mobilization are enhanced.

Duties and Responsibilities

General Objective:

  • Support disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change in the Caribbean region

Specific Objectives:

  • Coordination of capacity building workshops, such as Post-Disaster Needs Assessment, Local Risk Reduction, and Seismic  Risk Reduction.
  • Strengthen CRMI communication strategy
  • Research and map local risk reduction activities and programs in the Caribbean
  • Enhance DRM & CCA coordination in the region
The tasks of the intern will include but not be limited to the following:
  • Assist with all workshop coordination and preparation tasks
  • Write articles, press releases and research website content in English, French and Spanish
  • Gather information from UNDP COs and compile baseline data on local and national programming in disaster risk reduction
  • Identify best practices and gaps in sectors impacted by climate change such as tourism, agriculture and coastal zone management
  • Develop coordination strategy for more coherent DRR/M and CCA actions in the region
  • Proposal writing and reporting.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:
  • Demonstrate integrity and ability to put the values and ethical standards of the UN into practice.
  • Demonstrate sensitivity and adaptability to cultural, religious, gender, race and nationality areas.
Functional Competencies:
  • Analytical and methodological ability to organize ideas, structure texts and write documents
  • Ability to coordinate multiple actors or individuals, for the purpose of event management
Knowledge Management:
  • Promote a culture of sharing knowledge and learning in the office
  • Ability to translate concepts into communication and learning tools
Operational competencies:
  • Ability to coordinate workshops or events;
  • Ability to conduct research, mapping and identify relevant information
  • Ability to establish good working relationships with broad set of actors from across the Caribbean region
  • Creativity and initiative
  • Excellent interactive and interpersonal skills (team-player) and the ability to work in a multicultural environment.
  • Ability to work independently and follow-through on project initiatives

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

  • Degree in social sciences, humanities, environmental studies, disaster management, or international development.

Experience:

  • Experience in workshop or event coordination
  • Knowledge of disaster management and/or climate change adaptation issues is an asset.
  • Excellent computer knowledge (Microsoft Office applications)

Languages Required: 

  • Fluent written and spoken English and Spanish (knowledge of French is also an asset).

UNDP Intern Application Form in this link : http://www.regionalcentrelac-undp.org/es/p11

Financial Aspects:

Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP. All costs connected with an intern's participation in the Programme must be borne by:

  • the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students;
  • the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his/her own arrangements for travel (including to and from the office), visas, accommodation, etc as necessary.
Status of an Intern:

Interns are considered gratis personnel. They are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity. However, interns are bound by the Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service. The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship. Interns cannot apply for posts during the period of internship. There must be a minimum of 3 months break after internship before any type of UNDP contract is signed.
 
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.