UNDP Jobs - 49914- Intern - Advocacy and Communications

Intern - Advocacy and Communications

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

02-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

5 Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in 166 countries, working with the countries on their own distinct solutions to global and national development challenges.

The Regional Bureau of Asia and the Pacific (RBAP) works in a diverse region: a region that is fastest growing in the world while it is home to a half of the world's poor at the same time: a region that houses countries experiencing economic transition (China, Mongolia, Vietnam), two of the world's largest economies (China, India), middle income countries (Malaysia, Thailand), and countries facing or recovering from conflict (Afghanistan, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste). Out of the 14 Least Developed Countries in the AP region, four are landlocked - Afghanistan, Bhutan, Lao PDR and Nepal - while six are island developing countries - Kiribati, Maldives, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu (the other four LDCs are Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar and Timor Leste).

RBAP recognizing the energy and vitality constantly mounting in the region it serves perceives the need to create an environment to leverage information dynamically - for innovation and to enhance our competitive advantage. Information that is currently managed within country / departmental silos will eventually become a more powerful asset when it can be leveraged in an accurate, timely and consistent manner across the bureau, among its 34 country offices, when and where it is needed. We in, RBAP would like to connect all these diverse countries together, via a network to enhance Knowledge sharing and to promote south - south cooperation within the region.

Leveraging information effectively requires an entire infrastructure of components that enable information to be used to support RBAP’s vision and mission. The infrastructure needs to be scalable and flexible enough to meet the changing demands of the region. It needs to enable sharing of appropriate information among the 34 country offices and headquarters. Therefore, RBAP needs a dynamic information infrastructure to meet the increasing challenges of leveraging information. This network of information would facilitate a transmission of ideas, dissemination of the projects baseline, successes and challenges encountered while implementing successful and not so successful projects within countries, it will enable us to find ways of fostering south – south cooperation and to garner yet better results for our region. We would like to use cutting edge technology to achieve this.

The objectives of internship in the bureau are three-fold: (a) the bureau offers the intern an opportunity to pursue their interest in technology driven knowledge sharing at a corporate level (b) the intern will have an opportunity to gain practical experience in working within the bureau and (c) the intern will support advocacy and communication initiatives within the bureau in order to be able to make an informed decision on whether to pursue a United Nations career path in the future.

The intern will report to communications Specialist and work closely with the web and closed-circuit television team within the Bureau.

Duties and Responsibilities

It is envisaged that during the internship with the bureau, the Intern would complete the following tasks:

Assist with implementation of communications strategies in New York and across Asia and the Pacific;
Assist in preparing material ( e.g. infographics) for web and closed-circuit television platforms;
Update web and closed-circuit television platforms;
Research media and help prepare talking points for interviews;
Assist with press releases, statements and presentations;
Help organize press conferences and media calls;
Other activities as assigned.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Strong organizational and research skills;
Excellent analytical, communication, and writing skills
Excellent interpersonal skills;
Respect for diversity: understanding of the United Nations system, operations and structures, particularly those related to capacity development and/or post-conflict contexts;
Work under minimum supervision and tight deadlines.

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrate integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP's values and ethical standards;
Promote the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
Display excellent cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme in International Affairs or Communications or public relations-related field: Public Diplomacy, Public Relations, Communications, Advertising, Digital Media Design (Only those students who will return to their studies upon completion of their internship assignments are eligible).

Experience:

Experience in the work environment of an international institution is desirable especially in areas of digital media design and web development;
Work Experience with web environments;
Needed excellent research capabilities Plus creativity in producing communications materia;
Experience working collaboratively in a team structure in a multicultural environment.

Language:

Must have fluency in spoken and written English.

Note:

Candidates who are shortlisted for an interview must submit prior to the interview the following documents:

Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme;
Have a valid visa to work in the US;
Letter of endorsement from a faculty member who has worked with the student in the recent past and who is knowledgeable on the student’s performance;

UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.

UNDP does not pay for internships. Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP .The costs associated with the latter must be borne by the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or by the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his or her own arrangements for travel, accommodation, etc.

Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out (i.e. New York, USA).

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.