UNDP Jobs - 54650- United Nations Brand Strategy and Communications I

United Nations Brand Strategy and Communications Intern (Interagency Sustainability Team)

Location :

Istanbul, TURKEY

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

03-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

Part-time or full-time (full-time preferred)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

3 - 6 months (6 months preferred)

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 UN’s journey towards climate neutrality began on 5th June 2007 when UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon publicly called on all UN agencies, funds and programmes to ‘go green’ and become climate neutral. Sustainability is seen not only as an area where international development institutions committee to increasingly investing more time and resources to, but is also gaining higher priority on the UN Global Agenda and has the potential to replace the Millennium Development Goals post-2015.

The UN informal Interagency Task Team on Sustainable Procurement in the Health Sector (iIATT-SPHS) was established in May 2012 with an aim to leverage the normative mandate and joint procurement volume (about US$ 3.5 billion annually) of participating UN agencies to influence the global health aid market towards reducing its environmental footprint, particularly through the introduction of green procurement criteria. UN members of the iIATT-SPHS include UNDP, UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNHCR, UNEP. More recently, global health financing institutions have been approached to join forces in introducing environmental safeguarding policies and green procurement criteria, thereby further strengthening the purchasing power within the global health aid market. In 2014, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and UNITAID have joint the iIATT-SPHS, and in February 2015, Gavi has joined as the newest member.

iIATT-SPHS members are committed to put in place sustainable practices in the procurement of health sector products and services including social, economic and environmental aspects, with a focus on three dimensions: greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), resource depletion (water, energy and material consumption) and chemical pollution. The guiding document of the iIATT-SPHS is a route-map that presents the direction the interagency task team plans to take in the coming years, including the main outcomes which should be achieved.

In order to drive green procurement practices in the health sector using the members’ market power in the global health aid market, members focus on the following three outputs:

Evidence based standards on what constitutes “green” procurement in the health sector will be established, and activities to address research gaps initiated;
UN procurement officers, suppliers, and health actors will be capacitated so as to be able to operationalize green procurement practices in the health sector;
Key stakeholders with an influence over procurement activities in the health sector, e.g. suppliers, procurement officers, international health development agencies, and health actors, will be aware of, engaged in and supportive of the overall initiative.

The iIATT-SPHS has an existing forum where documents, links, blogs, articles, photos etc. have been uploaded regularly after each of the iIATT-SPHS meetings. However, there is an increased necessity of launching a new online platform, which is one of the key iIATT-SPHS milestones for 2015, and will be the main task of this internship.

The online iIATT-SPHS platform will be firstly used for information and knowledge-sharing among the members and interested public on the topic of sustainable procurement in the market for global health aid. Moreover, online platform will have a function to increase the visibility of iIATT-SPHS’ aims and achievements and to advocate sustainability objectives to a wider audience. To achieve all these goals, an online platform is considered to be the most suitable communication tool. This platform will serve for sharing and facilitating news, reports, chat forums, case studies, achievements and best practices. End-users of the platform shall be encouraged to actively participate in the operation of the platform, hence the intern will have an opportunity to share with the team all ideas and explore personal creativity with constructing a platform which will be user-friendly and appealing to the target audience.

Internship offers a small group of outstanding graduate-level students the opportunity to acquire direct exposure to UNDP's work on integrating sustainability agenda into its practices and fostering the global sustainability agenda. Besides the fact that the primary objective of this internship will be that an intern develops, launches and maintains an online iIATT-SPHS platform (webpage/blog), the intern will also have the chance to participate in various communications and designing tasks (report outlines, logos, etc.) regarding the overall iIATT-SPHS communication strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNDP is seeking a graduate student with an interest in global issues to assist in strengthening our communication strategy as well as designing and setting up an online platform for the iIATT-SPHS.

This internship includes networking with iIATT-SPHS members, as well as researching input for the making, launching and maintaining of the online iIATT-SPHS platform. Particular emphasis will be given to creating a platform that is appealing to end-users and coherently communicate aims and achievements of the iIATT-SPHS.

The interested candidate will report to the international consultant supporting the iIATT-SPHS Secretariat (Supervisor). The candidate will have the opportunity to develop from scratch the online iIATT-SPHS platform and be part of a dynamic and fast growing initiative for driving sustainable procurement in the health sector.

Moreover, the intern will be expected to:

Translate iIATT-SPHS’ objectives and achievements into a virtual platform with proposing different ways in which this platform (webpage/blog) can be set-up;
Act as the focal point for the designing, setting-up of the platform and maintaining it during the initial pilot phase;
Monitor and respond to end-users comments and emails regarding online content and user friendliness.
Research available photograph information as metadata and determine the intellectual property rights;
Assist with planning and posting articles, photos, videos and other materials;
Propose which strategies and new tools can be developed and implemented for the new platform;
Provide research-based strategic advices on the development and use of new tools for online campaigning;
Other duties falling within the scope of these responsibilities, as required.

The aim of the internship will be to enhance the theoretical knowledge of the intern through substantive and operational engagement with sustainability practices and policies of the Organisation while assisting with the initiatives and plans that are already in place and those that are in the pipeline. The internship will also span broader aspects related to sustainability in procurement of goods and services for the health sector. This will be in terms of further research into the innovations being carried out globally in this field as well as aspects such as Corporate Social Responsibility. The ways in which UN policies and practices for sustainability can promote economic and social development in developing countries rather than pose obstacles to economic growth in emerging markets is also an important area of consideration that the intern will be encouraged to explore.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Solid IT and communications abilities - keen interest in web-design and interactive platforms and awareness of Internet communications, marketing and outreach activities;
Knowledge of desktop publishing tools, particularly Microsoft Office; knowledge of design programmes will be an advantage (e.g. Photoshop, InDesign);
Good understanding of standard and emerging web technologies, especially social networking tools and channels;
Good team worker;
Strong organizational skills and the ability to multi-task;
Able to work in a multicultural environment and be aware of political sensitivities;
Responsible, responsive, and enthusiastic;
Willing to work within the framework of UNDP’s internship policies.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme in a field such as brand management, public relations, strategic communications, marketing communications, graphic design or similar;
Interested candidate will be eligible to undertake this internship only if he/she is currently enrolled in the graduate level course.

Experience:

Knowledge of communications strategies, blogging best practice, social media trends, techniques and information architecture;
Experience editing images or preparing graphics for the web and email communications;
Experience in the use of the content management systems, HTML coding, photo editing tools and other web publishing tools desirable;
Experience in developing and implementing online campaigns and/or marketing strategies would be an asset;
Experience in blogging tools (e.g. WordPress), blogging software and content management systems would be an asset.

Languages:

Written and spoken proficiency in English and at least one other working language used by UNDP - French or Spanish;
Fluency in Arabic, Portuguese, Russian or other Eastern European language is an asset.

Candidate must be available at least 20 hours a week for a period of at least 3 months, preferably 6 months;

Application procedure

The application should contain:

Brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the post; (Please indicate in your cover letter, your motivation, actual dates of availability including number of hours per week, and any relevant work experience);
Current and complete CV in English;

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.
Candidates who are selected for must submit prior to the interview the following documents:

Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme;
Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out. Selected intern must have medical and life insurance.

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

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.

UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship.

Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.

The intern must provide proof of enrollment in health insurance plan.

Subsequent Employment

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.
It is important to note that interns are responsible to arrange for their own visa and residence documents, and need to plan for these well in advance.