Background

The UNDP World Centre for Sustainable Development (RIO+ Centre) was established in 2013 in Rio de Janeiro as a concrete legacy of the Rio+ 20 Conference of 2012. The RIO+ Centre is the result of a collaboration between UNDP and the Government of Brazil with the objective of keeping the commitment to sustainable development alive in both action and ideas. Working with people, companies, governments and cities from all over the world allows the RIO+ Centre to function as a global hub committed to greater social, environmental and economic justice. 

The Rio+20 Conference launched the discussions around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the overarching pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which came into effect on the 1st of January 2016 after being agreed upon by all 195 Member States of the United Nations during the 70th Session of the General Assembly on 25 September 2015. The 2030 Agenda is a plan of action for the people, planet and prosperity to be implemented by all UN Member States as a pathway to sustainable development, improving the lives of the current generations without hampering the right for development of the future generations.

The Rio-born Sustainable Development Goals represent the most comprehensive – and boldest – global effort to improve the well-being and resilience of people in the history of humankind. The 17 SDGs – or Global Goals - are the most tangible and concrete component of the 2030 Agenda: a detailed roadmap to guide action on the three dimensions of sustainable development (economic – social - environmental) by all countries until the 2030 deadline. To achieve its mission, the RIO+ Centre works to inspire and inform the debate and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to create inclusive spaces for active citizen participation and mobilization for the future of humanity and the planet.

The RIO+ Centre is launching the Global South Internship Program (GSIP), a signature effort to invest in the next generation of leaders from the Global South committed to sustainable development. The GSIP provides outstanding graduate-level students from the Global South with a unique opportunity to advance their career development as future champions of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda in their home countries.

The GSIP aims to:

  • Provide an opportunity to students and recent graduates – particularly from the Global South - to acquire professional and practical experience with sustainable development-policy and practicebased in the UNDP global hub in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

  • Contribute to building a critical mass of young professionals from the Global South with advanced skills and relevant practical experience working to promote the implementation of equitable and sustainable development and local, national and international level.

Internship period and length 

The GSIP offers internship positions throughout the year, from January up to December.

Candidates can choose one of the internship length options below:

(a): 4 months

(b): 5 months

(c): 6 months

Status

  • Interns are not UNDP staff members and will not represent the RIO+ Centre, UNDP or the United Nations in any official capacity.

  • Interns shall not apply for or be appointed to any position during the period of their internship.

  • The GSIP internship opportunities do not lead to further employment with RIO+ Centre nor UNDP. Its goal is to provide the interns with unique opportunities to learn, gather experiences and enrich his/her studies with practical insights from the multicultural and multi-ethnic staff members at the UNDP global hub for sustainable development. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of the internship.

Mandatory insurance 

  • UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship.

  • All applicants for internship must show proof of valid medical and life/accident insurance for the duty station for which they will work. It must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship which requires transportation for further treatment or results in death.

Duties and Responsibilities

The GSIP provide the interns with unique opportunities to learn, gather experiences and enrich his/her studies with practical insights from the multicultural and multi-ethnic staff members at the UNDP global hub for sustainable development.  The GSIP interns will support the RIO+ Centre team in delivering results in the following areas of work:   

  • Area 1: Knowledge for Sustainable Development: Support to the production and facilitation of policy analysis on tackling the barriers to achieving sustainable development for the bottom half (the poor and other marginalised groups), with a focus on sustainable cities, social protection for sustainable development and integrated policy and planning.

  • Area 2: Leveraging the Global South’s Expertise and Experience: Identifying, cataloguing, revising and mainstreaming critical examples of the Global South’s emerging leadership on sustainable development, with a focus on innovative approaches in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  • Area 3 : Tools and Methodologies for Sustainable Development: Support to the production of practical tools, instruments and methodologies that local governments can use to advance integrated, equitable and sustainable development planning, policy and practice;

  • Area 4: Communicating Sustainable Development: Support to delivering new and innovative approaches to RIO+ Centre’s communications and advocacy work, with a focus on mainstreaming the SDGs and the Agenda 2030; engaging the youth; enhancing visibility and impact of RIO+ Centre’s knowledge and policy products; and strengthening creative partnerships with arts, music and cultural activities and projects to advance citizen’s support to the sustainable development agenda.

Competencies

  •  Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills; ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment with full respect for diversity. Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensibility and adaptability. Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with other UN Programmes, Funds and Agencies.
  • Professionalism: Ability to manage processes, maintain accurate records, interpret/analyze a wide variety of data, and identify/resolve data discrepancies and activity problems.
  • Planning and Organizing: Demonstrated effective organizational skills and ability to handle work in an efficient and timely manner.
  • Commitment to continuous learning: Initiative and willingness to keep abreast of new trends in international development.
  • Technological Awareness: Proficiency in various MS Office applications and other IT applications.
  • Communication: Ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively orally.

 

Required Skills and Experience

Applicants to the GSIP must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

  • Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);

  • Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);

  • 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).

The GSIP encourages applications by candidates from the following countries: (i) Developing Economies; (ii) Least Developed Countries; (iii) Economies in Transition); (iv) Heavily Indebted Poor Countries; (v) Small Island Developing States; (vi) Landlocked Developing Countries; or (vii) Fuel-exporting countries.

Background and experience

  • The GSIP encourages students from all areas of studies to participate, ranging from international development, social sciences, engineering, business & management to communications & marketing.
  • Candidates are expected to demonstrate keen interest in the field of sustainable development and on UNDP’s mandate areas.
  • Special attention will be given to candidates that have successfully achieved an outstanding academic record as well as relevant practical experience working on  sustainable development with government institutions, civil society and grassroots organizations, think tanks and other relevant organizations in the Global South. 

Application

  • Updated Résumé/Curriculum Vitae in English

  • Motivation letter in English explaining why you are an outstanding candidate for the RIO+ Centre’s Global South Internship Programme (max 800 words)

  • After the screening of CVs, short-listed candidates will be invited for interviews. Only those who are short-listed will be contacted.