Background

The UNDP Regional Bureau Africa (RBA) team in New York provides overall strategic oversight, guidance and quality assurance, management support and broader regional analysis, including global issues.

This year, RBA is developing the comprehensive inequality study in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study intends to contribute to the growing debates on inequality in the continent.  It aims to understand what factors explain trends in inequality and their positive and negative outcomes and to draw relevant policy lessons that could help the design and formulation of public policies and programs to address inequality in the continent.

UNDP is seeking a Business Process Flow intern to assist with the monitoring of the business process flow that coordinates the review, editing, translation, design, printing and dissemination activities for the finalization of the UNDP Inequality Study. The intern will report to the RBA Chief Economist and work closely with the Strategic Advisory Team and RBA Communications Advisor.

This year, RBA is developing the comprehensive inequality study in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study intends to contribute to the growing debates on inequality in the continent.  It aims to understand what factors explain trends in inequality and their positive and negative outcomes and to draw relevant policy lessons that could help the design and formulation of public policies and programs to address inequality in the continent. 

 Areas of internship include:

  • Operations (Administration);
  • Coordination;
  • Project Management;
  • Research and Advocacy                                                                                                                                                                                                       The internship is unpaid and full-time.  Interns work three days per week on-site and two days per week off-site (35 hours).  

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern will assist the RBA Strategic Advisory Team with monitoring the business process flow for review, editing, translation, design, printing and dissemination of the Inequality Study:

  • Using Microsoft Project (or any other project management tool), and/or Microsoft Viseo, to create a business process flow for tracking and monitoring deliverables for the finalization of Inequality Study;
  • Tracking the timely submission of inputs from reviewers, editors, translators, designers, printers, and dispatchers in line with the agreed business flow process and follow up actions by members of the Strategic Advisory Team;
  • Identifying potential issues that could affect quality, schedule, or budget and direct these issues to the appropriate persons within the Strategic Advisory Team:
  • Communicating frequently with the entire project team about upcoming milestones, key dates, key issues, and progress, including providing a weekly status report to the team;
  • Organizing supporting material for team members and looking for ways to add efficiencies to the Strategic Advisory Team production and distribution processes;

Liaising with various work teams within RBA (including Regional Service Centre and Country Offices) to follow up on workflows for joint deliverables for Strategic Advisory Team production and dissemination.

Competencies

Interpersonal Communication:

  • Speaks and writes clearly and effectively;
  • Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
  • Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
  • Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience;
  • Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork:

  • Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
  • Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise;
  • Is willing to learn from others;
  • Place team agenda before personal agenda;
  • Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position;
  • Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Creativity:

  • Actively seeks to improve programmes or services;
  • Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs;
  • Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas;
  • Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks "outside the box";
  • Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things;
  • Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Organizational Skills:

  • Exhibits a detail-oriented personality;
  • Is able to multi-task towards delivering results on various projects at the same time;
  • Shows analytical skills towards analyzing a situation and coming forward with a logical solution;
  • Exhibits problem solving skills towards avoiding becoming overwhelmed and solving a problem systematically;
  • Demonstrates persistence despite difficulties or setbacks

 Software Skills:                                                                                                                                                                                    

  • Strong Microsoft Office skills;
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Project and Microsoft Viseo a major asset;
  • Knowledge of Adobe Acrobat Pro, a plus

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Applicants 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 program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent);
  • Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation;
  • Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter;
  • Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views;
  • Advanced studies in Business Administration, Project Management, Journalism, or Publishing preferred; knowledge of gender issues or international development issues a plus.

Experience:

  • A working geographic and cultural understanding of the African continent is a must.
  • Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme;
  • Experience in project management, particularly in media/publishing is a plus;
  • Comparable work experience may substitute for Education requirements.

 Languages:

  • Fluency in oral and written English is required;
  • Knowledge of French is an Asset.

General Conditions

Duration:

Internship assignments vary in length according to the availability and academic requirements of the intern, as well as the needs of UNDP. However, they will normally last no less than six weeks and no more than six months.

Internship assignments are available on a part-time and full-time basis throughout the year, depending on the availability of meaningful assignments and the needs and capacity of offices to receive and supervise interns.

Interns’ Expenses:

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.

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.

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 to the Home Country or Country of Residence for further treatment; or
  • Results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the Home Country, or Country of Residence.

Third-party claims

UNDP is not responsible for any claims by any parties where the loss of or damage to their property, death or personal injury was caused by the actions or omission of action by the interns during the internship.

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. Should an offer of employment be envisaged, a 3-month break, from the end of the internship, must be respected. Interns cannot apply for posts during the period of internship.

 Status:

  • Interns are considered gratis personnel. They are not staff members;
  • Interns may not be sought or accepted as substitutes for staff to be recruited against authorized posts;
  • Interns may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.