Background

The Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS) seeks to promote and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Arab region with strong emphasis placed on addressing the main impediments to human development.  RBAS sets the vision for UNDP activities in the Arab region and advocates through the Arab Human Development Reports. It provides policy guidance, programmatic and operational oversight to country offices (COs) to ensure strategic and high quality programmes in the region.  RBAS implements development programmes in 17 countries of the region and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, ensuring results-based management and effective resource mobilization strategies. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Intern will be tasked to support the Bureau with a research with the aim to provide quality analysis and support the Bureau’s policy to accelerate the SDGs implementation process in the Arab states region. The intern will support development of practical recommendations on how to support Arab countries to develop effective policies aiming to address issues such as inclusive societies, migration, gender and environment within the framework of the SDGs.  This can also  include:

  • Analysis of performance on SDGs implementation in Arab States region;
  • Analysis of progress made in localizing the SDGs agenda and identify lessons learnt and best practices in localization of SDGs in Arab States region;
  • Analysis of policy and institutional environment for effective monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
  • Analysis of quality, comparability and regularity of gender statistics to address national data gaps and meet reporting commitments under the SDGs in Arab States region;
  • The research should focus on issues such as inclusive societies, migration, gender and environment within the framework of the SDGs.
  • The intern will support the Bureau’s efforts  on all of the above and make a presentation to the RBAS team for feedback

 

Competencies

  • Demonstrable skills in research, analytical thinking, and communication;
  • Excellent writing and editing skills;
  • Proven ability to manage diverse and complex tasks, with tight deadlines;
  • Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills with ability to work under pressure within an international setting;
  • Interest in the UN system and general knowledge of development issues is a plus;
  • Ability to perform a variety of administrative tasks.

 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

a) be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher)

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

c) 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.

Experience:

  • Demonstrated research and analytical skills and ability to extract and compile information, based on research undertaken as part of university coursework or outside work.

  • Demonstrated experience, part or full-time, paid or volunteer, in policy related work,in any development area;

  • Excellent computer capabilities.

Conditions:

  • Interns are considered gratis personnel. They are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity

  • Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP. The costs associated 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, visa, etc.

  • Interns must have a valid work visa and be able to work in UNDP HQ located in New York

  • Interns must provide proof of enrollment in health insurance plan ( valid medical insurance identification);

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

  • There is no expectation of employment with UNDP following an internship.

Once the candidate has been selected, the following additional documents need to be submitted:

  • UNDP's application of internship (form duly completed and signed);

  • Updated CV/resume

  • A brief letter of intent (cover letter) indicating why  you seeking internship and what is expected from the experience;

  • Copy of current enrolment verification from your school (transcript);

  • Letter of endorsement from a senior faculty member;

  • Copy of school transcript;

  • Scanned medical insurance document.

    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. As interns are not covered under any insurance, including MAIP, they should not travel to hazardous locations in the course of their internship with UNDP.

    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