Antecedentes

Solomon Islands is a small islands developing state that has diverse natural resources, both in terrestrial and marine environment. The natural environment of Solomon Islands is highly vulnerable to human impacts as well as climate change effects. The consequences of continuing unsustainable natural resource exploitation are biologically, socially and economically problematic. Pressures include industrial logging of an unsustainable style and scale; land problematic. Pressures include industrial logging of an unsustainable style and scale; land and marine pollution; over-harvesting and poaching of commercially-valuable marine resources, and forest clearance to house and feed a rapidly-expanding population. A recent assessment of commercial forest resources has estimated that forest reserves viable for commercial logging will be depleted by 2015 at the current rate of harvesting. Extensive industrial logging, plantations, subsistence farming and the adverse effects of climate change; sea level rise and coastal erosion have made land degradation and food security a major issue. Serious environmental damages have resulted in extensive erosion; siltation and declining soil quality threatening both terrestrial and marine biodiversity, and undermine the land’s productive potential. At the local level, resource exploitation have left communities with severe local environmental challenges and deprive them of their traditional livelihood sources, while generating little in sustainable benefits for the broader community.

Solomon Islands is experiencing a period of significant cultural and economic transition and transformation. With almost 85% of the population still living in rural villages, their livelihoods is predominantly supported by subsistence gardening and fishing activity. Thus, there is a real prospect of widespread poverty unless sustainable development principles are applied in the management of the natural resources and that measures are put in place to address the adverse effect of climate change on human settlement and food security.

Solomon Islands Government (SIG) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered over the years to address development challenges by supporting sustainable environment management of the country’s Natural Resources and working together with government to build line Ministries’ capacity. In recent years SIG and UNDP have implemented programmes and projects to address the adverse impact of climate change based on the governments National Adaptation Programmes of Action, National Environmental Capacity Development Action Plan 2008-2012 and the Second National Communication to the UNFCCC. UNDP’s environment projects and programmes currently works in eight (8) out of the nine provinces, supporting national policy frameworks, as well as directly working with communities and beneficiaries to enhance their livelihoods.

The year 2016 is an important one for UN and UNDP as the process of designing a new UN development assistance framework or UNDAF and UNDP country programme document starts. There will be a series of analysis and consultations to build on the programme design. The analysis will lead to the design of new projects and programmes for the next years to come.

At the same time, UNDP would like to strengthen its results reporting and communication of results and human stories that reflect the impact of UNDP’s support to national development efforts in the area of environment protection and climate change. Each project is expected to have a monitoring and communication plan to ensure timely recording and production of results for accountability and partnership building.

UNDP Solomon Islands is seeking a qualified intern who will work with the Environment team and project colleagues with focused research to identify and develop new initiatives and programmes. The intern will also have exciting opportunity to be exposed to ongoing project and programme activities to assess first-hand the impact of UNDP interventions on the lives of community members and beneficiaries, develop human stories and input to social media, results reports and other publications.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Objectives:

The key objectives of the intern work includes;

• Work closely with the programme and project units in strengthening project-level communication and monitoring plans and strategies, as well as a clear communication and engagement plan for the environment unit;
• Engage in developing communication and results reporting materials, including human stories for webpage and Facebook and other social media, short videos, stories and picture stories;
• Engage in research work and analytical exercises to support the design of new programme and projects in the area of environment and climate change.

Key Deliverables:

• Communications and monitoring plans for projects and the communication and engagement plan for the unit;
• Feature report on project activities, inter alia;
• Woman and climate change;
• REDD+ activities;
• Strengthening capacity with MECDM;
• Water adaptation measures;
• Research on pipeline project areas;
• Energy efficiency;
• Biodiversity;
• REDD+ building on from the UNREDD Final evaluation;
• Donor mapping/stakeholder mapping.

Competencias

Coorporate Responsibility & Direction

• Serves ad promotes the vision, mission, values and strategic goals of UNDP.

People Skills:

• Recognises and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others, gives credit to the contribution of others.

Managing for Results:

• Plans and prioritises work activities to meet organisational goals.

Partnering and Networking:

• Builds and sustains relationships with key constituents( Internal/external/bilateral/multilateral/public/private, civil society).

Innovation and Judgment:

• Conceptualises and analyses problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate;
• Generates creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations;
• Devises new systems and processes, and modalities existing ones, to support innovative behaviours.

Communication:

• Demonstrates excellent and effective  written and oral communication skills;
• Demonstrates effective communication skills in a multidisciplinary working environment;
• Demonstrate respect to knowledge and culture and religion in a multidisciplinary working environment.

Job knowledge & Expertise:

• Applies the required depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise to meet job demands;
• Uses Information technology effectively as a tool and a resources.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Currently enrolled in a Master’s degree in the areas of development, economics, public administration, environment, climate change, and/or journalism.

Experience:

• Experience in working with website development, social media, communications and relevant software is an asset.

Language:

• The candidate must possess excellent written and oral communication skills in English, familiarity and knowledge of Pacific Region.

Internship Conditions:

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.

 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 their internship.

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.
  • Costs incurred by an intern in the discharge of his/her functions shall be reimbursed by UNDP under the same rules as costs reimbursed to staff members. Costs incurred by an intern undertaking official travel at the request of UNDP in the discharge of functions related to the internship activities shall be paid by the Organization on the same basis as costs incurred by staff members, including payment of DSA, as applicable.

 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.

 Working Conditions:

 During the internship session, interns will be provided with a desk, phone and computer access.

 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.