Background
UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work, carried out at HQ, Regional, and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.
The Effectiveness Group assists UNDP and its partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. It seeks to do so by enabling UNDP and others to be more innovative, and knowledge and data-driven by identifying, testing, learning, sharing, and institutionalizing what works. It acts as a hub on quality UNDP programming, all aspects of results-based management and development performance monitoring and analysis, South-South cooperation, and global effectiveness partnerships.
Drawing on the comparative advantages of UNDP in strengthening country capacities to manage and coordinate development cooperation, the Effectiveness Group within the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support coordinates the Secretariat of the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) a coalition of more than ninety members including donor and partner country governments, foundations, multilateral and civil society organizations. IATI seeks to address challenges facing a range of development stakeholders in the sharing and use of information on development cooperation resources. It was launched at the Accra High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (2008) and since September 2013, UNDP has co-hosted the IATI Secretariat in a Consortium together with UNOPS (which leads on financial management and logistics) and UK-based NGO Development Initiatives (which administers the development of the IATI Standard as well as IATI’s website, tools, and technical support). UNDP leads day-to-day management of the Secretariat and outreach and engagement with IATI stakeholders, and provides substantive support and policy advice to IATI’s governing bodies, including its annual Members’ Assembly and its Governing Board.
In 2019, IATI members approved a Strategic Plan (2020-2025) that sets out the role of communications in helping to deliver the initiatives’ objectives. IATI reaches its target audiences through a range of communications channels including through its social media accounts, through its website: iatistandard.org and through regular newsletters. IATI’s Communications manages the production and publication of a range of content including blogs, videos, newposts, reports, briefings and guidance materials. IATI Communications also oversees the implementation of IATI’s brand across the initiative’s tools, services and publications.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the Communications Specialist and working with various team members from within the IATI Secretariat, the ‘IATI Communications intern’ will focus on the following:
IATI Communications (100%):
- Assist in drafting and posting content, including news and events on IATI’s website and through IATI’s social media accounts
- Draft IATI newsletters (using the platform Mailchimp)
- Assist in the project coordination for publications including the Annual Report and IATI Strategic Plan Updates
- Update contacts on IATI’s CRM (customer relationship management system) and on mailchimp
- Design simple IATI branded publications
Competencies
- Excellent written communication skills.
- Excellent digital communication skills.
- Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to work independently with limited supervision and under tight deadlines;
- Proven skills in producing (online) knowledge products such as newsletters, blogs etc.;
- Strong service and team-work orientation; evident cultural sensitivity and ability to work in a fast-paced multi-national environment;
- Demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment to learning; and
- Commitment to UNDP vision, mission, and values.
Required Skills and Experience
Required Skills and Experience:
Eligibility:
Applicants to UNDP internships must at the time of application meet one of the following academic 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.
- be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.
Education:
In addition to meeting the requirement above under eligibility, the preferred fields of study for this internship are in communications, journalism or a development related field such as economics, public administration, public policy, or international relations/international development studies.
Experience:
Required:
- Experience of producing knowledge products (e.g. blogs, newsletters etc.) and excellent online research skills
- Experience of using social media platforms to raise awareness
- Experience of using a range Microsoft Office tools, including Outlook, Word, Excel
Desirable:
- Previous experience in the development and humanitarian sectors;
- Experience working in / with developing countries;
- Experience of using Adobe Indesign and Photoshop
- Experience of using Mailchimp
Assets:
- Knowledge of, or direct experience working with transparency of development cooperation data and/or other development cooperation issues;
- Previous experience working with the United Nations or an international initiative.
Language skills:
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Competency in other UN language(s), especially French and / or Spanish, is a strong asset.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE/ HOW TO APPLY
THE APPLICATION SHOULD CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING UPLOADED AS ONE FILE:
- Current CV
- Original text of up to 500 words addressing the following question: Why is transparent, open data on aid and other development cooperation flows important for achieving countries’ national development goals and / or the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
Conditions of internship:
Internships within the UN system are subject to following conditions, which the candidates should familiarise themselves with prior to applying:
- Starting from January 2020 interns will receive stipends according to UN rules and regulations.
- Any further costs associated with the internship 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 arrangements for travel, accommodation and other costs.
- UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. The Intern must provide proof of enrolment in a health insurance plan;
- UNDP does not provide assistance with travel and/or housing and the Intern will be responsible for obtaining the necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
- The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment within the UN System, but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship. The Intern will not be eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of internship or for the six months immediately following the expiration date thereof;
- Interns will need to use their own laptop/notebook.
- Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
- UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months
Selected candidates will be asked to submit the following documents prior to joining:
- A duly completed UNDP Internship Application Form
- A signed UNDP Internship Agreement
- Copy of updated CV/resume
- Official letter from the university confirming current enrolment and graduation date;
- Copy of passport/national ID card;
- A copy of his/her school transcript;
- Letter of endorsement/recommendation from a Professor
- Proof of valid medical/accident insurance including provision for medical evacuation and removal of mortal remains) for the duty station for which they will work.