The population of Scheduled Tribes (STs) is 104 million (2011 Census) constituting 8.6% of the total population of the country. They are the most disadvantaged and vulnerable sections of the society due to socio-economic exploitation and have historically suffered from an enormous development deficit as compared to the rest of the population. Around 300 million poor people of India, especially tribals depend on forest for subsistence and livelihoods. Almost 50 percent of the food requirements of forest dwellers are provided by the forests. Majority of the forest dwellers depend on forests for up to 50 percent of their food requirements. Livelihoods of people living close to forests and within them are inextricably linked to the forest ecosystem as they depend on these resources for a variety of forest products such as food, fodder, agriculture, housing, and various other Minor Forest Produce (MFP). The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, a ground-breaking progressive legislation, enacted by India’s Parliament has generated huge sense of ownership and security amongst forest dwellers over their land and natural resources.  The Act is intended to provide a framework to recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land in forest dwelling communities who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded. Further, the Act has the ability to conserve forests and biodiversity, improve local livelihoods and help meet India’s international commitments to sustainable development and climate change mitigation. The performance of FRA has been diverse across, and even within, the states. The Act, if implemented in its spirit will go a long way in ensuring livelihood security and poverty alleviation through sustainable and community-based management of forests contributing to Sustainable development goals. IPCC has also acknowledged that tenurial security over community resources and land can play a significant role towards achieving climate justice UNDP is working with Ministry of Tribal Affairs and with the State Tribal Departments of Odisha, Chhattisgarh to FastTrack implementation of Forest Rights Act. The support includes strengthening institutional capacity through establishment of FRA Cell, development of tools and mechanism for implementation and monitoring and training and capacity building of the Act implementation agencies. In this regard UNDP is looking for an Intern who will work under the overall direction of the UNDP Chief, Advisor and in close supervision and collaboration with the UNDP National Project Manager- FRA to support the ongoing FRA related work through Documentation, data collection and provide administrative support to conduct workshops and webinars for a period of 6 months.

Primary responsibilities of the intern include:

• Desk review of the related literature/report identified to capture the ongoing UNDP’s work on FRA and document the successful strategies and framework
• Assist in generating data and evidence to map how recognition of rights under FRA will contribute to achieving SDG indicators and Climate mitigation measures
• Support the UNDP team in hosting, conducting and documenting Workshops related to FRA and other Tribal related issues
• Assist in drafting final reports based on the feedback and inputs received, and submit for finalization including any further feedback and inputs
• Any other related task assigned from time to time by the supervisor.

• Understanding of and/ or have experience of previous research on issues related to, Tribal issues in India, international development such as the SDGs and with knowledge of the UN system is an asset.
• Good analytical and Research skills
• Excellent drafting and editing skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience working collaboratively in small and large teams.
• Good Communications skills Competencies (please revise as per requirement)
• Strong sense of collaborative work, excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Keen attention to detail;
• Excellent analytical and research skills;
• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise;
• Willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda;
• Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position
• Fluency in English

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

(a) Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher) in Statistics/ Social Sciences/ Public Policy/ Development Studies/ Economics/ Data Sciences or any relevant degree

(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent)in the above mentioned areas

(c) Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.

(d) Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.