UNDP Jobs - 107183- Intern – IATI Communications and Community-Events

Intern – IATI Communications and Community-Events

Location :

Home-based, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

15-Jul-2022

Application Deadline :

24-Jun-22 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

5.5 Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

5.5 Months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

UNDP is working to strengthen new frameworks for development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. We support countries' efforts to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals, which will guide global development priorities through 2030. The key 2030 Agenda principle of leaving no one behind and stamping out inequality is at the core of everything we do.

UNDP focuses on helping countries build and share solutions in three main areas:

Sustainable development
Democratic governance and peacebuilding
Climate and disaster resilience

In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women, minorities and the poorest and most vulnerable.

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 lists the strengthening of the IATI community, as well as the initiation of a combination “Working Groups” and “Communities of Practice” model to promote knowledge-sharing and peer-learning around the publishing and use of IATI data, as key priorities. What this means in practice is that IATI would like to build on its existing, but relatively decentralized, community of practitioners to establish a stronger knowledge-sharing infrastructure and technical tools to facilitate access to guidance products, promote interactive online learning opportunities, and support collaboration to strengthen the impact and quality of IATI data worldwide.

As such, IATI, supported by UNDP as Coordinator of the IATI Secretariat and in consultation with DI, has launched a digital community platform, called IATI Connect. This platform provides a tool for community-engagement for several IATI-Communities and helps strengthen the initiative’s impact on improving the transparency of development and humanitarian resources. It is also an important tool for IATI to support community-engagement.

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, newsposts, 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

Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Outreach and Partnerships Specialist and Communications Specialist, and under the day-to-day guidance of the IATI Knowledge Management and Digital Community Specialist, and working with various team members from within the IATI Secretariat, the ‘IATI Communications and Community-Events intern’ will focus on the following:

IATI Connect / Community-Engagement (30%):

Build ongoing and relevant content on IATI Connect, and make sure the flow of information between IATI’s communities of practice is streamlined, working closely with colleagues from across the IATI Secretariat. This could include, for example supporting engagement of practitioners through online consultations, surveys and challenges;
Act as a focal point in the day-to-day management of IATI Connect, its online communities of practice / community-platform of practitioners, including through virtual trouble-shooting, supporting onboarding of new members, synthesis of knowledge / lessons learned, etc.; or facilitating cross-collaboration between communities, etc.;
Spearhead the drafting of a monthly Newsletter (IATI Connect) including a monthly video-blog (IATI Connect Stories) with a member from the community. Video-editing / design skills are required to support the creation of digestible knowledge products.
Help drive active engagement through IATI Connect and its Communities of Practice by, for example, supporting the conceptualization of online courses as part of a wider e-learning strategy (IATI Academy), or other community-led initiatives.
Help implement and monitor suggested improvement on IATI Connect, in close consultation with the wider IATI community. For example by driving active engagement through IATI Connect and its Communities of Practice by supporting the conceptualization of online courses as part of a wider e-learning strategy (IATI Academy), or other community-led initiatives.

IATI Community-Events (40%)

Provide logistical and substantive support to IATI’s (virtual/in-person) community-event in Q4. For example: assist in the coordination of community-led sessions, event-registration, overall logistical support, designing communications products and spearheading a social media campaign for the community-event.
Provide support to various IATI events, such as workshops, trainings etc. For example by re-designing presentations, drafting a communications-plan and logistical support;
Manage the overall social media planning and external communications for all IATI Events;
Therefore it is required to have extensive social media experience and graphic design-skills (using tools as InDesign / Photoshop to produce event communications assets, e.g. logo’s, banners);

General IATI Communications (30%)

In close collaboration with the Communications Specialist 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);
Update IATI Membership contacts on IATI’s CRM (customer relationship management system) and on Mailchimp;
Design IATI branded publications.

Official Business Travel

There is a November 2022 workshop for which the intern might be asked to support. This will entail travel to be undertaken by the intern. Costs for travel at the request of UNDP, in the discharge of the activities related to the internship are reimbursed by UNDP.

Competencies

Excellent organizational, event planning, and digital communication / design skills. Attention to detail and proven ability to work independently with limited supervision and under tight deadlines;
Proven skills in community-building and engagement, with track record 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 and knowledge of the UN work environment an advantage.
Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal-oriented mind-set;
Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Required Skills and Experience

Required Skills and Experience:

Education:

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

Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);
Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
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;
Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.
In addition to meeting the requirement above under eligibility, the preferred fields of study for this internship is in development related fields such as economics, public administration, public policy, or international relations/international development studies.

Experience:

Required:

Demonstrated experience in graphic design and video-production, using tools such as Canva, InDesign, Photoshop to produce event communications assets (e.g. logo’s, banners);
Demonstrated experience in project and/or event-management, e.g. through logistical support;
Demonstrated experience with social media and external communications, to raise awareness;
Strong track record of producing knowledge products (e.g. webinars, blogs, think pieces, discussion papers, etc.) and excellent online research skills;
Demonstrated experience delivering projects under tight deadlines with competing commitments, especially those including input from multiple stakeholders or groups;

Desirable:

Previous experience in the development and humanitarian sectors;
Previous experience building / managing virtual communities and / or platforms;
Experience working in / with developing countries;

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.

IT skills:

Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;

Language skills:

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English is required;
Competency in other UN language(s), especially in French and/or Spanish is a strong asset.

INTERNSHIP CONDITIONS

Starting from January 2020 interns will receive stipends according to UN rules and regulations based on rates published by the OHR Policy and Compensation Unit for each duty station. The stipend will be paid on a monthly basis.
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;
Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP and must provide a medical certificate of good health prior to starting the internship. UNDP will not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern. Any costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern.
UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
Interns are responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
Interns must provide proof of enrolment in health insurance plan; for the duty station in which they will intern. Applicants that are neither nationals nor residents of the duty station, the insurance must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship duration which:
- Requires transportation to the home country or country of residence for further treatment;
- Results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the home country, or country of residence.
Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
Interns are expected to work full time, but flexibility is allowed for education programmes;

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)?

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.