Background

CORPORATE 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 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.

The context of Youth Empowerment

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the important role of youth in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and calls for action against the challenges faced by young people that limits their economic, social and political inclusion. Today, young people are more connected, more creative, more informed and more persuasive than any previous generation. Young people are responding to the challenges of today with innovative approaches, contributing fresh ideas, creating the world they want, and driving human development for themselves, their communities and their societies. But at the same time, due to COVID-19 pandemic and other socio-political challenges, many young people are at the risk of economic insecurity. In addition, many young people are left out of decision-making processes, which further contributes to their marginalization and exclusion.

INTERNSHIP OFFICE BACKGROUND:

Youth Co:Lab – Website

Co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation, YouthCo:Lab aims to establish a common agenda for Asia-Pacific countries to invest in and empower youth toaccelerate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurship. By developing 21st century skills, catalyzing and sustaining youth-led startups and social enterprises across the region, Youth Co:Lab is positioning young people front and center in order to solve the region’s most pressing challenges. In addition to supporting youth entrepreneurship, Youth Co:Lab also works closely with multiple stakeholders across the region, including governments, civil society and the private sector, to strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem and policy support to better enable young people to take the lead on new solutions that will help meet the SDGs. Besides Youth Co:Lab project, the intern will support also other regional youth projects.

Research and Impact Measurement Team

The intern will work as part of the Regional Youth Team’s Research and Impact measurement team, supporting particularly the research activities implemented by the project. Youth Co:Lab’s research component seeks to generate knowledge regarding means to strengthen the ecosystem for youth social entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership in Asia-Pacific, and to disseminate knowledge in order to influence ecosystem change. Research is closely connected to Youth Co:Lab’s impact measurement and management function, which generates monitoring data to support programme transparency, accountability and reporting; and generates evidence and lessons learnt to support adaptive programme management, learning, and knowledge sharing.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

DUTIES:

The intern will assist in the following duties and responsibilities:

Competencies

• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization and support action-oriented research;
• Excellent analytical skills in gathering and analyzing data for practical implementation;
• 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;
• Demonstrates commitment to the UN’s mission, vision and values;
• Demonstrates sound judgment, diplomacy and sensitivity to confidential matters;
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure;
• Innovative forward thinking, good coordination and organizational skills, teamwork; and
• Participate effectively in team-based, information sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

• Currently in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree; or
• Currently enrolled in a Master’s degree; or
• Have graduated no longer than 1 year ago from a bachelor’s or master’s degree or equivalent studies.

Field of study: economics, statistics, international relations, development studies, political sciences, law or equivalent.

IT skills:

• Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
• Good working knowledge of data analysis tools, such as R or SPSS.

Language skills:

• Excellent written and spoken English is required
• Knowledge of another language in the region would be an asset

INTERNSHIP CONDITIONS

• UNDP will not pay interns for internship but will provide a stipend in the amount of THB 8,302.50 monthly in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP internship policy; all other expenses connected with it will be borne by the intern or the sponsoring Government or institution;
• 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;
• 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;
• Interns need to obtain financing for subsistence and make own arrangements for internship, travel, VISA, accommodation, etc.