UNDP plays an important and unique role in supporting high risk countries to achieve their development goals by reducing loss to life and assets, and by strengthening long term resilience. UNDP works with governments at international, national and local levels to ensure that disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a nationally-led and owned agenda, as well as integrated into national development planning. UNDP’s work focuses on resilience building and ensuring development remains risk-informed and sustainable. To do this we assist governments in systematically and comprehensively delivering on risk-informed development through the communication, reduction and management of risk.

UNDP’s country level DRR and recovery efforts have reached expenditures of USD 2.1 billion during the period 2005 – 2016 (more information on UNDP’s DRR portfolio can be accessed here). The Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience Team (DRT) currently manages a portfolio of global and regional projects amounting to approximately USD 60 million. Through enhanced integration with climate change adaptation and a firm focus on partnerships and mechanisms to deliver on Sendai, UNDP, during this reporting period, has:

• helped 148 countries develop national and local DRR strategies and action plans;
• supported 84 countries to understand and communicate risks through risk assessments;
• worked with 90 countries to strengthen their legal and regulatory frameworks for DRM; and
• supported 110 countries to develop post-disaster recovery capacities.

The DRT leads UNDP’s global practice in this field and provides policy advice and programmatic support to UNDP Regional Hubs and Country Offices in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of disaster risk reduction and recovery programmes. The team collaborates closely with other UNDP Global Policy Network (GPN) practices such as climate change, governance, conflict prevention, sustainable development and poverty eradication, towards a comprehensive and multi-dimensional approach to resilience building.

This position is specifically intended to support UNDP’s work on disaster early warning and preparedness action as one of the key strategic work streams of DRT. The intern will support the team with research, knowledge management and communications tasks.

Undertake research on cutting-edge topics related to climate and disaster early warning, early action, preparedness

• Undertake research and develop research outputs on thematic areas related to climate and disaster risk management, preparedness, early warning, early action, and anticipatory action;
• Undertake research and expand existing online repository of methodologies, tools and approaches for foresight and anticipatory action for climate change and disaster risk management;
• Undertake research and develop repository of tools, approaches and project examples related to capacity development for preparedness and anticipatory action in development, conflict and fragile settings to inform UNDP’s policy and programmatic offer;
• Undertake research and develop research outputs on thematic areas related to climate change and disaster-related displacement;
• Undertake research and develop research outputs on thematic areas related to gender equality and women’s leadership in climate and disaster risk management, preparedness, early warning, early action, and anticipatory action;
• Research outputs and repository developed will feed into various UNDP service offers, programmatic frameworks, regional/ country projects, toolkits, etc.;

Turn research results into communication material for UNDP internal and external audience

• Tailor and adapt research results as knowledge and communications products geared towards external audience such as blog stories, social media cards, briefs to be used for UNDP’s corporate website and UNDP’s presence at/ related to global and regional events;
• Develop blog(s) for UNDP based on research outputs;
• Develop slide decks, MURAL Boards, and other interactive materials for presentations at UNDP internal events, workshops, webinars, etc.;

Support the UNDP community of practice

• Support the organization of events geared towards sustaining the UNDP community of practice bringing together practitioners from UNDP’s Country Offices, regional and HQ offices;
• Help facilitate online practitioner engagements such as online dialogues, webinars, etc.

Education:

Enrolled in a Master’s programme or equivalent in the area of: disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, disaster management, environmental management, humanitarian affairs, international development.

Language:   

Proficiency in English in both writing and speaking.

Institutional arrangements:

The intern will be part of UNDP’s Disaster Risk Reduction for Building Resilience Team based in Geneva. In the current context, the intern is expected to work from home, as travel may be restricted to/ from Geneva.

S/he will work under the direct supervision of the Global Disaster Preparedness Lead and under the overall strategic guidance of the Head of the Disaster Risk Reduction for Building Resilience Team.

Conditions of the Internship:

• Interns may be given a stipend according to the UNDP Internship Policies, if is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation or scholarship programme;
• Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of the internship. UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• The intern is responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
• In the current context, the intern is expected to work from home;
• Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
• 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;
• The intern will be evaluated at the end of the contract and due recognition of work will be issued in writing.

In case an applicant is successfully selected, s/he will be requested to provide electronic versions of the following documents upon selection:

• Copy of the applicant’s most recent resume or curriculum vitae;
• Letter from his/her university confirming current enrolment and graduation date;
• Letter of recommendation from a professor;
• Copy of his/her school transcript;
• Copy of passport;
• Completed UNDP internship application form;
• Signed UNDP Internship Agreement;
• Medical Certificate of Good Health;
• Proof of medical insurance.

Application process:

• In your application, please (i) state in one paragraph why you would like to be considered for the internship, and (ii) indicate your preferred start and end date, as well as your availability timeframe in 2023;
• Submit your CV/Resume.

Please combine the above into one single PDF document as the system only allows to upload one document.

Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.