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.

As a signatory of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS), and as a member of the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UNDP committed itself to achieving transformative and lasting change for persons with disabilities. Having endorsed the Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action, making a commitment to contribute to making humanitarian action inclusive of persons with disabilities, by lifting barriers persons with disabilities are facing in accessing relief, protection and recovery support and ensuring their participation in the development, planning and implementation of humanitarian programmes.

At the corporate level, The “Disability Inclusive Development in UNDP (2018) – Guidance and entry points” provides the overarching frame of reference on disability considerations across UNDP’s practice areas. More recently the UNDP Development Dialogue on Cutting-edge technologies for disability-inclusive early warning and preparedness has brought to the fore valuable considerations that may pave the way for a integrating disability inclusiveness into disaster risk reduction, as well as crisis prevention, response and recovery more broadly (Our crisis response must include people with disabilities (June 2021)).

Thus, the policy and programmatic framework on disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction and risk-informed development is still to be developed and brought to scale. The new UNDP Strategic Plan 2022-2025 provides us with an opportunity to advance the corporate framing of disability issues in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. While the term “disability” is not featured in the Strategic Plan, the “leaving no one behind” principle, which is one of the three systemic change directions, is providing an opportune basis for the disability inclusiveness agenda to be considered as “a rights-based approach centered on empowerment, inclusion, equity, human agency and human development”.

Research on disability-inclusive crisis prevention, recovery and resilience building

• Undertake research and support the development of analytical reports on the state of play of disability inclusion in the disaster risk reduction practice area as well as the broader crisis prevention, preparedness, response and recovery practice area.
• Undertake mapping of good practice examples from UNDP programmes across all regions and expand existing online compendium.
• Develop various documents to be used in donor and partner engagement for the disability inclusion agenda as far as it relates to crisis (such as senior management talking points, briefing notes, video scripts, slide decks etc.).

Communications on disability-inclusive crisis prevention, recovery and resilience building

• 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 organization of UNDP internal and external webinars on disability inclusion

• Support the organization of online events for UNDP staff on using dignified terminology related to the disability agenda within UNDP, including supporting the design of the agenda and invitation(s), outreach to UNDP focal points involved, outreach to potential speakers, drafting report and repository of reference materials.
• Support the development of communications materials before and after the events such as invitation cards, report and blog story to be posted on UNDP website showcasing the value of the event

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English;
• Initiative taking;
• Strong organization skills;
• Great attention to detail and proven experience in proof reading;
• Ability to work well in a team;
• Demonstration of cultural sensitivity and appreciation for different cultures and practices;
• Sound computer skills and experience using web-based applications, social media and data management systems.

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, disability inclusion topics.

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.