Background

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) is responsible for UNDP’s external relations and advocacy functions. BERA leads and supports the organization in building and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances essential for successfully achieving the mission of UNDP. These relationships include a range of constituencies and development partners, related to resource mobilization and donor relations, intergovernmental affairs with member states, multilateral institutions, IFIs, the European Commission, private sector, foundations, UN system agencies and UN inter-governmental bodies.

BERA is positioned around three service lines, moving towards an audience orientation, namely, Public Partners Partnerships, Marketing and Communications and Private and Finance partners, each guided by the Directorate and supported by the Management Support and Strategy and Analytics Teams. BERA has a network of Regional External Relations Teams in five hubs co-led with Regional Bureaux and Representation Offices in Europe, Japan and the US, namely, Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Tokyo and Washington D.C., which manage and strengthen relationships with Public and Private Partners in country and help build a strong brand for UNDP within the local ecosystem including UN partnerships.

The Public Partnerships Group (PPG) provides trusted engagement for public partnerships in line with UNDP Strategic Plan and business planning targets; Coordination of multi stakeholder partnerships including quality assurance; Engage with key political constituencies and actors, intergovernmental and inter-agency processes; Advise on and develop strategies, gather intelligence, & coordination on donor and partner engagement. Advisory services on UN system-wide coherence; UNDP representation to cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with member states for positioning and fundraising.

The Group consists of five teams: UN System Affairs, Partnerships Portfolio Management, Performance and Analysis Portfolio, International Financial Institutions, and Emerging and Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships.

Key functions include:

  • Build a strong constituency around UNDP’s strategic agenda with partners through proactive dialogue and advocacy with stakeholders.
  • Develop and advise on annual engagement strategies and priorities for public partners, including organizing annual strategic dialogues.
  • Set, monitor and deliver corporate public partnership priorities, goals, and key performance indicators in line with the corporate engagement strategies and audience specific accountability framework.
  • Advise UNDP senior management on public and partnership engagement including multi-stakeholder engagement and funding mechanisms
  • Monitor emerging risks affecting UNDP’s positioning with the Member States and UN Partners and devise and implement risk mitigation plans.
  • Coordinate and advise on UNDP contributions to system-wide policies on UN coherence modalities.
  • Identify and channel pertinent partner intelligence relevant to UNDP priority issues, risks and opportunities to be given due consideration by UNDP management; advise senior leadership on issues arising and recommend course of action.
  • Assess partner perceptions of UNDP and advise on UNDP’s response to partners’ assessments of performance.
  • Oversee partnership management and RM tracking mechanisms across UNDP (including through a CRM platform)

Duties and Responsibilities

Within the broader PPG objectives and in support of the Partnerships Portfolio Management Team, under the overall guidance and direction of the Team Leader, the Intern will undertake tasks related to one or more of the areas listed below. Learning and mentoring as well as facilitating exposure to a range of experiences for the intern will be an explicitly targeted goal during the internship.

  • Support with data collection on development cooperation priorities of major donors to UNDP including foreign affairs parliamentary committee inquiries.
  • Research of donors’ aid policies, practices and budget allocations including contributions to multilaterals.
  • Support with the development of analytical notes and other material in relation to corporate priorities, assessments, relevant for effective donor relations. One important approach is the “whole of society” approach with partners is looks at all actors promoting the SDGs including line ministries, development finance institutions, private sector and civil society.  
  • Support with internal communications and development of donor profiles, guidance notes and other online toolkits for internal communication and capacity building in Resource mobilization.
  • Support the updating of funding trends and news for the organization including the identification of potential or emerging funding streams for UNDP to capitalize on.
  • Support with other research and analysis for selected topics/donors, as needed, including donor bilateral meetings and annual consultations.

Expected Outputs

  • Partner specific research conducted to feed into policy background papers, strategic notes and other relevant internal documents.
  • Donor due diligence information and guidance material developed and disseminated.
  • Thematic/donor specific data gathered and disseminated. 
  • Donor-specific communication material researched and developed.
  • Support the overall knowledge management of the PPM team.
  • Support the transition from intranet to Sharepoint and the use of the CRM

Competencies

  • Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP
  • Proven understanding of international development and multilateralism, particularly the UN system, including ideally its intergovernmental bodies and fora, Secretariat, agencies, funds and programmes.
  • Excellent analytical and data handling capability     
  • Good understanding and experience in current knowledge management technologies
  • Excellent organizational, general administration, time management skills  
  • Strong English language skills (oral and written)
  • Demonstrates strong computer skills and ability to produce information visually
  • Ability for problem-solving, multi-tasking, meet deadlines and work under pressure, strong follow-up skills  
  • Ability to work as part of a team in a constantly evolving work environment
  • Strong research, analytical, writing, and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications

  • Enrollment in graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent or higher).
  • Enrollment in the final academic year of a university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent)
  • A university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) within one year of graduation.
  • Currently enrolled in a Master’s / postgraduate university in international relations, political science or related field.

Years of experience

  • Relevant national/international experience in development, international relations, finance/economics, political science, management, communications, business consulting, knowledge management or related field.
  • Knowledge in development-related areas, multi-stakeholder engagement, international or multilateral organizations.
  • Prior relevant experience is an asset, including experience in drafting meeting notes and reports, as well as organizing meetings and collaborative events.

Conditions:

UNDP may accept interns provided the following conditions are met:

  • 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, as travel may be restricted to/ from New York City.
  • 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 her/his school transcript.
  • Copy of passport.
  • Completed UNDP internship application form.
  • Signed UNDP Internship Agreement.
  • Medical Certificate of Good Health.
  • Proof of medical insurance.

Subsequent Employment:

  • 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.

For more information on UNDP Internship, please visit:

http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/jobs/internships.html