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, Youth

Co:Lab aims to establish a common agenda for Asia-Pacific countries to invest in and empower youth to

accelerate 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.

Springboard Programme (Youth Entrepreneurship Support Programme)

The intern will work as part of the Regional Youth Unit’s Springboard Team, particularly supporting partnerships, start-up support (Springboard Programme) and entrepreneurship ecosystem-building (Springboard Amplifier) activities implemented by the project.

The Springboard Programme is a start-up support platform providing ongoing support for young SDG innovators, aiming to scale youth-led social enterprise. It is a skill platform that facilitates mentoring, knowledge exchange, networking and showcasing to provide skill development opportunities for young social entrepreneurs.

The Springboard Amplifier Programme is a capacity-building programme for local entrepreneur support organizations (incubators, accelerators, think tanks, etc) in the Asia Pacific Region through a peer-to-peer learning approach. So far, the programme has trained 27 entrepreneur support organizations from 11 countries. In 2023, the programme runs from February to June with bi-weekly online workshops and community-building activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

DUTIES:

The intern will assist in the following duties and responsibilities:

Competencies

Competencies and Attitudes:

• Interest and motivation in working in an international development organization and supporting youth social entrepreneurs;
• Good understanding of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurship ecosystem in this region;
• Past entrepreneurial experience or experience at startup support organizations (such as incubators) preferred;
• 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; 
• Participate effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others.

Required Skills and Experience

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

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: Business, economics, international relations, development studies, political sciences, or other relevant fields.

IT skills:

• Knowledge and proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
• Good working knowledge of organising and facilitating online events on Zoom;
• Knowledge of graphic design software/platform and video editing software is a plus (Canva, Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, etc).

Language skills:

• Excellent written and spoken English is required.

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.