Background
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
Recent years have seen an increase in the youth population in the Arab states. Harnessing the energy of the 110 million 15–29-year-olds has the potential to build peace and stability and expand economic opportunities for them and their countries. Unlocking these possibilities for young people requires partnership among all stakeholders, including youth themselves. Investing in both knowledge and skills of youth as well as the support systems around them will reap large rewards for the social, economic and civic development of their countries and the Arab region at large. In a world transformed by the COVID-19, enabling young people to become agents for positive social, political and economic change is critical for building forward and enhancing resilience to future pandemics, climate change and other shocks. This needs a whole-of-society approach that widens participation and inclusion of youth in all aspects of life. The transition required is systemic. In this age of complexity, solutions need to be adaptable and holistic with a long-term vision. Therefore, governments are looking for integrated solutions that address this complexity of development challenges. Therefore the UNDP Arab States Regional Youth Project uses a portfolio of interventions across multiple levers of change. The portfolio consists of activities that involve direct work with youth, creating partnerships to build an enabling environment around youth, as well as supporting the development of policies and laws that support youth empowerment. Through looking at the development challenges with a systemic lens and creating synergies between actors, the project supports youth at multiple levels.
The Regional Youth Team works with 17 Country Offices in the Arab region, focusing on initiatives, projects and interventions directly supporting youth in the region.
The intern will be under the direct supervision of the Youth & Communications Specialist & overall supervision of the Youth Project Manager.
Duties and Responsibilities
The objective of the internship will be to support the further planning, design, and implementation of various youth-focused communications activities within UNDP’s Regional Youth Team in the Arab States. The intern will particularly support social media content production and planning as well as overall communications activities of the project.
Duties and Responsibilities
The intern will be based in the UNDP Regional Hub in Amman office. Responsibilities may include but will not be limited to the following:
• Support in implementation of the regional youth communications strategy;
• Support in development of various communications products, including blogs, brochures, videos, infographics and social media content;
• Assist in developing innovative and engaging social media content targeting young people in the Arab region;
• Support communications activities related to events (both online and offline), including messaging, social media, live communications;
• Support opportunity mapping (events, fellowships, competitions, trainings) for the platform and social media;
• Perform other related communications tasks as necessary.
Competencies
Functional Competencies:
• Strong sense of collaborative work, excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Keen attention to detail;
• Knowledge of communications; including planning and developing social media content;
• Excellent in producing social media content for young people in the Arab region;
• Great writing skills;
• Interest in the Arab States region;
• knowledge in graphic design or video production is an asset;
Professionalism:
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems;
• Ability to negotiate and to influence others to reach agreement;
• Ability to work under pressure;
• Shows pride in work and in achievement;
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter, especially governance and peacebuilding;
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
• Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns;
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges;
• Remains calm in stressful situations;
Communication:
• Speaks and writes clearly, concisely and effectively;
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
• Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
• Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience;
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Teamwork:
• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise;
• Is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda;
• Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position;
• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Planning & Organizing:
• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resource for completing work;
• Takes responsibility for assigned tasks and honors commitments;
• Delivers assigned tasks in a timely manner;
• Uses time efficiently.
Creativity:
• Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs;
• Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas;
• Thinks “outside the box”;
• Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things;
• Not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.
Technological Awareness:
• Keeps abreast of available technology;
• Understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office;
• Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks;
• Shows willingness to learn new technology.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Applicants to the internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements Communications, Media and International Relations or other relevant subjects is required.
• 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 master’s degree or equivalent studies
Experience:
• Relevant previous experience in developing communications materials and products is a plus;
• Relevant previous experience in developing social media materials and campaigns is a plus;
• Grasp of issues affecting the Arab States region preferable;
• Experience in supporting / volunteering with developmental actors will be an asset;
• Demonstrated ability to work well both independently and within a multicultural team;
• Good command of information and communication technology;
Languages:
• Fluency in English and Arabic (both oral and written) is required.
• Working level French language skills (both oral and written) is a strong additional asset.
Stipend
• Where an intern is engaged in-person and is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, Government, foundation or scholarship programme, a stipend intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to an in-person internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station, must be paid by the receiving office.
• Where an intern is engaged remotely and is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, Government, foundation or scholarship programme, a remote stipend intended to help cover expenses related to the internship, such as internet connections or other means to remain in contact with the receiving office, must be paid by the receiving office.
• The monthly amount of the stipend for remote internships will be based on a standard global rate applicable for all remote internships. The amount of the stipend for in-person internships will be set for each duty station. The monthly stipend rates of both remote and in-person internships will be published annually by the Bureau for Management Services’ Office of Human Resources (BMS/OHR). The stipend will be paid on a monthly basis and will be pro-rated for part-time internship arrangements.
• Where an intern is financially supported by an institution, Government or third party, UNDP will, subject to the rules of such institution, Government or third party, pay the intern the difference, if any, between the external financial support provided and the applicable UNDP stipend.
• No other payments of any kind, or advance on the stipend due, will be made to an intern by the receiving office in connection with an internship agreement, except for any reimbursements made to an intern under paragraph 33 of the present policy.
• Interns will accrue combined sick and annual leave at the rate of 1 ½ days per month, which will be prorated to the nearest half day for part-time internships. Any accrued leave days not used by the end of the internship will be forfeited. Any unjustified absences during the internship period exceeding a total of nine days or as prorated for part-time internships, will be deducted from the monthly stipend.