The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society and volunteers at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity, and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement, and solidarity.

UNV engages over 12,400 UN Volunteers and 9,000 online volunteers annually. With an average age of 35 years of UN Volunteers and the requisite professional skills and qualifications of some with 5 to 10 years relevant experience. The majority come from developing countries themselves. Half of UN Volunteers served in their own countries, with the other half carrying out international assignments. The financial equivalent of programme activities exceeds US$ 235 million annually.  

UNV is headquartered in Bonn, Germany and has approximately 120 staff positions – with a large presence in Bonn and some positions with different UN peacekeeping and political missions, and in other Headquarters’ locations (e.g., New York and Tokyo) and Regional Offices (Nairobi, Dakar, Bangkok, Panama, Istanbul, and Amman).

The Volunteer Solutions Section (VSS) designs, develops, implement, and oversees the application of policies, procedures, onsite and online volunteer solutions and volunteer recruitment and management applications at all levels of the Volunteer Management Cycle architecture and programme development and management as well as the coordination and facilitation of communication and collaboration with Regional Offices.

Under the overall guidance of the Policy Specialist within the Volunteer Solutions Section, the Intern will support the Volunteer Policy Pillar of VSS as follows:  

• Assist the Policy Pillar strategy to strengthen cooperation in an agile and consultative manner with the Regional Offices, Field Units, and other stakeholders for several policy developments, including the UNV Administrative Guidelines Winddown, the Waiver Policy review and policy support to implementation of the revised VLA (Volunteer Living Allowance) methodology;                                             
• Aggregate data for Policy Pillar team to incorporate into reports using data visualization for assessing administrative streamlining impact of Conditions of Service changes and other policy innovation, including organizing policy advice to feed into the artificial intelligence chatbot data fields;
• Support drafting of policy advice on interpretation of policies, regulations, and rules and on substantive questions related to administration and management of UN Volunteers and participate in meetings or working groups for documentation and notetaking;
• Keep abreast of developments in various areas of innovation pertinent to volunteer management with the aims of formulating development of policy research documents as part on ongoing efforts to sandbox proof of concept Special Programme Initiatives and other innovative policy concepts within the volunteer management cycle with a view to streamline and consolidate policy implementation digitally and seamlessly;
• Assist with background research and drafting, including but not limited to academic studies, private and public sector best practices, UN Innovation Network, and other relevant stakeholder guidance, that have implications for volunteer management through policy innovation tools;
• Work with VSS colleagues and Online Volunteers on digital design management of policy developments and service offer packages, on communication materials for internal and external use;
• Assist with other assigned activities within the VSS Policy Pillar, as necessary.

Deliverables

• Assist the Policy Pillar strategy with the UNV Administrative Guidelines Winddown, the Waiver Policy review and policy support to implementation of the revised VLA methodology.
• Providing research and design assistance for evidence-based use case document on global best practice for thematic Special Programme Initiatives and other innovative concepts into volunteer management policy implementation, to be drafted and presented at a VSS team meeting.
• Assisting Policy Pillar in formulating policy guidance for UN Remote Volunteers and UN Volunteer Recruitment and Selection Policy.
• Support management of translation of critical policy documents, including the Conditions of Service for UN Volunteers, for global roll-out in Chinese, Arabic, and Russian.
• Any other deliverables assigned to the intern as per the VSS annual work plan

Competencies

• Strong interest in development cooperation and in the work of the United Nations Volunteers programme.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills as well as proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required. Knowledge of Visio and other design applications would be an asset.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of other official UN language is desirable

Learning opportunities for the intern

• General understanding of the work and mission of the UNV programme, and of volunteerism’s contribution to peace and development effectiveness;
• Insight and hands-on experience in UNV’s broad range of operational and programmatic issues on volunteer management;
• Insight and hands-on experience in volunteer management; and
• Become more familiar with working in an International Organization and in a multicultural environment.

Education:

Applicants to the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

• Currently enrolled or having recently graduated from a Master’s / Professional degree / academic programme in Public International Law, Peace and Development Policy, Frontier Technology (big data, augmented intelligence, blockchain), Social Sciences or a related field.
• Have recently graduated with a university degree, and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Experience:

• Interest and experience in volunteering is a strong asset.
• Experience in developing countries is desirable.
• Familiarity with the UN system in general  

Language:

• Proficiency in English;
• Knowledge of other official UN language is desirable.

Conditions

• Intern will be given monthly stipend in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP Internship policy, which applicants should become familiar with prior to signing an UNDP Internship Agreement Form .  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.
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship;
• All the expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern, sponsoring government or institutions;
• The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment within the UN System, but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.

Candidates who are shortlisted for an interview must submit prior to the interview the following documents:

• Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme.

Only a successful candidate will be required to submit the following documents:

• A copy of the applicant’s most recent resume or curriculum vitae;
• A letter from his/her university confirming current enrollment and graduation date;
• A copy of his/her school transcript;
• A letter of recommendation from a professor;
• A signed UNDP Internship Agreement;
• A Medical Certificate of Good Health;
• Proof of medical insurance including provision for medical evacuation and removal of mortal remains or life insurance.