1.1.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.

1.2.Project Background & Country Context

Viet Nam is one of 30 countries considered to be at extreme risk in terms of its vulnerability to climate change. Risk factors include high population density, geographic location, and dependency on flood and drought prone agricultural land. Each year, approximately 60,000 houses are damaged or destroyed by floods and storms in coastal provinces, and this situation is likely to worsen given climate change scenarios for Viet Nam. Some projections indicate a 57-73cm rise in mean sea level along the coast of Viet Nam by 2100, which would inundate approximately 30,000km2, an area equivalent to 9.3% of the total national land surface. A report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on the impacts of a 1.5°C rise in global temperatures above pre-industrial averages named Viet Nam as one of nine countries where at least 50 million people will be exposed to the adverse impacts of rising sea levels and more intense storms by 2040. Resultant economic impacts make it increasingly difficult for vulnerable families to escape the cycle of poverty.

The Government of Viet Nam (GoV) has launched significant efforts to respond to climate change, including the promulgation of the National Strategy and Action Plan to Respond to Climate Change, Green Growth Strategy and implementation plans, and legal frameworks and policies relating to disaster risk management. Viet Nam is the first country to commit to either an unconditional 8% cut in greenhouse gas emissions or a 25% cut in greenhouse gas emissions with international support.

In coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the Ministry of Construction (MoC), the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), and seven project provinces (Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Ngai, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, and Ca Mau), UNDP is implementing the Green Climate Fund (GCF)-funded project “Improving the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change related impacts in Viet Nam” from 2017 – 2022.

The specific objectives of the project are as follows:

• Component 1:  Storm- and flood-resilient design features added to 4,000 new houses on safe sites, benefiting 20,000 poor and highly disaster-exposed people in 100 communes;
• Component 2: Regeneration of 4,000 hectares of coastal mangrove storm surge buffer zones using successful evidence-based approaches;
• Component 3: Increased access to enhanced climate, damage, and loss data for private and public sector application in all 28 coastal provinces of Viet Nam.

The International Intern’s assignment will be to provide technical input on the development and management of the Coastal Resilience Project in Viet Nam. The assignment entails building and maintaining strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, and policy advocacy. Concrete tasks may include research, writing, editing, human resource management, and event management, as needed. More specifically:

2.1.Strategic partnership building and resource mobilization strategy

As a member of the CCE team, the International Intern is expected to contribute to the formulation of new projects and mobilize resources in the area of coastal resilience. S/he will focus on the following tasks:

• Contribute to the formulation of CO programmes/projects in the area of coastal resilience to translate UNDP’s priorities into local interventions. This will be done in close consultation and collaboration with government counterparts, stakeholders, and UNDP technical staff/ advisors in Viet Nam and in regional offices and headquarters;
• Maintain and develop partnerships with government institutions, development partners, the private sector, and civil society;
• Support the implementation of UN and CO partnerships and resource mobilization strategies;
• Analyze the political and development context of Viet Nam, identifying new sub-project/program ideas and formulating new projects based on UNDP’s strategic goals, Viet Nam’s needs, and donors’ priorities.

2.2.Management and implementation of projects

The International Intern will function as part of the UNDP programme team responsible for project implementation, backstopping UNDP's overall support and quality assurance work for ongoing projects in the area of coastal resilience, by conducting, as relevant, the following tasks:

• Support UNDP Programme Analysts to manage the projects assigned to her/him, including annual and quarterly work-plans, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation of the assigned projects;
• Support project activities through research and analysis, formulation of ToRs, and drafting summaries of lessons learnt and aggregate reports on activities, outputs, and outcomes, including reports for donors as needed.
• Support UNDP Programme Analysts in planning standard evaluations and impact assessments of the programmes/projects, and follow up to ensure implementation of recommendations;
• Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned, making suggestions to incorporate those lessons into programme/project implementation and monitoring;
• Make contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice, including relevant national, regional, and/or global networks;
• Contribute to the preparation of briefing notes and updates for UNDP Programme meetings (e.g. Programme Executive Board), workshops and relevant events.

2.3.UN reform agenda and advocacy

The International Intern will function as part of the UN family in Viet Nam which commits to the Deliver as One (DAO) approach to enhance impacts of UN support in the area of coastal resilience, by conducting the following tasks:

• Participate and contribute to the activities of the UN system programming, including the UN Results Group on Climate Change and Environment.
• Support the UN and UNDP’s efforts to advocate and engage in policy dialogue, including by contributing to policy-driven research and reviews, preparing briefing notes or concept papers in collaboration with UNDP and project technical staff.

The International Intern will contribute to implementing the UN and UNDP Viet Nam resource mobilization strategy. Through the assignment, the selected International Intern will enhance technical expertise in the subject areas, build a professional network with development and government of Viet Nam partners, and improve analytical and organizational skills.

• Knowledge in any of the following areas is an asset: insurance markets (especially in developing countries), inclusive insurance, infrastructure investment, natural capital
• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, and the ability to work effectively in an international environment
• Good organizational and analytical skills, initiative, and sound judgment
• Ability to work with minimum supervision
• Good computer skills