Background

The UN Reform Resolution tasks UNDP to provide countries with an “integrator function” to accelerate progress towards the SDGs by tackling multiple interlinked and interdependent development challenges. The UNDP Global Policy Network (GPN) draws on expertise globally to provide more effective responses to the complex development challenges countries face in achieving the SDGs and responding to crisis in an integrated and coherent manner. Anchored in the Crisis Bureau (CB) and the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), the GPN has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan, which is aligned with the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

An SDG Integration Team located with the GPN aims to build a coherent and consolidated menu of services (the SDG Integrator “offer”) emphasizing direct short-to-medium-term engagements to respond rapidly to requests from Country Offices for support on national implementation and monitoring of integrated policy solutions, qualitative and evidence-driven analysis for accelerated progress, and knowledge sharing and upscaling of innovative approaches to sustainable development.

Attempts to systematize and codify UNDP’s knowledge architecture started in earnest about two decades ago, and over the years, UNDP’s knowledge architecture has become more sophisticated. The amount of data and information generated within the organization and globally has also increased tremendously over the past two decades.

The current effort toward building a coherent, corporate knowledge architecture aims to embrace a cultural shift that is data driven, tackles complexity, navigates uncertainty and actively manages risk. It also looks to provide a seamless, rapid knowledge sourcing and sharing based on a clear knowledge taxonomy which integrates work around demand from programme countries and highlights integration across policy teams.

The SDG Integration team is hiring for eight (8) Knowledge Interns to support with the optimization of the corporate knowledge architecture, including implementing an updated corporate thematic taxonomy through a rigorous knowledge tagging exercise. This work will feed into UNDP’s wider objectives to evolve the GPN as a seamless knowledge sourcing and sharing platform, with related investments underway on improved knowledge collaboration efforts. The Interns will report directly to the relevant Community Managers in the SDG Integration team and coordinate closely with the thematic teams across the GPN. There will be one intern covering each of the following Signature Solution and enablers thematic areas: i) Poverty and Inequality, ii) Governance, iii) Resilience, iv) Environment, v) Sustainable Energy, vi) Gender Equality, vii) Integration, viii) Health and HIV

Duties and Responsibilities

The eight (8) Thematic Taxonomy Interns will support on the following tasks:

• Systematically map knowledge assets across various corporate platforms, categorizing them by thematic area/s along with knowledge product type and geographic relevance.
• Support with organization and optimization of knowledge assets in SharePoint, Teams, and other relevant platforms
• Tag mapped knowledge assets with the appropriate taxonomy tags across various systems
• Support with development and update of new Topic pages in UNDP’s Knowledge Centre built on Microsoft Viva Topics
• Lead tracking of status of existing and new Topic pages 
• Coordinate closely with relevant Community Managers and GPN thematic teams to ensure work meets quality standards.

Institutional Arrangement

1. The Interns will work under the guidance of the Global Knowledge Advisor of the SDG Integration team and collaborate closely with the Community Managers and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.
2. The Interns will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment.
3. The Interns will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.
4. Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the intern is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones

Competencies

Competencies

Corporate:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Technical:

• Ability to carry out data and information mapping

Communications

• Able to communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a concise and straightforward manner.

Professionalism

• Capable of working in a high- pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent analytical and organizational

Teamwork

• Works well in a team;
• Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
• Focuses on results for the client;
• Welcomes constructive feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

Advanced degree in library science, communications, information science, international relations, or related field is required.

Experience:

• Experience with content classification and metadata development; required
• Professional experience in one of the following and enablers thematic areas: i) Poverty and Inequality, ii) Governance, iii) Resilience, iv) Environment, v) Sustainable Energy, vi) Gender Equality, vii) SDG Implementation viii) Health and HIV
• Proficiency in MS Office set of tools; required
• Experience in library science or information science, desired

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
• Working knowledge of another UN language, desirable

Conditions of internship

Internships within the UN system are subject to following conditions, which the candidates should familiarize themselves with prior to applying:

• UNDP HQ will provide a monthly stipend in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP Internship Policy;
• Any further costs associated with the internship must be borne by the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or by the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his or her arrangements for travel, accommodation and other costs;
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. The Intern must provide proof of enrolment in a health insurance plan;
• UNDP does not provide assistance with travel and/or housing and the Intern will be responsible for obtaining the necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
• 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. The Intern will not be eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of internship or for the six months immediately following the expiration date thereof;
• Interns will need to use their own laptop/notebook. A workstation with wireless internet access will be provided at the Centre’s facilities and supervisory support provided by the Centre staff;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
• UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.

Selected candidates must submit following documents prior to joining:

• Letter from the university confirming current enrolment and graduation date;
• Copy of passport;
• A copy of his/her school transcript;
• Proof of medical insurance including provision for medical evacuation and removal of mortal remains or life insurance and a medical certificate of good health prior to starting the internship.
• A signed UNDP Internship Agreement.

REQUIRED QUESTIONS:

1. Please indicate 1-2 of the following areas which you have the most experience/expertise in: i) Poverty and Inequality, ii) Governance, iii) Resilience, iv) Environment, v) Sustainable Energy, vi) Gender Equality, vii) SDG Implementation viii) Health and HIV