Background

For over five decades, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has worked in close partnership with the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to provide strategic support in crisis prevention and recovery, governance, poverty reduction, environment, and sustainable development. In light of Sri Lanka’s post-conflict economic development trajectory, the drive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda, and, more recently, the shocks to the country due to the Economic Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, the GoSL and UNDP have been working in tandem to address key national development challenges.

Post Context: 

To support the UNDP Country Office (CO) in addressing these complex development challenges. UNDP’s Policy and Engagement (P&E) team consists of several central service functions which cut across the UNDP CO, UN agencies, the Government, and other stakeholders, and facilitate a whole-of-society and whole-of-Government approach: 

? Innovation – Realizing and advocating for UNDP Sri Lanka’s investments in design thinking, experimentation, implementation and integration, whilst providing a platform for innovation through the Citra Social Innovation Lab.

? Communications – Promoting UNDP’s work to external partners, positioning CO visibility, as well as facilitating in-house communications within the CO.

? Partnerships – Scanning horizons for likeminded stakeholders to forge strategic partnerships to advance & accelerate the achievement of the SDGs.

? SDG Policy – SDG Integration among all UN Agencies, Economic Intelligence Analysis, and Innovative Financing Advisory. 

? Gender – Ensure a gender lens on all interventions, considering gender mainstreaming cuts across all UNDP’s project and programmes  

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support research and data analysis on specific thematic areas as required.

• Assist in project implementation, in particular relating to the above-mentioned areas. 

• Participate in partnerships work and support in building a dialogue with development and donor partners. 

• Support the development of new initiatives, partnerships and ways of thinking to promote efficient and effective delivery of programmes, based on research and best global practices.

• Provide coordination support to the team where required, particularly in facilitating and coordinating meetings between government partners, UN agencies, development partners, and the private sector. 

• Support the development of knowledge and sharing processes within the country office by documenting lessons learnt, best practices, case studies and stories, processes and challenges.

• Support other relevant processes and tasks – substantive, coordination, administrative and financial. 

• Support the project team with logistic and organizing requirements to deliver project activities such as project meetings, training programs, workshops, field visits, and other project related events. 

• Perform any additional administrative tasks, including minute-taking and report writing.

• Undertake any other relevant tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies

• Proactive (able to proactively undertake tasks that fall under the TOR)

• Team Player

• Excellent writing skills

• Quick learner

• Good computer skills

• Polite and outgoing

Required Skills and Experience

Applicants to the UNDP internship program must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

(a) Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);

(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);

(c) Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;

(d) Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Family Relationship

A person who is the child or sibling of a UNDP staff member is not eligible to apply for an internship at UNDP. An applicant who bears any other family relationship with a UNDP staff member may be engaged as an intern, provided that they must neither be assigned to the same work unit as the staff member nor be placed under the direct or indirect supervision of the staff member. 

Medical Insurance

Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP and must provide a medical certificate of good health before starting the internship. UNDP will not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern. Any costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern.

Stipends, insurance, and interns' expenses 

Where an intern is not financially supported by any institution or program, such as a university, government, foundation, or scholarship program, a stipend intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station, must be paid by the receiving office.  

Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, passports, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of: 

(a) The nominating institution, related institution, or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or 

(b) The intern