Background

As the lead UN development agency, UNDP supports countries in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP is present in 170 countries around the world and works to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities. The UNDP Nordic Representation Office is located at the UN City in Copenhagen, with satellite offices in Stockholm, Oslo, and Helsinki. Together we work for distributing knowledge about UNDP’s work in the Nordic countries as well as coordinating the partnership with these key donors.

The internship position offers a unique opportunity for insight into UNDP’s work and the chance to gain experience from an international professional environment. We are a small office, and the intern will have the opportunity to participate in an array of different tasks and be positioned to influence the office’s work.

The intern will work out of UNDP’s office at UN City in Copenhagen under the guidance of the UNDP Nordic Office Deputy Director and will have a specific focus on covering Finland and Iceland.

Duties and Responsibilities

As an intern, you will be given fixed assignments, but as we are a small and busy office, you must be comfortable taking on a variety of assignments and be prepared to contribute where and when needed. We would like to find someone who is structured, independent, creative, and takes initiative.

Tasks will include:

  • Conduct analysis of political developments in the country and budgetary decisions
  • Support the development and publishing of communications material through our various social media channels (LinkedIn and X).
  • Support in keeping our UNDP Finnish website up to date.
  • Assist in planning and conducting of public events such as conferences, seminars and report launches.
  • Translate news articles and other texts (Finnish to English and vice versa).
  • Support the preparation of briefing material for seminars, meetings, and international visits.
  • Perform administrative support.

Competencies

 

  • Excellent communications skills in English and Finnish, both written and oral.
  • Strong interest in, and knowledge of, global development and the work of international organisations.
  • Strong social media skills; knowledge of web publication tools and graphic design tools such as Canva is an advantage.
  • Team player; works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals.
  • Good organizational and time management skills.
  • Able to work independently.
  • Knowledge of the UN/UNDP and the Sustainable Development Goals is an advantage.

Required Skills and Experience

Languages:

  • Fluency in spoken and written Finnish and English is required.

Eligibility:

  • Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
  • Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);
  • Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
  • 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;
  • Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

 

Application Process:

Interested individuals must include the following documents when submitting the applications in UNDP job shop (Please note that only 1 (one) file can be uploaded therefore please include all documents in one file):

  • Updated CV as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least two (2) professional references.
  • Cover letter containing a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the internship.

 

General Conditions

  1. In accordance with the UNDP Internship policy, UNDP interns are eligible to receive a monthly stipend which is  transport cost and not salary, with a rate that varies depending on the duty location. The stipend will be paid monthly.
  2. Where an intern is financially supported by an institution, government or third party, UNDP will pay the intern the difference, if any, between the external financial support provided and the applicable UNDP stipend.
  3. Except for the stipend, all other expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern, sponsoring government or institutions.
  4. Interns are not considered staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
  5. The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNDP, but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.