Background
The United Nations Development Programme, UNDP Brazil, offers a selected group of outstanding graduate-level students the opportunity to acquire direct exposure to the opportunity to work in a successful multi-cultural international organization.

The internship programme for the recently-created Communication Unit is designed to complement development-oriented studies with practical experience in various aspects of multilateral technical cooperation, international studies, international development and inclusive growth.

Objectives
The purpose of the Communication Unit Internship Programme is to provide an opportunity to make substantive contributions to the office’s work, mostly by providing support to the Communication Team in its daily activities and in the accomplishment of the goals and tasks that are part of the Country Office Communication Strategy. This internship opportunity does not lead to further employment with UNDP. Its goal is to offer the intern the opportunity to learn, gather experiences and complement his/her studies.
Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of the internship. Interns cannot apply for posts during the period of internship. Should an offer of employment be envisaged, a 3-month break, from the end of the internship, must be respected.

Venue
Internships take place at the UNDP Country Office, in Brasilia, Brazil.

Status
Interns are not staff members. Interns may not be sought or accepted as substitutes for staff to be recruited against authorized posts. Interns may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.

Length
Internship assignments vary in length according to the availability and academic requirements of the intern, as well as the needs of UNDP and are available on a part-time and full-time basis throughout the year, depending on the availability of meaningful assignments and the needs and capacity of offices to receive and supervise interns. However, for 2011 interns at UNDP Brazil Office will be between six months and one year.

Financial Issues
Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP. The 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 own arrangements for travel, accommodation etc.
All costs connected with an intern's participation in the Programme must be borne by:
• the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students;
• the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his/her own arrangements for travel (including to and from the office), visas, accommodation, etc.

 
Insurance
UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. As interns are not covered under any insurance, including MAIP, they should not travel to hazardous locations in the course of their internship with UNDP.
Applicants for internship must show proof of valid medical and life/accident insurance for the duty station for which they will work. It must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship which:
• requires transportation to the Home Country or Country of Residence for further treatment; or
• results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the Home Country, or Country of Residence.

Under the guidance and supervision of the Communication Unit, the incumbent will be responsible for the following activities:

- Assist the Communication Team in the maintenance of UNDP’s website and social media accounts; 
- Translate documents, presentations, news articles and press releases into English-Portuguese (and vice-versa) and into Spanish-Portuguese (and vice-versa); 
- Gather news articles on themes related to UNDP’s mandate and UNDP projects; 
- Assist in the compilation of media clippings; 
- Support in the organization of events; 
- Assist in the management of press contacts; 
- Assist in the creation of reports on the website statistics;
- Assist in the preparation and update of logs and reports of the Communication Unit activities; 
- Provide logistical and administrative support to the Communication Team; 
- Perform other duties as required.

Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills; ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment with full respect for diversity. Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensibility and adaptability. Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with other UN Programmes, Funds and Agencies.

Professionalism: Ability to manage processes, maintain accurate records, interpret/analyze a wide variety of data, and identify/resolve data discrepancies and activity problems.
Planning and Organising: Demonstrated effective organizational skills and ability to handle work in an efficient and timely manner.

Commitment to continuous learning: Initiative and willingness to keep abreast of new trends in international development. Technological Awareness: Proficiency in various MS Office applications and other IT applications.
Communication: Ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively orally

Review Criteria. Besides meeting the minimum eligibility requirements, the main criteria for the review of candidates for selection as interns are his/her:
• ability to fulfill the requirements of the terms of reference; and
• academic qualifications and experience, if any.

Accountability

Unsatisfactory performance or failure to conform to the standards of conduct set out above may lead to termination of the internship, for cause, at the initiative of UNDP. A two-week notice shall be given in such cases.
Any serious breach of the duties and obligations which, in the view of the Administrator, would justify separation before the end of the notice period.

The intern will reimburse UNDP for financial loss or for damage to UNDP-owned equipment or property caused by him/her, if such loss or damage:
• occurred outside the performance of services with UNDP; or
• arose or resulted from gross negligence or wilful misconduct or violation or reckless disregard of applicable rules and policies by the interns.

Interns are selected on a competitive basis. The following minimum qualifications are required:

- Candidates must be enrolled in a degree programme in a graduate school (second university degree or higher) in one of the following areas: Communications, Journalism or International Relations at the time of application and during the internship (if a candidate is graduating before the internship period begins, they are no longer eligible); or

- have completed at least four years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of a degree, if pursuing their studies in countries where higher education is not divided into undergraduate and graduate stages; 

-  not have graduated prior to the beginning of the internship.

They are also expected to demonstrate a keen interest in the field of development and on UNDP mandate areas.
Portuguese must be the candidate’s mother tongue. Fluency in English is also required. Working knowledge of Spanish is an asset.

An interest in global mobility; adaptability to varied physical and other environments; a desire to work with and gain the confidence and respect of people with different language, national and cultural backgrounds.
Respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and the UNDP Statement of Purpose.

Supervision
UNDP makes every effort to maintain the highest standards with regards to the supervision, orientation and training of interns, in order to make their time at UNDP a valuable experience. Offices are responsible for providing appropriate supervision and guidance. A supervisor must be identified for the period of the internship.

Further Career Opportunities

The purpose of internships is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but, as mentioned, to complement an intern's studies. However, a number of interns, having completed their studies and met the necessary requirements, have gone on to further assignments with the UNDP or elsewhere in the United Nations system.

Subsequent Employment
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.

Should an offer of employment be envisaged, a 3-month break, from the end of the internship, must be respected. Interns cannot apply for posts during the period of internship.

The selection process will consist of a written test and interviews.

Application
Interested students must submit the following required documents:

- Updated Résumé /CV (in Portuguese)
- Motivation/Cover letter (in Portuguese)
- a letter of endorsement in English or Portuguese, addressed to UNDP from a senior faculty member who has directly supervised the student in the recent past and who is fully acquainted with the student’s
performance, confirming current enrollment and graduation date
- A text with 300-400 words (in English) answering the following question: "How do you think the empowerment of people can contribute to development?"
- a duly completed and signed “UNDP internship application form”, with all this information below:

1. Name of Applicant: ______________________________________________________

2. Present University or Institutional affiliation: _________________________________

3. Area of study: ___________________________________________________________

4. Degree expected: _______Masters ________Doctorate __________Other

5. Date degree will be granted (Day/Month/Year) _______________________________

6. Briefly explain your reasons for applying to the UNDP Internship Programme.
Please include specific objectives and expected benefits of the internship

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

7. Requested dates for Internship
(UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months)

From: __________________ To: __________________

8. Preferred hours for Internship (please check one)

_________Full-time (40 hours per week)

_________Part-time (please specify the hours requested and why below):


9. Statement of understanding of the conditions of the Internship

I understand that, should I be accepted as an intern in UNDP, the following conditions will apply:

a) Status: Although not considered a staff member of UNDP, I shall be subject to the authority of the Administrator and the authority delegated by him to the Heads of Bureaux and Offices. I understand that I am not entitled to the privileges and immunities accorded by member states to UNDP, its officials and staff members.

b) Financial Support: I shall not be paid by UNDP and must make my own arrangements for living expenses. Travel costs to and from the duty station and living accommodation are also my own responsibility or those of the sponsoring institution.

c) Medial Health and Life Coverage: UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs or fatality arising from illness or accidents incurred during the internship; therefore, I must carry adequate and regular medical and life insurance. I will be covered by the following health and life insurance during the internship period (your application will not be processed unless you provide this information!).

Medical: ____________________________________________________________________

Life: ______________________________________________________________________

d) Passports and Visas: I am responsible for obtaining necessary passport and visas when required. UNDP will issue only a letter stating acceptance of an individual as an intern and the conditions governing the internship.

e) Confidentiality and Publication of Information: As an intern, I will respect the confidentiality of information that I collect or am exposed to at UNDP. No reports or papers may be published based on information obtained from UNDP without the explicit written authorization of the Head of Bureaux or Office.

f) Employment Prospects: The UNDP Internship Programme is not connected with employment and there is no expectancy of such. Interns cannot apply for posts advertised internally to UNDP staff during the period of internship.

Signed: _________________________________ Date: _____________________

For submission: Click "Apply Now". After filling the fields and clicking in "Submit Application", you MUST attach these documents in the next page. Only applications submmited on time will be examined.

Due to the volume of applications received, receipt of applications cannot be acknowledged individually. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.