Background

The Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for mobilizing and coordinating effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. 

OCHA's mission is to:

• Mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies;
• Advocate the rights of people in need;
• Promote preparedness and prevention;
• Facilitate sustainable solutions.

The OCHA Regional Office for the Pacific (ROP) is located in Suva, Fiji, with a team of five staff. The office supports 14 Pacific Island countries in emergency response and preparedness through the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT), a unique collaboration of key humanitarian actors that provide assistance across the Pacific Islands. For further information on OCHA ROP, please visit: http://www.unocha.org/rop/.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the OCHA team in inter-agency coordination activities, especially preparedness planning and capacity building initiatives;
• Maintain web and/or other platforms that enable exchange of tools and information with key stakeholders;
• Support the development of information management tools and services, including early warning, baseline information, needs & impact assessments and the development of information products;
• Assess information management capacity in Pacific Island countries and provide recommendations;
• Assist with reporting and analysis on effectiveness of humanitarian situation in the Pacific.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrate commitment to Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)’s mission, vision and values;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of OCHA;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

• Focus on result for the client and respond positively to feedback;
• Consistently approach work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remain calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

This Internship Programme is adminstered by UNDP Pacific Office, therefore UNDP Internship rules and conditions will be followed.

UNDP may accept interns providing the following conditions are met:

Education:

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent).
• Enrolled in a degree programme in a graduate school (second university degree or higher) 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.

Experience:

• Related work experience will be an added value;
• Computer literate in standard software applications;
• Demonstrated keen interest in the work of the UN, and of UNDP in particular, and have a personal commitment to UNDP's Statement of Purposeand to the ideals of the UN Charter; and
• Demonstrated the ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Language:

• Proficiency in English and normally at least one additional UNDP working language (i.e., French or Spanish);
• Fluency in Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese or Russian is an asset;

How to Apply:

Interested applicant is invited to submit the following documents to http://www.fj.undp.org/content/fiji/en/home/operations/jobs/

• A duly completed “UNDP internship application form” can be downloaded from the link http://www.fj.undp.org/content/fiji/en/home/operations/jobs/;
• A copy of his/her most recent resume or curriculum vitae;
• A letter from his/her university confirming current enrollment and graduation date;
• A copy of his/her school transcript;
• A letter of endorsement 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; and
• A brief paper setting out the reasons why he/she is seeking an internship with UNDP and what is expected from the experience.
• A Medical Certificate of Good Health from a recognized physician. If the intern is expected to travel outside the country of their residence, other than to Europe and North America, the physician must indicate whether he/she is fit to travel and has had the required inoculations for the country or countries to which the intern is to travel.;
• Proof of medical insurance, proof of life/accidental death insurance valid for the location(s) in which the internship will be carried out.

General Internship Conditions:

Duration of Internship

Internship assignments vary in length according to the availability and academic requirements of the intern, as well as the needs of UNDP. However, they will normally last no less than six weeks and no more than six months. Internship assignments 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.

Expenses for interns

Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP. 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.

Interns Insurance Cover

• 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 CIGNA, 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.

Third-party claims

UNDP is not responsible for any claims by any parties where the loss of or damage to their property, death or personal injury was caused by the actions or omission of action by the interns during their internship.

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.

• Interns are considered gratis personnel. They 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.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence