UNDP Jobs - 71364- Support UNDP’s work on SDG16 in the 2030 Agenda fo

Support UNDP’s work on SDG16 in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

03-Apr-2017

Application Deadline :

07-Apr-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 April 2017

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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. With offices in more than 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is uniquely positioned to advocate for transformative change, connect countries to the knowledge and resources they require to promote sustainable human development and to coordinate the efforts of the United Nations at the country level.

The Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) of UNDP has the responsibility of developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. UNDP, through the Governance & Peacebuilding (G&P) Cluster of BPPS, ensures inclusive and effective democratic governance by bringing together its ability to advocate, advise, foster impartial spaces for dialogue, achieve consensus and build institutions.

The ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for the active support of the United Nations system as an important actor of this collective development effort building on the earlier Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). There is a strong demand from governments and stakeholders to translate the commitments in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into reality.

Implementation of the 2030 Agenda will be uniquely complex, requiring a mix of national ownership, flexibility, innovation, political acumen, high quality technical support and a collective, multi-stakeholder effort at all levels in order to become, progressively, a reality. This complexity will be particularly felt in relation to SDG16, to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”, because these dimensions were not part of the MDGs.

In complementing the MAPS process of the UN Development Group (UNDG), for Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support, UNDP will work with Member States at their request, to support progress on building peaceful, just and inclusive societies. This will be done in close collaboration with other UN entities and in line with UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2014-2017 outcomes on voice and accountability, civic engagement, conflict prevention and resolution, recovery in post-crisis situations, access to basic services.

The G&P Cluster of BPPS leads on SDG16, and UNDP’s substantive technical contribution to delivery of SDG16 derives from the four main interrelated work areas of the Cluster:

• Conflict prevention support for the development and application of credible and inclusive national and local capacities for the peaceful settlement of disputes; the strengthening of social cohesion as a deterrence to exclusion and violence, including violent extremism; and the facilitation of consensual approaches to critical development challenges through multi-stakeholder dialogue;

• Rule of law, justice, security and human rights to ensure everyone has access to justice and remedies; to strengthen national systems for the promotion and protection of human rights and help Member States meet their human rights obligations and for people to realize their rights; and to build safe and secure communities;

• Inclusive political processes to improve citizen participation, voice and accountability through electoral processes, parliamentary and political development, constitutional processes, civic engagement, and women’s political participation;

• Responsive and accountable institutions to deliver equitable public services and inclusive development at the central and local levels, with a particular focus on restoring core government functions in the aftermath of crisis and attention to local governance and local development.

Gender, youth and anti-corruption are priorities that cut across these four work streams.

SDG16 is not only a valuable and important aspiration in its own right, it is also an important “enabling goal” for the entire 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. UNDP’s work on governance and peacebuilding is already closely aligned with other UNDP teams leading on climate change and resilience, sustainable development, health, HIV/AIDS and development and gender.

Building on all these workstreams UNDP also aims at facilitating a conducive environment with strong and inclusive partnerships that accompany the offer of a holistic, informed and strategic package of support to SDG16 based on demand, and learning from the experience and feedback of the countries leading this universal agenda.

UNDP focus on SDG16 will initially involve development of tools for mainstreaming SDG16 under the MAPS, to support measurement and reporting on SDG16, the adaptation of participatory tools for policy design, enhancing knowledge, and fostering collaborative multi-stakeholder partnerships for a more concerted policy support approach. This includes support to the Praia Group on Governance Statistics, the facilitation of the Global Alliance for Reporting Progress on Promoting Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, and the establishment of a knowledge portal.

In this way, UNDP will provide integrated support to peaceful, just and inclusive societies, building on existing national and local interest, attention to best-fit solutions, available south-south expertise, and ongoing global initiatives and alliances from a range of actors (Member States, multilateral and regional organisations, civil society networks, young people, private sector, media and academia).

To deliver its work on SDG16, the G&P Cluster is seeking an Intern, etc to support the SDG16 Policy Adviser in the G&P Directorate, and other colleagues working on different aspects of SDG16 delivery.

Duties and Responsibilities

support implementation of the UNDP Project “Advancing the SDGs by Building Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies” by contributing to project proposals and policy briefs, including on SDG16 and its interlinkages with other Goals and Targets.

support development of the Global Alliance for reporting progress on promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies, including work with the consultant leading Secretariat functions for the Global Alliance to deliver country-level work and preparation of global workshops, together with public outreach and communications.

contribute to collaboration from New York to the work of the Oslo Governance Centre (OGC) on SDG16.

carry out a mapping of current G&P Cluster activities supporting implementation of SDG16 targets.

update and maintain a database of interest and activity in SDG16 and associated communications products.

support the SDG16 Policy Adviser in ensuring effective G&P contributions to MAPS missions prep and follow up in relation to Governance & Peacebuilding.

assist in development and design of publicity and communication materials, including contributing to/drafting PowerPoint presentations, speeches, and press releases, as well as developing advocacy strategies for disseminating and raising awareness of knowledge products.

support drafting/editing project proposals, reports and briefs/notes, meeting minutes and ToRs with required information.

conduct other tasks related to the above-mentioned areas of work, as appropriate – including performing the necessary administrative work related to programme management and implementation.

actively participate in learning opportunities and share acquired knowledge / information with programme & project staff.

Competencies

The intern will report to, seek approval/acceptance of outputs from the UNDP Director of the Governance and Peacebuilding (G&P) Cluster within the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS). The G&P Director will take responsibility to guide and mentor the Intern, provide opportunities for the intern to enhance substantive knowledge of dimensions of governance and peacebuilding, particularly related to implementing the Agenda 2030. Day-to-day interaction and guidance will be provided by the SDG16 Policy Adviser in the G&P Cluster. The intern is expected to start the internship in March/April 2017.

According to the UNDP Internship Policy, interns must:

be enrolled in a degree granting academic programme
have completed at least four years of full-time studies
not have graduated prior to the beginning of the internship
Only those students who will return to their studies upon completion of their internship assignments are eligible.

Core Values and Guiding Principles:

Integrity: Demonstrating consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UNDP in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
Cultural Sensitivity/Valuing diversity: Demonstrating an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrating an international outlook, appreciating differences in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Corporate Competencies:

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

Personal Competencies:

Strong oral and written communication skills in English;
Excellent organizational, time management and strong interpersonal skills;
Ability to take initiative, work independently, work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
Ability to gather information quickly, and prepare in various written formats;
Strategic thinking and analytical skills;
Good interpersonal skills and ability to work as a part of a team, sharing information and coordinating efforts within the team
Tactful and responsible.

Required Skills and Experience

Enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme at the time of application and during the internship (if a candidate is graduating before the internship period begins, they are no longer eligible) in a relevant discipline – social or political sciences, law, international relations, economics, public or business administration, etc.
Focus or demonstrated interest in issues related to governance and peacebuilding.

Language:

Fluency in English (written and spoken) is required;
Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

Required Skills and Experience:

Exposure to democratic governance agenda, and preferably parliamentary development, constitution-making support, electoral cycle, women’s political participation and/or civic engagement.
Prior experience with NGOs, UN, or international institutions is a strong asset.
Experience working collaboratively in a team structure in a multicultural environment.
Computer literate in standard software applications.