Background

OCHA Regional Office for Caucasus, Central Asia and Ukraine (ROCCA) covers a region that is highly susceptible to natural and man-made disasters. OCHA ROCCA makes sure that Governments, civil society and international actors are well prepared, so that in the face of slow- or sudden-onset emergencies, the entire humanitarian community joins efforts to assist affected people.

Kyrgyzstan Context

In Kyrgyzstan, OCHA is present through its National Disaster Response Advisor (NDRA), who is based within the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) to support the Government of Kyrgyzstan, United Nations System and the Disaster Response Coordination Unit (DRCU) with emergency response preparedness, early warning and coordination of humanitarian response in the country. To do so, the Kyrgyzstan NDRA works closely daily with wide range of partners, such as the relevant departments of Government institutions, national and international non-governmental organizations, the Red Cross and Red Crescent and the UN agencies, funds and programmes to facilitate preparedness and response coordination efforts. The Kyrgyzstan NDRA is also responsible for undertaking the Secretariat functions of DRCU, to ensure effective inter-agency preparedness and response planning and implementation at national and local levels

Disaster Response Coordination Unit (DRCU)

The Disaster Response Coordination Unit was established in 2008 to enhance cooperation and coordination between Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, United Nations Country Team, Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and other key actors for adequate and effective humanitarian response to emergency situations. It is a consultative-deliberative mechanism whose main purpose is to coordinate humanitarian response to emergencies upon the Kyrgyz Government relevant request and enhance collaboration among DRCU partners and other key actors.  

OCHA, through its Kyrgyzstan NDRA and with overall support from OCHA ROCCA in Almaty and the Resident Coordinator leads the overall emergency response preparedness initiatives within DRCU partners, through supporting Government with Secretariat services.

Under the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidelines, several sectors are active in Kyrgyzstan that also fall under the inter-agency efforts of DRCU. The sectors are designed to support the DRCU in its sector-specific initiatives for both emergency preparedness and response. These sectors include Early Recovery, Education, Emergency Shelter, Food Security, Health, Logistic, Protection, and WASH sectors. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The internship is UNPAID and the Intern will be expected to work part-time (daily work modalities to be clarified during recruitment process) for the duration of four months in support of the Kyrgyzstan NDRA.

The Intern is expected to support the Kyrgyzstan NDRA in managing the day-to-day tasks directly related to the DRCU Secretariat, as well as provide overall support to inter-agency emergency response preparedness work of sectors and individual partner agencies, including those of the Government of Kyrgyzstan, the United Nations System and NGOs.

Some of the specific responsibilities will include:

  • Assist with organization of emergency response preparedness and needs assessment workshops, seminars and round-tables.
  • Assist with organization of simulation exercise to increase level of inter-agency response preparedness.
  • Assist with organization of missions of OCHA ROCCA, e.g.: drafting mission schedules, setting up meetings with national and international counterparts and providing administrative and logistics support as required.
  • Assist NDRA with collection of data from government and other sources to improve humanitarian information management.
  • Provide support to NDRA in fulfilling Secretariat services in support of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, e.g.: setting up meetings, collecting and compiling inputs to agendas, drafting minutes and reports, and providing administrative and logistics support as required.
  • During emergencies, support NDRA with collecting relevant data on damage and needs of the affected population.
  • Support NDRA with arranging needs assessment missions and/or other field missions to disaster-affected areas as required.
  • Support collecting information from all sources for situation reports, updates, and alerts.
  • Assist in drafting and updating country updates and providing other inputs as required by HQ and Regional Office.
  • Work with the UNOCHA ROCCA IM team and DRCU focal points on website update, regular entering data to humanitarianresponse.info.
  • Assist NDRA in issuance of the Individual Contract for IDRL Expert.
  • Other duties as assigned.

At the end of the internship, the ROCCA Head of Office will provide feedback on the job performed, and upon successful completion of the assigned duties intern may request a letter of recommendation.

Learning opportunities during the internship:

The intern will have an opportunity to gain experience in several areas:

  • Humanitarian affairs, disaster preparedness and disaster response
  • Event planning and organization.

Competencies

United Nations Competencies:

  • Integrity
  • Professionalism
  • Respect for diversity
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Planning and organizing
  • Accountability

Required Skills and Experience

Applicant must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

a)     Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);

b)     Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);

c)     Have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.

Experience:

  • Candidates should be highly organized, comfortable managing multiple tasks, able to work independently and meet deadlines
  • Candidates should have strong inter-personal skills

Language Requirements:

  • Candidates must have strong spoken and written Russian and working knowledge of English.

Financial aspects, expenses and medical benefits:

  • The Internship Programme operates on a non-remunerative basis. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or his sponsoring institution or government;
  • UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance for the intern or for any costs arising from accidents and/or illness during the internship period. Applicants are required to provide evidence of adequate medical insurance coverage;
  • UNDP is not responsible for any claims by an intern or third party in the case of loss or damage to property or death or personal injury as a result of actions or omissions on the part of the intern during the internship period.

 Working conditions:

  • During the internship session, interns will be provided with a desk, phone and computer access.

 Further career opportunities with UN:

  • The purpose of the Internship Programme is to complement to the Intern's studies, but not to lead to further employment with UN.  Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship;
  • Interns cannot apply for posts during the period of internship.

Important note:

  • 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.

To apply, kindly upload the following documents online

  • A copy of the most recent resume or curriculum vitae.