Background

UNDP’s Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH), New Partnerships Team is seeking a highly-qualified graduate student to engage as an intern to support the implementation of the Russia-UNDP Partnership Framework Agreement, signed on 23 January 2015. The Agreement is aimed at implementation of development projects in other countries with the focus on the CIS countries through the Russia-UNDP Trust Fund for Development (TFD) with initial funding of $25 million from Russia over the next four years, as a mechanism for financing and a tool to ensure sustainability and efficiency of projects/programmes.

The TFD envisages funding priority projects that enable sharing of knowledge and expertise as well as synergies with projects implemented by the Russian Federation in recipient countries on a bilateral basis, including investment projects and programs.

The TFD may provide financing to UNDP knowledge management and capacity building projects, developed in partnership with and using the knowledge, experience and expertise of Russian ministries, agencies, think tanks, universities and NGOs involved in international development cooperation.

The main goal of the activities is to support capacity building on knowledge transfer of Russia as a donor and to achieve sustainable, scalable development impact in UNDP programme countries through the programmatic promotion of several mechanisms of expertise transfer.

The intern will join the Russia-UNDP Partnership Team located in Moscow (supported and supervised by the New Partnerships and Emerging Donors Team Leader in the UNDP IRH) to be provided with guidance on the assignment followed by travel on mission to the UNDP CO in one of the countries in the region (Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan or Serbia) in accordance with the detailed terms of reference.

The aim of the internship will be to enhance the theoretical knowledge of the intern through substantive engagement with sustainability practices and policies of the organization while assisting with the initiatives and plans that are already in place and those that are in the pipeline.

During the assignment the UNDP will provide a framework by which students from diverse academic backgrounds may be assigned to UNDP offices, where their educational experience can be enhanced through practical work assignments; expose them to an international environment; expose them to work of the organization with the objective of deepening their knowledge and understanding of UNDP goals, principles and activities; and provide UNDP offices with the assistance of qualified students specialized in various professional fields.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the UNDP IRH Project Manager based in Moscow the intern will be acquainted with the UNDP work, in particular, the activities under the Russia-UNDP Trust Fund for Development and the regional project funded by the TFD.

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Officer in the UNDP CO and the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the intern is expected to perform the following tasks supporting implementation of the project(s) funded by the Russian Government:

• Conduct research in the thematic priority areas that is determined jointly by the supervisor and the intern;  
• Compiling best practices, lessons learnt, experiences and stories on key thematic development areas;
• Preparation of informational briefs and notes on issues outlined under task 1.
• Provide support to the UNDP Programme cluster’s seminars, workshops, conferences, primarily on the project(s) funded by the Russian Government, where applicable.
• Support the team’s day-to-day operations and other ad hoc tasks.

At the end of the internship, a research report in the thematic priority areas selected will be expected.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism; Demonstrates ethics and integrity.

Functional Competencies:

• Strong analytical and writing skills;
• Good organizational skill, ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Good communication and ability to work in a team;
• Demonstrated interest in the work of the United Nations, and of UNDP in particular; 
• Demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and sensitivity to differing opinions and views;
• Proficiency in the MS Office applications.

Required Skills and Experience

Interns are selected on a competitive basis in accordance with the minimum qualifications required:

Education:

Enrollment in a Graduate Programme (Master) in the field of international development, economic and trade development, local/regional development, public administration, international relations, or other relevant field.

Language skills:

Written and spoken proficiency in English and Russian;
Knowledge of languages of the CIS countries is an asset.

Experience:

Work and volunteer experience in the field of international development, economic and trade development, local/regional development, public administration, international relations, or other relevant field, is an asset.

All applications are reviewed and the eligible candidates are selected on the basis of a CVs, a motivation letter, and, when needed, an interview. Due to the Donor requirement, the position is open for the Russian citizens only.

Conditions

Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP and expenses related to stay in Moscow, Russia are not covered (this includes travel to/from the duty station (Moscow, Russia), accommodation, insurance, etc.)

The costs associated with the latter 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. related to the internship in Moscow, Russia.

UNDP will not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern during its internship with UNDP Partnership Team in Moscow. Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship in the duty station (Moscow, Russia) and must provide a medical certificate of good health prior to starting the internship.

Any costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern. For applicants which are neither nationals or residents of the duty station, the insurance must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship duration which:

•    Requires transportation to the home country or country of residence for further treatment;

•    Results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the home country, or country of residence.

The internship foresees up to 12 weeks travel to the UNDP CO in one of the countries listed above and costs incurred by interns in their official travel at the UNDP requests will be reimbursed under the project budget as per UNDP rules and regulations (costs of their travel to/from the UNDP CO, medical insurance and reduced daily subsistence allowance in the UNDP CO) throughout the period of mission.

Internship in the UNDP is available for a period up to 3 months. Applicants must state their period of availability.

UNDP COs as host organizations in countries will provide interns with working space, computer, fax, copying machine, other equipment, transportation (local travel to the project(s) sites), tools and materials as well as IT&communication and utility services within the period of their assignments.

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.

Application Procedure:

Interns are selected on a competitive basis. Qualified candidates are requested to send the following application documents grouped in a single PDF file as the system allows to upload maximum one document.

The application should contain:

• Brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the position;
• Current and complete CV in English;
• Preferred country(ies) of the mission during an internship.

Selected candidates will be requested to submit official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme and copy of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out. Due to large number of applications received, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

Other relevant Information

• Interns cannot apply for any UN vacancies 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;
• Interns may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
• Interns are considered gratis personnel. They are not staff members.

The intern must keep confidential any and all unpublished information made known during the course of the internship and not publish any reports or paper on the basis of information obtained except with the written approval and authorization of UNDP.

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.