Background

The United Nations SDG Action Campaign (SDGAC), (formerly known as the UN Millennium Campaign), is a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, established to empower and inspire people across the world to take action in supporting their government with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. By building multi-stakeholder partnerships and leveraging cutting-edge communication technologies, it bridges the gap between elected officials and their constituencies to ensure a transparent dialogue, especially the most marginalized and vulnerable populations. The UN SDG Action Campaign builds upon its previous mandate as the UN Millennium Campaign, which was established in 2002 to support peoples’ participation in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and holding their governments accountable to their commitments.

The Campaign has supported the development of the new global sustainability agenda through initiatives such as MY World and the World We Want. 10 million people participated in MY World 2015, making it the largest global survey of our time. The survey gives people a platform to express to world leaders what they want for their future. To help provide context for these big data initiatives, the Campaign coordinates a storytelling portfolio, drawing upon the power of new technologies and innovations to share the stories of the SDGs through the eyes of individuals around the world. These include United Nations Virtual Reality, the Humans of MY World, and partnerships with New Media influencers and influential media companies. Building upon its mandate to amplify the voices of those who are often unheard, particularly the world’s most vulnerable, these initiatives seek to show the human story behind development challenges, allowing people with the power to make a difference have a deeper understanding of their world, and hopefully to act to make a difference.

Since 2015, the United Nations SDG Action Campaign has coordinated United Nations Virtual Reality Project, using the power of immersive storytelling to inspire viewers towards increased empathy, action and positive social change. The films provide a deeper understanding for those living in the most complex development challenges, catalyzing urgency for those most in danger of being left behind if the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not met. It also highlights those already creating solutions to inspire a sense of shared responsibility and collective action, however small. It seeks to capture the common human experiences that individuals face and showcase UN solutions and results that are both uplifting and enduring. It illustrates partnerships with government especially at the local level, and shows how the UN helps meet national priorities through sustainable development. By sharing these VR experiences the SDG Action Campaign is hoping to inspire change that improves peoples’ lives and creates the world we all want.

The Humans of MY World seeks to tell the real life stories and top priorities of MY World voters around the world. This photo narrative project works with street photographers to promote across social media, and curate into exhibitions. Communication support also includes blog promotion and other social media campaigning around international days. 

The Campaign also works with new media agencies and influencers to amplify calls to action, and ensure the SDGs are reaching new audiences. 

 

Duties and Responsibilities

The UN SDG Action Campaign New Media Intern is expected to work in conjunction with the New Media team to help capture and promote the stories of citizens who are taking action on the ground. They will support the SDGAC team with marketing; event coordination and logistics; the drafting of communications such as invitations, social media, and blogging related to these events as well as the promotion of partnership successes; and documentation of important activations such as during the UN General Assembly (UNGA). They will support on rolling out communications projects, promoting new films and potentially guiding workshops with young people.

Applicants should have a background in photography and/or videography, social media engagement, and blogging. The candidate is expected to be active on social media, motivated and proactive in providing substantive support to the campaign, and should have the ability to serve as a brand ambassador for the campaign when necessary. The candidate is expected to have an excellent knowledge of English. The addition of another UN working language is considered as an asset. Any experience with virtual reality, website development or graphic design will also be considered a strong asset. Previous experience supporting social good initiatives through volunteer work will be considered a strong asset.

Under the guidance of the UN SDG Action Campaign Project Coordinator, the New Media Intern will support the new media team in the following tasks in close collaboration with other team members: 

  • Coordination of events and logistics including the drafting of correspondence, guest list management, vendor follow up to ensure timely delivery of signage, catering, A/V, other production needs as necessary

  • Drafting of Communication materials such as Social Media for all of the Campaign’s active accounts, blogs press materials; toolkits; presentations

  • Supporting with live communications and visual coverage of events on social media and communications channels

  • Researching of new potential partnerships and opportunities to disseminate UNVR content, such as film festivals

  • Role serving as a Campaign brand ambassador at meetings, events and forums;

  • Support to the UNVR and new media team administratively by coordinating equipment, logistics and communications

 

Deliverables:

  • Overall support of  New Media strategy to increase the awareness of the UNSDGAC

  • Drafting of UNSDGAC messaging for social media as well as blog stories

  • Support on logistics for events and administration with Virtual Reality Equipment

  • Support on management of exhibition during UNGA

  • Mapping & tracking of potential advocacy opportunities for existing content for duration of internship

Competencies

Core Competences:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;

  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;

  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

  • Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

 

Functional Competences:

  • Demonstrated ability to interact with individuals of different national and cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes the willingness to understand different views and opinions;

  • Ability to work under pressure, to prioritize and to show a spirit of initiative and a capacity to work in an independent way with limited supervision;

  • Self-management and emotional intelligence;

  • Excellent communication skills;

  • High degree of organization and initiative;

  • Ability to multi-task and work independently;

  • Ability to prioritize and work under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Candidate must be have one of the following qualifications:

    • Be enrolled in a Master’s level pogramme in a related field, preferably in political science or development studiens, from an accredited institution; or

    • Have graduated from a University or Master’s level programme, preferably in political science or development studies and must start the internship within one year of the graduation date.

 

Experience:

  • Experience in social media outreach;

  • Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Access, etc); good knowledge and experience in handling of web based information management systems;

  • High degree of organization and initiative;

  • Ability to multi-task and work independently;

  • Ability to prioritize and work under pressure;

  • Strong inter-personal social skills and ability to work within a team environment as a contributing member.

  • Experience in photography, videography or a related field

 

Language:

  • Excellent knowledge of English;

  • Fluent in one or more of these languages: Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, and Spanish; or any other language is an asset.

 

Expected Duration

September 2017 – February 2017 (New York). Internship will last a maximum of 6 months. Internship is full time or part time. At least a total of 25 hours per week of work and at least three full working days in the office is required. Please indicate availability in application materials.

Conditions

UNDP may accept interns provided the following conditions are met;

Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP;

UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship;

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.

Candidates who are shortlisted for an interview must submit prior to the interview the following documents:

  • Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme.

Only a successful candidate will be required to submit the following nine documents: