Background

Russia-UNDP Partnership team based in Moscow is seeking highly-qualified graduate students enrolled in a Master’s programme or equivalent to engage as interns in the regional project "Knowledge Management and Capacity Building in Russia-UNDP Partnership" (KM project).

The KM project is funded by the Government of the Russian Federation and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. The project aims to promote innovations in expertise and knowledge sharing between Russia and partner countries through the several mechanisms: providing Russian expertise for short-term tasks in partner countries with the assistance of UNDP Country Offices (COs); secondment of Russian civil servants; internships for students and volunteerism development.

More information on Russia-UNDP Partnership and on the KM project is available at http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/rbec/en/home/about_us/partners/russia-undp-partnership.html

The aim of the internships will be to enhance the theoretical knowledge of interns 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.

The interns will join the Russia-UNDP partnership team and the KM project team, located in Moscow and supervised by the New Partnerships and Emerging Donors Team Leader in the UNDP Regional Centre for Europe and the CIS, to be provided with guidance on the assignment in Moscow and on a mission to the UNDP COs.

Duties and Responsibilities

During the internship with the KM project team and under the supervision of the UNDP 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 (TFD) and the KM project funded by the TFD.

Under the overall supervision of programme officers in UNDP COs and the direct supervision of project managers, the selected interns are expected to perform the following tasks supporting implementation of the project(s):

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

Internships will be arranged to support the implementation of the projects funded by the Government of the Russian Federation and implemented by the UNDP COs including the following:

• Armenia: “Innovative solutions for SDG implementation in Armenia”;
• Belarus: “Promotion of employment and self-employment of the population in small and medium-sized towns in the Republic of Belarus”;
• Kyrgyzstan: “Strengthening capacities for sustainable development finance in the CIS region” (the regional project will be launched early 2018);
• Serbia: “Aid for trade: support to capacities in agro-industrial sector”;
• Tajikistan: “Livelihood improvement of Rural Population in Nine Districts of Tajikistan”

and other projects and initiatives in the respective UNDP COs.

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

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’s or equivalent) in the field of international relations, economic and trade development, local/regional development, international finance, public administration, social sciences, communications, or other relevant fields. Recent Master's graduates (less than 1 year after graduation) can also be considered.

Experience:

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

Language skills:

• Written and spoken proficiency in English and Russian.

All applications are reviewed and the eligible candidates are selected on the basis of their motivation letters and CVs review followed by an interview.

Internship (1 week) in UNDP Partnership Project Support Office (Moscow, Russian Federation)

Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP and expenses related to stay in Moscow, Russia, during a week 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 a student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his/her own arrangements for travel, accommodation, etc. related to the internship in Moscow, Russia.

Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship 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 who 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.

Travel to UNDP Country Offices (2-3 months)

Upon completion of the 1 week internship assignment in Moscow, the internship foresees up to 3 months (minimum 2 months) on mission to one of the UNDP COs.

The costs incurred by interns during their mission to a UNDP CO will be covered by the KM project budget as per UNDP rules and regulations throughout the whole period of internships in a UNDP CO. This includes costs of:

- travel to/from a UNDP CO (air tickets will be provided by UNDP);

- international medical and life insurance valid for the internship duration in a UNDP CO; 

- reduced daily subsistence allowance to cover accommodation in the country and terminal expenses.

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 internship 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;
• List of preferred countries and the projects for internships with justification of the choice;
• Duration and period of availability for an internship.

Prior to starting the internship in Moscow, the selected candidates will be requested to submit the following documents:

• Original of an official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme;
• Original of statement of good health;
•  Copy of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in Moscow (compulsory medical insurance policy or voluntary medical insurance policy are applicable). UNDP will not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern during his/her internship in Moscow.

The selected interns will be responsible for arranging/booking their own accommodation in the country of internship.

Upon return to Moscow and completion of internship, the interns will be requested to visit the UNDP Moscow office for presenting results of internships and to submit the following documents:

•           Internship Report,

•           Research paper in the thematic priority areas, if applicable,

•           Reference/Recommendation letter from a supervisor in the UNDP CO.

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 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.

Due to the Donor requirement, the position is open for the Russian citizens only.

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.

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.