Background

UNDP has developed a holistic and integrated global approach to provide policy and programme support to country offices around Inclusive Political Processes (IPP). For achieving the outcomes of its Strategic Plan (2014 -2017), UNDP promotes a social contract approach that addresses both sides of the state-society relationship, and interlinks assistance to constitution making and reform, support to the political party landscape, electoral cycle assistance, and parliamentary development in both crisis and non-crisis settings.

The Inclusive Political Processes team works to promote resilient state-society relations, focusing on:

  • Institutional development – UNDP works to build the capacities of legislatures, electoral management bodies and constitution-making bodies;
  • Women’s political participation and leadership - UNDP promotes inclusive and participative public institutions by ensuring they have the structure, legal framework and capacity to engage all citizens - particularly women - in the political process, and facilitate women’s participation and leadership in peacebuilding and other political processes;
  • Civic Space – UNDP works to create space for civic engagement, as well as to develop the capacities of a range of civil society actors, including CSOs, women, young people and minorities, both to act as intermediaries in political advocacy and representation and to directly engage in political processes;
  • Individual capacity development and accompaniment – UNDP works with political and civil society actors to develop their process skills, substantive knowledge and procedural skills.

Narrowing the gap between states and societies and increasing people’s trust on the stewardship of their government and advocate for compliance for international norms and standards is the core responsibilities of IPP. In more detail, the work of the IPP team centers:

  • Electoral cycle, institutions and process support, including risk and violence reduction strategies;
  • Constitutional transitions, dialogue and process support;
  • Parliamentary institutions, process and dialogue support;
  • Political party capacity building and dialogue for peace and development;
  • Women political participation, inclusion and leadership;
  • Civil society engagement, advocacy for civic space and inclusion of marginalized groups.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the daily management of the Electoral Policy Specialist and the Gender and Policy Specialist on Gender, Political Process and Peacebuilding, in the Inclusive Political Processes team in UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS), the intern will work on a range of issues related to Inclusive Political Processes, website content management and communication as well as general tasks to support the team.

In particular, the intern is responsible for the following outputs:

  • Support UNDP’s electoral team with the update of the BRIDGE (Building Resources in Democracy Governance and Elections) curricula update. 
  • Support UNDP’s electoral cycle research, initiatives and events
  • Support UNDP on its work on Economic Policy, Gender, the Rise of Extremism and the Path forward for Peace, Rights and Pluralism
  • Support UNDP work and engagement with Faith Based Organizations
  • Conducting other tasks as requested by the IPP team.

Competencies

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Eligibility

Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

  1. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
  2. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);
  3. Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.

Required Skills and Experience:

  • Enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme at the time of application and during the internship in a relevant discipline (social or political sciences, law, international relations, economics, public or business administration, etc.) with a demonstrated interest in democracy promotion, public institutions, good governance and peacebuilding.
  • Exposure to democratic governance agenda, and preferably parliamentary development, constitution-making support, electoral cycle, women’s political participation and/or civic engagement.
  • Experience in research and analysis.
  • Excellent communication and writing skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Experience organizing meetings.
  • Computer proficiency, including working knowledge of MS Office products. Experience managing web portals is an asset.
  • Prior experience with NGOs, UN, or international institutions is a strong asset.
  • Experience working collaboratively in a team structure in a multicultural environment.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English. Second official UN language an asset.

Financial Arrangements:

UNDP does not pay for internships. The costs associated with the internship 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.

The intern will be engaged full-time from 5 June for a minimum period of 3 months, and maximum of 6 months. The intern will work from UNDP’s office in New York. Day-to-day supervision will be undertaken by BPPS IPP Team.

Further Career Opportunities:  

The purpose of internships is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but, as mentioned, to complement an intern's studies.