Background

CORPORATE BACKGROUND:

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

UNDP is working to strengthen new frameworks for development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. We support countries' efforts to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals, which will guide global development priorities through 2030. The key 2030 Agenda principle of leaving no one behind and stamping out inequality is at the core of everything we do.

UNDP focuses on helping countries build and share solutions in three main areas:

• Sustainable development
• Democratic governance and peacebuilding
• Climate and disaster resilience

In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women, minorities and the poorest and most vulnerable.

INTERNSHIP OFFICE BACKGROUND:
In recent years, the world has witnessed new waves of violent extremism that have taken the lives of many innocent people. Whether based on religious, ethnic or political grounds, these extremist ideologies glorify the supremacy of a particular group, and oppose a more tolerant and inclusive society. This points to two distinct but related challenges for contemporary societies: the rise of violent extremism and its spread across national borders and the governance of diverse and multi-cultural societies.

Radical behavior in itself is not necessarily a problem. Non-violent radical behavior, especially if undertaken purposively in the political or economic sphere, can help to promote positive change. A danger arises when radical movements start to use fear, violence and terrorist activities to achieve their ideological, political, economic or social aims; it is then that radicalization turns to violent extremism.

Research to date has highlighted a complex combination of drivers that can move individuals or groups from a state of grievance to mobilization, often shaped closely by local and contextualized dynamics that create a permissive environment for extremist groups. However these drivers are still poorly understood, with a vast array of explanations generally provided that include: underemployment, marginalization, perceptions of injustice, human rights violations, social-political exclusion, corruption and sustained mistreatment of certain groups

In 2016 the UNDPs Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH) commissioned analytical papers to provide a more nuanced understanding of the risks and preventative measures for violent extremism in South and South-East Asia. Both pieces identified a number of context specific factors for each sub-region. Alongside this UNDP is developing a Country-Based Briefing Note series for PVE in the region. Six countries have been drafted, but another four need to be written and the entire series edited, packaged and disseminated.

UNDP BRH also seeks to examine the gendered motivations in extremism. Given that social media is the key tool used by extremist to mobilize support for extremist ideas including those that calls to restrict the role of women in the public space, UNDP BRH plans to analzyse trends from social media data of selected countries to understand trends and relationship between extremism and gender. Findings will be shared with selected CSOs in the region to find solutions on ways to address the changeless identified by the research.

Given the localized drivers of extremism it is critical communities be given the opportunity to develop their own positive narratives to counter the influence of violent extremists. Over half a century of psychological research illustrates when communities lack opportunities to create positive identities, they are more likely to adopt identity frames that rely on discrimination and derogation of other groups.

UNDP BRH’s initiative on Preventing Violent Extremism is part of a larger stream of work which focuses on Sustaining Peace in the Region. A study on conflict trends in Asia Pacific is being carried out and a need exists to link the research work on Violent Extremism with the one on conflict.

The project has three outputs that will be implemented at both the regional and country level in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand:

1. Regional network of practitioners that conducts research, holds forums and develops policy recommendations for preventing violent extremism in Asia established;
2. National policies and programmes on violent extremism developed and implemented within a human rights and gender equality framework;
3. Strengthened capacities of communities to promote peace, tolerance and respect for diversity.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern will assist the Governance and Peace Building Advisor at the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Hub in the following duties and responsibilities:

Competencies

• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
• Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
• Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal oriented mind-set;
• Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
• Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Highly organized, detail-orientated, and able to think critically on relevant issues;
• Ability to work under pressure and balance multiple tasks;
• A demonstrated ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and produce concise content;
• Ability to take initiative and work independently;
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities and plan ahead;
• Demonstrates commitment to UN’s mission, vision and values.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

• Currently in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree; or
• Currently enrolled in a Master’s degree; or
• Have graduated no longer than 1 year ago from a master’s degree or equivalent studies.

Field of study: political science, conflict resolution, international affairs, humanities  or equivalent.

• Knowledge of the preventing violent extremism or conflict prevention is required;
• Event organization and/or communications experience are required

IT skills:

• Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
• Experience with web-based applications and websites

Language skills:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required;
• Knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

INTERNSHIP CONDITIONS

• UNDP internships are not remunerated. All expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern or her/his sponsoring entity;
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• Interns are responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
• Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
• Interns must provide proof of enrolment in health insurance plan;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
• Interns are expected to work full time but flexibility is allowed for education programmes;
• Interns need to obtain financing for subsistence and make own arrangements for internship, travel, VISA, accommodation, etc.

NOTE: If selected for the position, interns are requested to provide a letter from university confirming current enrollment and graduation date, a copy of school transcript, a letter of endorsement from a professor, a medical cerficate of good health, a copy of medical insurance coverage during internship assignment in Thailand, and a copy of passport.