Background

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

UNDP helps countries to build and share development solutions in the following main areas:

  1. Sustainable Development
  2. Democratic Governance and Peacebuilding
  3. Climate and Disaster Resilience

In all its work, UNDP works to ensure the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women, minorities and the poorest and most vulnerable.

Launched in 2005, the UNDP ART Global Initiative – Hub for territorial partnerships is an entry point for all international cooperation actors interested in harmonizing their respective actions in support of national policies for sustainable human development at the local level.

The ART Initiative aims at strengthening and expanding the existing alliance between UNDP and Decentralized Cooperation partners in support of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local level. ART also seeks to strengthen the potential and role of Local and Regional Governments (LRGs) as development partners and to promote the principles of development cooperation effectiveness locally. To this end, ART is collaborating with other UN Agencies and international associations of LRGs to develop tools and to set up enabling environments to support the SDGs implementation process at the local level. For instance, it is collaborating with UN-Habitat and the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments to equip local governance actors with tools and instruments that can assist them in the SDG localization process (see www.localizingthesdgs.org)

In this context, the ART Initiative also promotes the organization of international events and other advocacy activities in order to link and feed local experiences with the international policy arena and vice versa.

In addition, the ART Initiative also promotes Local Economic Development (LED) as a means to advance the localization of the SDGs. Every two years, ART co-organizes the World Forum of LED, as a platform to critically review experiences and assumptions to advance the dialogue and reflection on LED as a vehicle for SDG localization. The Forum provides a space for a critical reflection and aims at promoting creative discussions on how can we do things differently in order to better respond to the key challenges that are presented in the new SDGs and the related 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of ART Initiative Management and team, the intern shall perform the following tasks:

  • Assist in cataloguing information related to local governance and local development, local economic development and more broadly on SDG localization;
  • Draft documents and participate in the elaboration of the ART Initiative’s internal briefing notes;
  • Provide support in gathering and disseminating relevant documentation for UNDP Country Offices and partners (translation, proof-reading, editing);
  • Assist in communication efforts, updating relevant information on the internal tools of communication, as well as websites and other corporate tools of external communication (e.g. knowledge sharing platform, social media);
  • Assist in the organization of international events as the World Forum of Local Economic Development and other events, as well as bilateral and multilateral meetings with development partners;
  • Draft related letters, correspondence and other documents;
  • Assist in updating the list of partners and networks collaborating with the initiative;
  • Support the logistical arrangements for the organization of field missions and travels;
  • Participate regularly in debriefings, staff meetings and others.

Competencies

  • Strong organizational and research skills;
  • Excellent analytical, communication and writing skills;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills;
  • Demonstrated keen interest in the work of the UN/UNDP;
  • Computer proficiency in standard software applications (MS Office, Excel, Word, Powerpoint);
  • Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modelling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of another official UN language, especially Spanish and/or French is an asset.

Notes

Interns’ Expenses/Arrangements:

Please note that interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP. All costs associated with an intern’s participation in the programme must be borne by the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or by the intern, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his/her own arrangements for travel (including to and from the office), visas, accommodation, etc.

Subsequent Employment:

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:

The application should contain:

  • Motivation letter specifying reasons why candidate is seeking the internship and what is expected from the experience;
  • Recent Curriculum Vitae;
  • Official letter from the University confirming enrollment and specifying expected graduation date (for students);
  • Official letter from the University confirming graduation date (for graduates).

(NB: Please upload the above in a single file. Incomplete applications will not be considered)

UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship.

Prior to being offered a Letter of Acceptance for Internship, the selected candidate will have to provide the following additional documents:

  • A Medical Certificate of Good Health from a recognized physician. If the intern is expected to travel outside the country of their residence, other than to Europe and North America, the physician must indicate whether s/he is fit to travel and has the required inoculations for the country to which they are to travel;
  • Proof of valid Medical Insurance cover valid for the duration of the internship programme in Belgium;
  • For applicants
  • who are not resident in Belgium, the insurance cover must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship duration which:

(a)       requires transportation to the home country or country of residence for further treatment;

(b)       results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the home country, or country of residence.

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.