Background

Since rolling out its operations in Fiji in 2003, the UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) has assisted more than 100 projects, with almost a total grant amount of US$5 million. Projects range from national level policy contributions, institutional strengthening and community-led initiatives on environment conservation, adaptation work, capacity development as well as livelihoods and resilience building efforts. 

The UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme operates its strategic term under the guidance of the Global Environment Facility’s four-year cycle and therefore SGP embarks on its new four-year cycle for Operational Phase 7 in 2019.

Under the supervision of the National Coordinator, the SGP Fiji intern is required to work with the SGP team in the effective implementation of the programme work plan with certain specific responsibilities.  The SGP Fiji team includes the National Coordinator and Programme Associate and oversees the facilitation of at least 50 open projects and anticipates another 15-20 new projects by year end, 2019 through its grant management programme.

SGP Fiji office transitioned from its sub-regional portfolio in the past three years and therefore still needs work to fully sort and put in order some aspects of the transition. 

While much of the work required of the intern is to provide support to the SGP staff, specific duties such as updating filing and the development of project information sheets will be also prioritized for this placement.  

The internship placement is for a duration of 6 months, with two main objectives;

  • Contribute to the work deliverable(s) of SGP Fiji in a supportive role and by providing necessary assistance to the staff.
  • Enhance skills sets, provide work experience, training and development for the intern.

Duties and Responsibilities

The SGP Fiji Intern is expected to be on placement for six months to support the the team in the following duties;

  • Update filing requirements through sorting and cataloguing.
  • Maintain some good level of visibility for Fiji SGP, through social media.
  • Create project profiles (factsheet format).
  • Maintain photo database of SGP Fiji.
  • Work with Programme Associate on any areas that can strengthen Administration and Finance work for SGP.
  • Assist designated NGOs, CBOs and community groups in identifying, formulating, monitoring and evaluation of projects and formulation of lessons learned.
  • Assist with the updating of the database.
  • Assist the National Coordinator in the organization of stakeholder workshops and project development sessions for NGOs, CBOs, and other stakeholders to explain the programme, and to assist designated potential applicants in making the link between local environmental problems and the global concerns of the GEF focal areas and operational programs.

Key Deliverables

  • Projects filing, and profiles updated on database.
  • SGP social media updates and visible.
  • Monitoring and evaluation analysis and report to NC.
  • Internship end of placement report.

Competencies

  • Minimum work supervision required and flexible when working in team environment.
  • Excellent verbal and written communications (verbal and written) and networking skills.
  • Interpersonal and negotiation skills.
  • Understand basic environment, climate change issues and community development needs.
  • Consistent with work productivity.
  • Good work ethics and integrity

Required Skills and Experience

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

  • Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
  • Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);
  • 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.
    • Persons in the development-related fields, preferably with a focus on environment/ natural resource management.
    • Demonstrated interest in environmental issues and demonstrated academic ability in at least one of the GEF focal areas.
    • Demonstrated interest in community-oriented environment and development programmes, and in project design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.
    • Excellent command of written and spoken English required
    • Ability to think and work logically and work precisely with attention to detail
    • Ability to write clearly and concisely
    • Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members of different national and cultural backgrounds.
    • Willingness to travel to and stay some or more days at project sites mostly in the Interior.

 

Financial Arrangements:

  • UNDP does not pay for internships. The costs associated with the internship must be borne by the intern or his/her nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students. The intern will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his/her own arrangements for travel, accommodation etc;
  • Further Career Opportunities: The purpose of internships is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but to complement an intern's studies. However, a number of interns, having completed their studies and met the necessary requirements, have gone on to further assignments with the UNDP or elsewhere in the United Nations system.

Application procedures:

All the required documents should be compiled into one file.

The application should contain:

  • Combine all the documents into one file, ideally PDF, to be emailed with your application.
  • Application Materials (Note that only complete applications will be considered):

  • (The successful applicant will subsequently require health insurance coverage.) UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. As interns are not covered under any insurance, including MAIP, they should not travel to hazardous locations in the course of their internship with UNDP. Successful applicants for internship must show proof of valid medical and life/accident insurance for the duty station for which they will work. It must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship 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.
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials;
  • The selection process will consist of interviews and a written test.

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

  • Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme (and graduation date);
  • Letter of endorsement from a senior faculty member who has directly supervised the student in the recent past and who is fully acquainted with the student's performance;
  • Copy of school transcript;
  • A brief statement setting out the reasons why he/she is seeking an internship with UNDP and what is expected from the experience;

Before being offered an internship position, 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 he/she is fit to travel and has had the required inoculations for the country or countries to which the intern is to travel.
  • The successful candidate will be advised of his/her selection within 2 weeks of being interviewed.