UNDP Jobs - 86038- Internship for crisis management tools Crisis Bure

Internship for crisis management tools Crisis Bureau, UNDP

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

01-Aug-2019

Application Deadline :

09-Jul-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

one month

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

two months

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. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work is carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, and forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains.

Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau guides UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery. The Bureau has the responsibility for support to prevention, crisis response, resilience and recovery work under the auspices of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. Crisis Bureau staff provide global strategic advice to UNDP management and technical advice to regional hubs and Country Offices; advocate for UNDP corporate messages, represent UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora, and engage in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. As part of the Global Policy Network (GPN), the Crisis Bureau works in an integrated manner with UNDP’s Development Policy Bureau (DPB) ensuring that issues are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes.

The current revitalization of these functions aims to better capture UNDP’s knowledge, innovation and good practices and lessons learned from country, regional and global experience, drawing from a network of internal and external expertise, in order to address complex problems. To this end, in February 2019 UNDP has re-established its Communities of Practice (CoPs to promote and support knowledge flows within and across the GPN areas of work and enrich UNDP’s global policy and programme functions. One of the areas for re-investment of global CoPs is Crisis Resilience through Prevention, Response and Recovery. UNDP is one of the few players that can operate before, during, and after crisis, with the ability to build on a large network of field presence and global capabilities to operationalize global engagements and engage at multiple levels on emerging priorities. The CoP for Crisis Prevention and Resilience aims to improve programming and delivery on the ground through streamlined real-time advice and practical support

In 2018 UNDP launched its Crisis Response Portal to serve as a dynamic one stop platform providing programmatic and operational guidance tools and services to support UNDP’s crisis response. The Portal was initially developed with the aim to provide UNDP staff in country offices and headquarters the means to prepare for crisis situations and deliver concrete actions on the ground within a few hours of the onset of a crisis. This among others included guidance and tools related to UNDPs Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Immediate Crisis Response, UNDP Crisis Response Packages, deployments and more. During 2019 the portal will be expanded and restructured to cover a broader spectrum of guidance and tools within the thematic domains of the Crisis Bureau to support UNDPs work in crisis contexts.

The Crisis Bureau Country Support Management Team is seeking an intern to support the restructuring and expansion of the Crisis Portal and the identification and systemization of crisis related knowledge tools.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist, Rapid Response and Preparedness and in close collaboration with the Programme Analyst, the intern will perform the responsibilities as follows:

Support the restructuring and expansion of UNDP's Crisis Portal, including:
- Updating and reviewing new content for the portal.
- Contributing with ideas for new content and for optimizing the user experience of the portal.
- Follow-up with colleagues in various Crisis Bureau teams to collect documentation and content for upgraded and/or new sections of the portal.
- Updating (tagging and populating) the portal document library with specific crisis related resources.
Support knowledge systematization efforts on relevant UNDP crisis preparedness and response tools
Prepare and/organize content/material for UNDP trainings.

Perform other duties as requested

The intern is expected to participate as an active member of the team and openly contribute his/her perspectives throughout the internship.

Competencies

Core Competencies:
- Innovation: Ability to make new and useful ideas work
- Leadership: Ability to persuade others to follow
- People Management: Ability to improve performance and satisfaction
- Communication: Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform
- Delivery: Ability to get things done

Technical/Functional Competencies:
- Primary
  - Experience with crisis contexts: Familiar with crisis, humanitarian response and early recovery systems and tools. Knowledge of UNDP’s mandate, methodologies, systems and tools in the area of crisis prevention, response and recovery.
  - Analytical skills: Ability to identify connections between related thematic areas and present information in an integrated manner. Ability to utilize Knowledge platforms to systemize and present information with a user-friendly approach.
  - Knowledge Management: Ability to capture, develop, identify, share best practices and effectively use information and knowledge. Able to think outside the box and propose innovative options.

Secondary:
- Research: Knowledge of strong analytical tools and methods for undertaking substantive research capabilities on crisis response related including the ability to produce high quality reports and knowledge products.
- Technical and IT skills: Excellent information technologies skills required: Microsoft 365 suite, including Microsoft Excel, Word, Power Point, Outlook, Skype for Business. Knowledge of Microsoft SharePoint site administration, website management preferred; use of productivity applications i.e. Microsoft Planner, Slack, Microsoft Team, etc. an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

Required Skills and Experience

Currently enrolled in (a) a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher), in (b) the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent), or (c) 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
Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter
Understanding of criis/conflict prevention/humanitarian related knowledge
Experience with use or development of knowledge tools considered and asset.

Working Arrangement - The intern will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist, Rapid Response and Preparedness within the Country Support Management Team of the Crisis Bureau. The intern will work closely with team members, particularly the Programme Analyst, the Knowledge Management Specialist and other relevant UNDP Teams.

This is a full-time internship (five days a week) based in UNDP New York Headquarters. The duration of the internship is 1 months, with the possibility of extension of up to 6 months. The exact start date will be defined together with the selected candidate, but should ideally be on the 29th of July 2019. The intern will be required to bring her/his own laptop.

These terms of reference may be modified until the beginning of the internship period. Any changes will be immediately communicated to the selected candidate.

Application and selection process - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.