Background

Albania has made important steps towards establishing a democratic state, functioning market economy, maintaining a stable economic growth, and achieving human development. Nevertheless, the implementation of social policies for the inclusion of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, remains problematic. In order to support improved social inclusion, UN Agencies have engaged in implementing “Leave No-One Behind” (LNB) Project, which pursues the following goal: Vulnerable persons and groups are empowered to have equal access to public services and opportunities and to have a voice in public decision-making affecting their lives. The project’s first phase (2017-2021) is designed to:

•  strengthen the vulnerable population to request and receive adequate social services from local authorities that support their social inclusion,
• help municipalities to effectively manage the provision of social services and promote social inclusion, and
• support national institutions to implement their policy framework for providing social services and adequately fund social services. Governance and gender equality will be the project’s cross-cutting issues that are mainstreamed throughout outcomes under a human rights perspective.

The project’s target groups who will indirectly and directly benefit from improved social services, are the marginalized populations of Albania, with children and women often being the most vulnerable, and especially persons with disabilities, Roma and Egyptians. The improvement of their social inclusion will be supported by interventions at macro level (central authorities and services such as the Albanian Institute of Statistics), at meso level (municipalities and civil society organizations) and at micro level, actively involving the project’s target groups into the project’s implementation. The project will cover all of Albania, by improving social service provision in all 61 municipalities; specific geographic foci will be targeted by reacting to specific needs and challenges in selected municipalities.

The project’s implementation is the responsibility of the four UN agencies UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA, who will cooperate with state actors from central and local level, with civil society organizations and directly with target groups.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Coordinator the incumbent will provide support to the project team by completing the following tasks:

• Assist the team liaising with stakeholders of social service providers;
• Support to research activity (collaboration between LNB and Worchester University) with translations and activities alike;
• Assist the team in activities of civil society organisations related with the research purpose;
• Support the visibility and promotion through social media and other media channels;

Deliverables:

• Field visits in Civil Society Organisations and public bodies providing services for people with disability;
• Provide date and translation for research purpose undertaken by the team of Worchester University in collaboration with LNB Programme;
• Participate in activities organized by civil society organization (Workshops, presentations, conferences, promotion etc.) related to research topic;
• One report on internship activities prepared and submitted.

Competencies

• Have a keen interest in the work of the UN and the UNDP and demonstrate a commitment to its statement of purpose and to the ideals of the UN;
• Understand disability issues and interact professionally with individuals of differing backgrounds;
• Ability and desire to work in a team;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Excellent organizational and communication skills;
• Strong research skills and ability to identify relevant information;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
• Ability to work under tight deadlines;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Detail-oriented way of working;
• Innovative and creative approach to tasks;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: a) be enrolled the last year in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or b) have graduated with a university degree (a secondary or higher academic degree programme) at least 2 years from this announcement, in a relevant discipline (Social Sciences, Foreign Languages, International relations or other relevant fields);

Experience:

• Understanding of specifics of the international organizations, particularly UN/UNDP and its tasks and mandate, sharing UNDP’s goals;
• Ability to conduct advanced internet search and work with multiple documentation sources to extract required data and information [literature review];

Skills:

• Excellent working skills in both Albanian and English languages;
• Computer literacy in standard office software applications.

Learnings:

The intern will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in in-house training opportunities as applicable;
• Learn the structure, mechanisms, policies and practice areas of the UNDP;
• Strengthen his/her effective writing.

How to Apply:

The candidate should apply online through the Job Site website by submitting his/her CV accompanied with motivation letter.

Candidates must submit following documents:

- a duly completed UNDP internship application form; www.un.org.al/sites/default/files/Application for Interns.doc

- Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme or a diploma taken not later than 2 years from this announcement;

- a copy of your school transcript;

Kindly note that selected intern will be required the following:

- 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; (Can be obtained from a Family Center (State one), free of charge)

- proof of medical insurance valid for the location(s) in which the internship will be carried out;

Financial Issues:
Internships within the UN system are unpaid and subject to conditions the applicant must get familiar with prior to signing his/her internship agreement.
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.

UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.
UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship.
Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
It is important to note that interns are responsible to arrange for their own visa and residence documents, and need to plan for these well in advance.

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.
More information available at: http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/rbec/en/home/about_us/jobs/internships/

More information on UNDP internship available at: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/jobs/types-of-opportunities/internships.html

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.