Background

UNDP Amman Regional Hub, primarily provides UNDP Country Offices in the region with easy access to knowledge through high quality advisory services and technical support based on global applied research and UNDP lessons learnt.

The second priority is to provide regional thought leadership, build partnerships and promote regional capacity building, which allow UNDP, governments and other development partners to identify, create and share knowledge relevant to solving urgent development challenges.

More concretely, the work of the Amman Regional Hub includes the following:

• Policy Research & Analysis;
• Programme Development & Technical Backstopping;
• Strategic Policy Advice & Advocacy;
• Capacity Development & Training;
• Knowledge Services;
• Communications.

For UNDP, gender equality is primarily a matter of human rights.  It also recognizes the role of gender equality and women’s empowerment as a driver for sustainable development.  UNDP believes that unless women and men are able to fully realize their rights in all spheres of life, human development will not be advanced.  Recognizing that gender equality is underpinned across the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNDP advocates for the role of gender equality as an accelerator and integrator in any efforts to advance the SDGs implementation at the regional level as well as country level. Accordingly, gender equality and women’s empowerment are integrated into every aspect of UNDP’s work in supporting countries through a range of programmes and projects. 

In recent years, UNDP’s key contribution to regional level gender equality advocacy has been demonstrated in the following areas:

• Supporting women’s economic empowerment;
• Integration of gender equality perspectives in development planning;
• Promoting gender-responsive access to justice;
• Addressing gender-based violence prevention;
• Increasing women’s political participation;
• Promoting women’s inclusion and leadership in early recovery and peacebuilding.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Gender Team Leader in the Regional Hub in Amman, and working closely with the Governance Advisor in the Regional Hub,  the intern will support the delivery of activities and undertake advocacy and coordination in the following main areas:

The Intern will undertake the following tasks:

• Map ongoing and /or planned gender equality initiatives at the regional and national levels associated with service delivery and public administration;
• Search and update available country-level sex-disaggregated data in Public administration and decision-making in Public Administration, building on previous Gender Equality and Public Administration (GEPA) research conducted in the region, including for input into a report on  GEPA in 2020;
• Identify where public administration across the region uses different classifications and advice on how to harmonise this for improved SDG reporting;
• Support the analysis of national and regional trends in data and tracking systems for the 2020 Report and in support of SDG reporting;
• Create country specific summaries on the structure and the scope of public administration and record national priorities on gender equality in public administration, as they may exist;
• Identify potential national and regional actors and agencies for future collaboration on gender equality in public administration;
• Focus on countries in the region selected for special attention in the 2020 report;
• Work with countries likely to participate in the gender seal for the public sector, ensuring that country offices and local partners understand what is required and sharing best practice where possible.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Strong sense of collaborative work, excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Keen attention to detail;
• Excellent analytical and research skills;
• Interest in the Arab States region and possibly some background in researching the region.

Communication:

• Speaks and writes clearly, concisely and effectively;
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately;
• Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
• Tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience;
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise;
• Is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda;
• Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position.

Planning & Organizing:

• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;
• Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required;
• Allocates appropriate amount of time and resource for completing work.

Creativity:

• Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas;
• Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things;
• Not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• Field of studies in Development Studies, Gender Studies, Social or Political Science, Public and International Relations would be desirable;

Experience: 

• Experience in data collection and analysis in the field of social or economic development fields;
• Interest in and preferably some prior experience with working in a developing country context;
• Strong commitment to promoting gender equality, excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Good command in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
• Available to start end May 2020.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English Language is required. Arabic Language is desirable. 

Application procedure:
The application should contain:

• Brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the post;
• Current and complete CV in English;

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.
Candidates who are selected for must submit the following documents:

• Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme;
• Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out. Selected intern must have medical and life insurance.

UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.

Working arrangements:

• As of 1 January 2020, Interns may be given a stipend according to UNDP Internship Policy, if it is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government foundation or scholarship programme. A stipend intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station. The stipend will be paid on a monthly basis and part-time internship arrangements are prorated accordingly.
• Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of the internship. UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship. Interns must provide proof of enrollment in health insurance plan.
• Interns are expected to work full time, but flexibility is allowed for education programmes.
• The intern is 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 are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
• The purpose of the internship 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.
• The intern will be evaluated at the end of the contract.

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.