Background

UNDP’s 2018-2021 Strategic Plan emphasizes the critical links between environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and broader efforts to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP’s Nature, Climate, and Energy (NCE) Team promotes and scales up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas.

The NCE Team works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy.

This multi-billion-dollar portfolio encompasses: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests, Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems, Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Renewable and Modern Energy; Extractive Industries, Chemicals and Waste Management, and Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches. This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning.

In addition to UNDP’s bilateral partnerships on natural capital, environment and climate, UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which includes the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF Trust Fund), the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF), the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF). As part of UNDP’s partnership with these vertical funds, UNDP provides countries with specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services.

The NCE Team is looking for a communications intern to support and shape the implementation of the team’s communications strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the NCE communications team, the intern will help to:

  • shape the NCE team’s social media strategy;
  • research, develop and publish compelling social media content (including stories, videos, gifs, graphics);
  • contribute to brainstorms and ideation for new communications and advocacy campaigns;
  • compile regular analytics reports;
  • keep the NCE editorial calendar up-to-date;
  • participate and contribute to communications task force meetings;
  • create branded templates for the NCE team, such as PowerPoint presentations;
  • prepare communications learning opportunities for team colleagues;
  • draft communications materials and strategies;

map communications opportunities for senior members of the NCE teams.

Competencies

UNDP Core competencies:

  • Communication
  • Delivery
  • Innovation
  • Leadership
  • People Management

Functional & Technical Competencies:

  • Demonstrates drive to achieve results in timely manner and to seek and find solutions to any problems encountered.
  • Demonstrates ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.
  • Ability to convert complex and abstract ideas into simple visual concepts.
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task
  • Demonstrates an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff.
  • Demonstrates an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.
  • Demonstrates an intellectual curiosity and deep desire to learn.
  • Demonstrates a consistent commitment to pro-actively helping fellow members of the Unit and more broadly in their day-to-day activities to the reasonable extent possible.

Additional assignment-specific qualifications: 

  • Solid Understanding of international relations and development

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

To be considered for the position, individuals should meet one of the below criteria:

  • be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher) in the fields of Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Graphic Design, Journalism or related;
  • be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the fields of Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Graphic Design, Journalism or related;
  • have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;
  • be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program

Work Experience & Desired Skillset:

  • excellent English oral and written communication skills;
  • literate in standard programmes (MS office, etc.);
  • ability to use social media tools (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, TikTok, Linkedin, Hootsuite)
  • be social media savvy;
  • know the latest content and platform trends and best practices;
  • know how to write communications and/or content strategies;
  • know best practices in measuring social media analytics;
  • have experience in writing blog posts and stories;
  • know how to design effective PowerPoint presentations;
  • be passionate about nature, climate change, and energy issues;
  • be curious, take initiative and approach new tasks with a can-do attitude;
  • enjoy learning new skills and solving problems;
  • be creative;
  • be reliable and work in an organized manner;
  • enjoy working in a team.

It is an advantage for applicants to have experience in:

  • managing social media channels and engaging with followers;
  • creating videos, graphics, and gifs from scratch;
  • developing visual assets in Adobe Suite;
  • developing excellent presentations.

Conditions:

  • UNDP interns receive a monthly stipend during the assignment;
  • The intern can work from home;
  • The intern is expected to be reasonably flexible with call times as needed;
  • The intern must provide proof of enrollment in health insurance plan;
  • The intern must provide proof of university enrollment;
  • UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
  • 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;
  • Interns are expected to work full-time but flexibility is allowed for education programmes.

Applications:

Please provide the following documents to be considered:

  • CV
  • motivational letter
  • samples showcasing your work on 1) social media content and posts, 2) writing and/or editing, 3) design if applicable (powerpoint, graphics, gifs, reports, videos).

Three shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview.