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, carried out at HQ, Regional, and Country Office levels, 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 and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

 The Effectiveness Group assists UNDP and its partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. It seeks to do so by enabling UNDP and others to be more innovative, and knowledge and data-driven by identifying, testing, learning, sharing, and institutionalizing what works. It acts as a hub on quality UNDP programming, all aspects of results-based management and development performance monitoring and analysis, South-South cooperation, and global effectiveness partnerships.

 Drawing on the comparative advantages of UNDP in strengthening country capacities to manage and coordinate development cooperation, the Effectiveness Group within the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support coordinates the Secretariat of the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) a coalition of more than ninety members including donor and partner country governments, foundations, multilateral and civil society organizations. IATI seeks to address challenges facing a range of development stakeholders in the sharing and use of information on development cooperation resources. It was launched at the Accra High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (2008) and since September 2013, UNDP has co-hosted the IATI Secretariat in a Consortium together with UNOPS (which leads on financial management and logistics) and UK-based NGO Development Initiatives (which administers the development of the IATI Standard as well as IATI’s website, tools, and technical support). UNDP leads day-to-day management of the Secretariat and outreach and engagement with IATI stakeholders, and provides substantive support and policy advice to IATI’s governing bodies, including its annual Members’ Assembly and its Governing Board.

 In 2019, IATI members approved a Strategic Plan (2020-2025) that lists the strengthening of the IATI community, as well as the initiation of a combination “Working Groups” and “Communities of Practice” model to promote knowledge-sharing and peer-learning around the publishing and use of IATI data, as key priorities. What this means in practice is that IATI would like to build on its existing, but relatively decentralized, community of practitioners (currently more than 400 people in its Discuss platform) to establish a stronger knowledge-sharing infrastructure and technical tools to facilitate access to guidance products, promote interactive online learning opportunities, and support collaboration to strengthen the impact and quality of IATI data worldwide.

 As such, IATI, supported by UNDP as Coordinator of the IATI Secretariat and in consultation with DI, will construct a digital platform that could serve these aims, with an overall objective of strengthening the initiative’s impact on improving the transparency of development and humanitarian resources worldwide.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Outreach and Partnerships Specialist, and under the day-to-day guidance of the Community Facilitator and working with various team members from within the IATI Secretariat, the ‘IATI Community Platform intern’ will focus on the following:

 Platform Management and Communications (70%):

 ·       Build ongoing and relevant content on IATI’s new Community Platform, and make sure the flow of information between IATI’s communities of practice is streamlined, working closely with colleagues from across the IATI Secretariat. This could include, for example supporting engagement of practitioners through online consultations, surveys and challenges;

• Act as a focal point in the day-to-day management of IATI’s online communities of practice / community-platform of practitioners, including through virtual trouble-shooting, supporting onboarding of new members, synthesis of knowledge / lessons learned, etc.; or facilitating cross-collaboration between communities, etc.;
• Support the development of digestible, targeted e-mail updates (“Community Snapshots”) to flag pertinent updates and opportunities for engagement;
• Help drive active engagement through IATI’s Community Platform and Communities of Practice by, for example, supporting communications campaigns, calls to action, etc.

 Logistical / Event Support (20%)

 Provide logistical support to various events organized under the auspices of IATI, including (virtual) workshops, Community of Practice meetings, webinars, training sessions, etc.;

• Provide Secretariat services for IATI Working Groups, as assigned.

 Policy and Training Materials (10%):

 ·       Design and develop training and guidance materials that to help members  better understand the full potential of the Community Platform and the COP-concept. For example by drafting ‘how-to’ / FAQ-documents or promotional materials;

• Under the supervision of senior team members, contribute to development of policy / practice products such as issue briefs, discussions papers, blog posts and practice notes, etc.;

  ·    

Competencies

Competencies:

 ·        Excellent organizational, event planning, and digital communication skills. Attention to detail and proven ability to work independently with            limited supervision and under tight deadlines;

• Proven skills in community-building, with track record in producing (online) knowledge products such as newletters, blogs etc.;
• Strong service and team-work orientation; evident cultural sensitivity and ability to work in a fast-paced multi-national environment;
• Demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment to learning; and
• Commitment to UNDP vision, mission, and values and knowledge of UN work environment an advantage.

Required Skills and Experience:

Eligibility:

Applicants to UNDP internships must at the time of application meet one of the following academic 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.
• be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

In addition to meeting the requirement above under eligibility, the preferred fields of study for this internship is in development related field such as economics, public administration, public policy, or international relations/international development studies.

Experience:

• Required:

• Strong track record of producing knowledge profucts (e.g. webinars, blogs, think pieces, discussion papers, etc.) and excellent online research skills;
• Demonstrated experience delivering projects under tight deadlines with competing commitments, especially those including input from multiple stakeholders or groups;

• Desirable:

• Previous experience in the development and humanitarian sectors;
• Previous experience building / managing (virtual) communities;
• Experience working in / with developing countries;
• Skills in graphic design and video production;
• Advanced excel and database management skills.

• Assets:

• Knowledge of, or direct experience working with transparency of development cooperation data and/or other development cooperation issues;

• Previous experience working with the United Nations or an international initiative.

Language skills:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Competency in other UN language(s), especially French and / or Spanish, is a strong asset.

Working arrangements

UNDP will provide a monthly stipend during the assignment. As this is a home-based internship the intern will be responsible for providing his or her own laptop and office space.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE/ HOW TO APPLY

THE APPLICATION SHOULD CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING UPLOADED AS ONE FILE:

• Current CV
• Original text of up to 500 words addressing the following question: Why is transparent, open data on aid and other development cooperation flows important for achieving countries’ national development goals and / or the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

Conditions of internship:

Internships within the UN system are subject to following conditions, which the candidates should familiarise themselves with prior to applying:

• Starting from January 2020 interns will receive stipends according to UN rules and regulations.
• Any further 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 arrangements for travel, accommodation and other costs.
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. The Intern must provide proof of enrolment in a health insurance plan;
• UNDP does not provide assistance with travel and/or housing and the Intern will be responsible for obtaining the necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
• The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment within the UN System, but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship. The Intern will not be eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of internship or for the six months immediately following the expiration date thereof;
• Interns will need to use their own laptop/notebook.
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
• UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months

Selected candidates must submit following documents prior to joining:

• A duly completed UNDP Internship Application Form
• A signed UNDP Internship Agreement
• Copy of updated CV/resume
• Official letter from the university confirming current enrolment and graduation date;
• Copy of passport/national ID card;
• A copy of his/her school transcript;
• Letter of endorsement/recommendation from a Professor
• Proof of valid medical/accident insurance including provision for medical evacuation and removal of mortal remains) for the duty station for which they will work;
• A signed UNDP Internship Agreement.