UNDP Jobs - 94638- Virtual Mission Approach Technical Intern

Virtual Mission Approach Technical Intern

Location :

home-based

Type of Contract :

Internship

Starting Date :

06-Nov-2020

Application Deadline :

28-Oct-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Intern

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 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

In the context of the COVID-19, UNDP has adapted its business model to be able to support countries to prepare, respond and recover from this crisis while maintaining its regular operations globally in more than 170 countries and territories. As governments started to put in place a series of actions to face the pandemics, such as social distance and shelter in place measures, UNDP responded by moving the majority of its personnel’s status from ‘in-office’ to a ‘telecommuting’ one, suspending any in-person mission until further notice.

Now, as the world is entering into the recovery phase, UNDP is supporting countries to ‘Build Forward Better’, considering green recovery an essential part of the new normality. This will include the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the implementation of nature-based solutions at a scale. In addition, UNDP launched in September 2019 its Greening Moonshot, setting an ambitious target of GHG emission reduction from UNDP operations of 25 percent by 2025 and 50 percent by 2030.

This will imply considerable adjustments of the business model, building the capacities and enabling conditions to prioritize remote support and deployment. The design of projects and implementation support (ie. inception, troubleshooting, participation to steering committees, monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, etc.) for the large Nature, Climate and Energy (NCE) portfolio are at the core of the activities that UNDP will need to test, adapt and formalize for the implementation of a ‘virtual mission approach’. The approach will be designed to maintain and improve the rigor and high standards of support from staff involved in the NCE portfolio at the regional and HQ level.

SparkBlue (https://www.sparkblue.org/), the recently launched UNDP Global Policy Network’s platform, already offers opportunities for online engagement. The platform was built to allow UNDP staff to collaborate across the international development landscape and will be a tool to support aspects of the virtual mission approach across the organization.

UNDP is seeking an English-speaking intern to support collection of lessons learned, and best practices to implement a ‘virtual mission approach’ within the project’s cycle for the Nature, Climate, and Energy portfolio. The intern will use the information collected to formulate guidelines and management recommendations.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide support to the Task Team, on research and collection of barriers and obstacles, case studies, lessons learned, and best practices from across UNDP, other UN agencies and any other relevant stakeholder to implement a ‘virtual mission approach’. This will include the conduct of interviews with Regional Technical Advisors, Country Offices staff, Programme Associates, and other stakeholders having tested innovative “virtual missions”.

Assist during SparkBlue’s testing of virtual mission spaces and collect lessons learned.

Collect needs for processes adjustments to better align the needs of virtual missions and deployments for different phases of the project cycle and develop adequate management recommendations. These recommendations will be designed to create an enabling environment for RTAs and other UNDP staff involved in the NCE portfolio support to efficiently conduct virtual missions.

Expected Tasks:

Formulate a questionnaire and conduct interviews with key personnel to collect experiences implementing virtual engagements. Specific aspects include:
- Successful virtual events;
- Barriers and obstacles;
- Case studies and best practices;
- Recommendations for processes adjustments;
- Innovation
Support the task team during the test of SparkBlue spaces for virtual missions and capture the learning of the process
Support the task team to develop Guidelines with case studies and best practices to implement a virtual mission approach for the different types of missions and audiences within the project cycle. This includes the identification of hybrid or irreplaceable in-person missions.
Support the task team to develop a series of recommendations to management to adjust processes to better align with online/remote needs for the different phases of the project cycle

Key Outputs:

Interview guidelines (delivery on 10 October 2020) for electronic consultations on the main aspects to consider when applying a virtual mission approach regarding:
- Successful virtual events and identified causes of success;
- Risks and barriers and mitigation measures;
- Case studies and best practices;
- Recommendations for processes adjustments;
- Innovative options.
Support in the coordination of at least 5 virtual missions during the assignment (delivery on 20 November 2020)
A report on lessons learned from the testing of a virtual mission space in SparkBlue- (delivery on 20 November 2020)
Guidelines based on the results of consultations and complementary research, with case studies and best practices to implement a virtual mission approach to the different types of missions and audiences within the project cycle. This includes the identification of hybrid or irreplaceable in-person missions (delivery on 29 January 2021)
A list of recommendations to management to adjust processes to better align with online/remote needs for the different phases of the project cycle (delivery on 26 February 2021)

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;

Professionalism:

Works toward creative solutions by analyzing problems carefully and logically – inspires and fosters innovation;
Has a dynamic, positive and adaptive attitude towards work-related challenges, bringing innovative and effective solutions to them;
Facilitates meetings effectively and efficiently;
Resolves conflicts as they arise;
Sets priorities, produces quality outputs, meets deadlines and manages time efficiently;
Highly organized, detailed oriented.

Communication

Writes and presents clearly and convincingly.

Client Orientation

Maintains strong relationships with partners and clients.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

A bachelor’s degree in communication, digital media, engineering, international relations, environmental science or other related expertise areas

Experience:

Experience engaging a wide range of stakeholders for innovative thinking;
Knowledge about and demonstrated interest in nature, climate and energy matters;
Experience in organizing and moderating international events is an asset;
Experience with the UN system or a related organization is an advantage;
Experience with working in developing countries;
Experience and knowledge of corporate social media-based platforms/tools, and experience in managing web-based platforms (Desirable).

Language skills:

Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
Experience writing reports in English is an asset

Conditions:

Interns may be given a stipend per month in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP Internship policy, which applicants should become familiar with prior to signing an UN Internship Agreement Form . Where an intern is financially supported by an institution, government or third party, UNDP will, subject to the rules of such institution, government or third party, pay the intern the difference, if any, between the external financial support provided and the applicable UNDP Stipend.
UNDP/BPPS/SDGI accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship;
All the expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern, sponsoring government or institutions;
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.

Candidates who are shortlisted for an interview must submit prior to the interview the following documents:

Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme.

Only a successful candidate will be required to submit the following documents:

A copy of the applicant’s most recent resume or curriculum vitae;
A letter from his/her university confirming current enrollment and graduation date;
A copy of his/her school transcript;
A letter of recommendation from a professor;
A signed UNDP Internship Agreement;
A Medical Certificate of Good Health;
Proof of medical insurance including provision for medical evacuation and removal of mortal remains or life insurance;
Copy of passport and working visa for the United States.