Background
The UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) team in New York provides overall strategic oversight, guidance and quality assurance, management support and broader regional analysis, including global issues.
The UNDP RBA Directorate is seeking a highly qualified graduate student to engage as an RBA Directorate Intern to support the establishment of an effective documentation system for the Directorate. The intern will assist by supporting the planning process for the organization’s staff meetings, strategic meetings, and task teams. The intern will also be expected to support the implementation of a qualitative monitoring system to track all the Directorate tasks. The intern will be expected to perform other complementary duties as required by the Supervisor/RBA Director.
The intern will be supervised and report to the RBA Special Assistant. The internship is for a maximum of 6 months. The internship not paid (however stipend is provided) and is full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours) and expected to work all days at UNDP offices.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Intern will be responsible to:
- Take meeting minutes and routinely store them on the shared drive.
- Maintain and regularly update calendar and tasks of the Special Assistant for the Directorate.
- Maintain monthly tasking log of Directorate meetings and events.
- Develop a recurring and clear line of communication with the different teams regarding Directorate events and meetings.
- Collaborate with staff of country offices and other HQ units in maintaining a system to ensure timely submission of documents destined for the Director and/or the executive office and provide feedback to the special assistant.
- Engages in complex policy analysis at the request of the Special Assistant on focal issues and briefing topics.
- Manage the implementation of a qualitative monitoring system to track all Directorate activities.
Expected Deliverables
- Provide minutes within 24 hours of meetings. Keep and maintain a ‘minutes’ folder on shared Directorate platform,
- Work with the Directorate Executive Assistant to maintain a color-coded calendar (separate from the one she directly handles for the Director) of events and meetings,
- Tasking log to keep track of deadlines, follow-ups, and general to-dos of Directorate requests and events. Populate and keep log up to date,
- Regularly follow up with teams on quarterly events. Circulate table and ensure it is completed and always updated,
- Stay in constant communication with and remain available to country offices/Headquarters units to ensure meeting of deadlines and submission of documents. Review the documents (if requested) and return with edits/feedback,
- Either grant personalized access to tasking logs or create a system checklist to make sure documents are getting drafted in a timely manner, sent to be edited, and submitted to the special assistant,
- Long-term; conduct research on topics/events relating to briefing documents (speeches, talking points, etc.).
Competencies
General:
- Able to take initiative and work independently, with minimum supervision,
- Highest standards of integrity, discretion, and loyalty,
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, communication, and administrative skills,
- Proven ability to manage diverse and complex tasks, with tight deadlines,
- Commitment to the UNDP vision, mission, and strategic goals.
Communication Skills:
- Speaks and writes clearly 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 the audience.
Teamwork:
- Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals,
- Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others,
- Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
- Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher in Economics, African Studies, History, Social Science, International Development, Development Studies or other relevant fields),
- Have graduated with a university degree (as described above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one year of graduation.
Experience:
- Have demonstrated the ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.
- Preferably some relevant experience in international development or related area; Knowledge of the UN system is an advantage,
- Excellent analytical skills are required and experience designing infographics is an advantage.
- Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages
Languages:
- Fluency in oral and written English is required,
- Knowledge of French is a major asset.
Intern conditions:
- UNDP internship programme does not provide a salary or remuneration for the internship,
- UNDP offers a modest monthly stipend to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station,
- All other expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern, sponsoring Government, or institution,
- UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship,
- 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,
- The intern must provide proof of enrollment in a health insurance plan,
- Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.