Background

CORPORATE BACKGROUND

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

UNDP is working to strengthen new frameworks for development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. We support countries' efforts to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals, which will guide global development priorities through 2030. The key 2030 Agenda principle of leaving no one behind and stamping out inequality is at the core of everything we do.

UNDP focuses on helping countries build and share solutions in three main areas:

  • Sustainable development
  • Democratic governance and peacebuilding
  • Climate and disaster resilience

In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women, minorities and the poorest and most vulnerable.

INTERNSHIP OFFICE BACKGROUND

The UNDP Seoul Policy Centre for Knowledge Exchange through SDG Partnerships (USPC), established in 2011, represents UNDP in Korea, works with Korea on international issues, and shares Korea’s development experiences with other countries through global knowledge exchange. Through ‘SDG Partnerships’ in three thematic areas – i) governance, ii) resilience, and iii) development cooperation, USPC acts as a facilitator of global knowledge exchange on innovative and tested-and-proven policy solutions in strategic areas of expertise. USPC’s global knowledge exchange works as a vehicle for the ROK-UNDP collaboration on “creating new solutions, building collaboration platforms, and sparking new partnerships and instruments for development.”

The Centre’s outreach and partnerships work is an integral component of USPC’s programmatic work, and aims to enhance the visibility and recognition for USPC, UNDP and its SDG partnerships by raising awareness and promoting dialogue and cooperation on the SDGs both within and outside of Korea among state and non-state development actors. 

USPC offers a small group of outstanding final year undergraduate, and graduate students, the opportunity to acquire direct exposure to UNDP’s work and gain technical knowledge and experience in international development and multilateral cooperation.

For more information on USPC’s work, please visit the website: http://www1.undp.org/uspc

Duties and Responsibilities

No

Duties and responsibilities

% of time

1

Under the guidance of professional staff, the intern will support the Centre’s work related to public information and outreach. Specific tasks may include:

  • Implementing the Centre’s outreach strategy, including public information and knowledge management. Target audiences include Korean and international counterparts, including UNDP HQs and Country Offices, the development community in Korea, and the general public including students;
  • Facilitating and strengthening engagements and substantive exchange of knowledge among Korea, UNDP, and developing countries on key development issues.
  • Supporting communications work through web content management, social media postings, media outreach, and other public information work. 
  • Drafting and designing various communication materials and knowledge products.
  • Production of visual advocacy materials including videos, newsletters, brochures, reporting documents, and promotional items.
  • Translating publications, web and social media content, and other materials from English to Korean and vice-versa.
  • Taking notes during events, meetings and conference calls.
  • Maintaining files and databases relevant to outreach and partnerships work (e.g. photos, videos, contacts of reporters and private sector partners).
  • Performing liaison support and administrative tasks as necessary in the day-to-day office operation.

 

      55%

2

Under the guidance of professional staff, the intern will support the Centre’s development cooperation and partnerships work, including the following:

  • Working with Korea on the global development agenda, including the engagement of non-traditional development actors, such as the private sector including corporations and young entrepreneurs, for achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
  • Conducting research on issues related to private sector partnership and development (e.g. SDG-aligned business strategies and solutions of the Korean businesses and youth-led startups, SDG financing trends, UNDP country-level projects).
  • Supporting the design and implementation of pilot projects and partnership activities for sharing Korea’s innovative solutions for SDGs with developing countries.
  • Supporting the organization of UNDP meetings and events, such as webinars and conferences on youth, civil society and private sector engagement.

 

      35%

3

Other:

  • Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed.

      10%

Competencies

  • Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
  • Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
  • Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal oriented mind-set;
  • Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
  • Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
  • Strong interest and training in drafting and editing documents;
  • Demonstrated interest in the field of development;
  • Demonstrated research and analytical capacity;
  • Administrative skills in the organizing of meetings and events;
  • Proven ability to manage diverse and complex tasks, with tight deadlines;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

  • Currently in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree; or
  • Currently enrolled in a Master’s degree; or
  • Have graduated no longer than 1 year ago from a bachelor’s or master’s degree or equivalent studies.

Field of study: social sciences (e.g. international development, international relations, law, sociology, political science, public administration, economics, commerce), communication and media, journalism, public relations, or equivalent.

IT skills:

  • Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
  • Proficiency in using creative design and editing software (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere) and social media.

Language skills:

  • English required;
  • Knowledge of Korean and other UN languages is an advantage.

INTERNSHIP CONDITIONS

  • UNDP will not pay interns for internship but will provide a stipend in the amount of KRW 1,028,635 monthly in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP internship policy; all other expenses connected with it will be borne by me or my sponsoring Government or institution;
  • UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
  • Interns are 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 must provide proof of enrolment in health insurance plan;
  • 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;
  • Interns need to obtain financing for subsistence and make own arrangements for internship, travel, VISA, accommodation, etc.
  • Interns will accrue leaves at a rate of 1.5 days per month and will be granted off-days on official UN holidays for the Republic of Korea. If exceptional leave arrangements are necessary, requests must be submitted to and be approved by the supervisors in advance to ensure adequate office arrangements.