Background

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UNDP Somalia Head of Communications, the Communications and Research Intern will assist with communicating the work of UNDP Somalia and researching the issues covered by its mandate.

Duties and Responsibilities

Support creation of blog posts, op-eds, feature stories, social media posts and other communications materials:

  • Work with colleagues across UNDP Somalia to identify opportunities for blog posts, stories, etc
  • Research background information and conduct interviews to help with producing blog posts, stories etc
  • Produce drafts of blog posts, stories, etc
  • Proof-read and edit public-facing materials
  • Maintain a database of statistics relevant to UNDP’s work and achievements

Identify best practices in communications and new ideas;

  • Research the work of other UN agencies, INGOs, businesses and individuals to identify great examples of communications materials and advocacy campaigns that can be adapted by UNDP Somalia, including examples of social media, data presentation, videos, photos and other storytelling and use of third-party online platforms for communications
  • Suggest ideas for new approaches to communications that could be piloted by UNDP Somalia
  • Support adaptation of these ideas and use of these platforms by UNDP Somalia

Support to donor reporting;

  • Maintain database of UNDP Somalia’s achievements per project and per donor
  • Help prepare presentations of UNDP’s achievements for individual donors and other audiences
  • Support to the updating of factsheets and other promotional materials
  • Support the creation of data visualizations using Piktochart and similar commercial products

Assistance with the transition to UNDP’s new website content management system and maintenance of social media pages;

  • Transfer of information and creation of new pages on the new UNDP website
  • Proof reading, editing and uploading of photos to the new site
  • Uploading and labelling of videos and photos to UNDP Somalia’s Youtube/Flickr accounts as well as UNDP HQ’s photo database

Support to projects, events and day-to-day operations;

  • Provide support as needed to UNDP Somalia’s national poetry project, women’s media project, regional communications hub and other communications initiatives, including, but not limited to, research, writing and admin support
  • Support the procurement of consultants and other admin required for individual projects and the general functioning of the communications section

Other communications tasks as may be required by the ever-changing needs of a UN office handling many different projects and issues;

  • In consultation with supervisor taking into account where possible an intern’s specific skills and interests

Competencies

Core Competencies: 

Innovation

Ability to make new and useful ideas work: Adapts deliverables to meet client needs

Leadership

Ability to persuade others to follow: Proactively seeks and recognizes contributions of others

People Management

Ability to improve performance and satisfaction: Appropriately involves team in different stages of work and decision-making

Communication

Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform: Expresses information and views with adaptive reasoning and appreciation for complexity and variation

Delivery

  • Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement: Takes responsibility for addressing critical situations and delivering core value

Technical Functional: 

Advocacy

  • Competency Definition: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Building Strategic Partnerships

  • Competency Definition: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Client Orientations

  • Competency Definition: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Job knowledge

  • Competency Definition: Implement & Manage: Exercises skills and knowledge independently, demonstrating ability to manage self and team responsibilities, in area of work

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

  1. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (Master’s degree or equivalent);
  2. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);
  3. 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.

In addition:

  • The university must be accredited.

Experience:

  • None needed, but skills in writing, photography, videography, graphic design and/or social media production will be an advantage

Language requirements:

  • Fluency in English - written and spoken is required

Availability?and duration:

Availability: Immediate

Duration:

  • Internship assignments vary in length according to the availability and academic requirements of the intern, as well as the needs of UNDP. However, duration is from six weeks to six months.

Status:

  • Interns are considered gratis personnel. They are not staff members.
  • Interns may not be sought or accepted as substitutes for staff to be recruited against authorized posts.
  • Interns may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.

Third-party claims:

UNDP is not responsible for any claims by any parties where the loss of or damage to their property, death or personal injury was caused by the actions or omission of action by the interns during their internship.

Interns’ Expenses:

Interns are paid a stipend of USD 175.28/month (65.73 USD/month for part-time positions).

All costs connected with an intern's participation in the Programme must be borne by:

  • The nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students;
  • The student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his/her own arrangements for travel (including to and from the office), visas, accommodation, etc.

Insurance

UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. As interns are not covered under any insurance, including MAIP, they should not travel to hazardous locations in the course of their internship with UNDP.

Applicants for internship must show proof of valid medical insurance for the duty station for which they will work. It must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship which:

  • Requires transportation to the Home Country or Country of Residence for further treatment; or
  • Results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the Home Country, or Country of Residence

Other:

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.