UNDP is the UN's global development network advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is a founding co-sponsor of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), a partner of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and a co-sponsor of several other international health partnerships. UNDP’s work on HIV, health and development leverages the organization’s core strengths and mandates in human development, governance and capacity development to complement the efforts of specialist health-focused UN agencies.

UNDP has been acting as interim Principal Recipient (PR) of Global Fund HIV and TB grants in a number of countries in the region, which is an interim arrangement until one or more national entities (government and/or CSO) are ready and able to take over grant implementation. While supporting countries in implementing grants and ensuring timely delivery of services, UNDP also helps develop the capacity of national entities to take over this PR role.

Among the key drivers of the Global Fund’s Funding Model is a transition to sustainable domestic financing of disease responses. This has immediate implications for many middle-income countries with concentrated HIV epidemics, including an end of their eligibility for Global Fund support, or significantly reduced support. UNDP has embarked on direct support to countries in sustainable HIV response financing, chiefly through modelling options under different budget scenarios.

While there has been a significant improvement in the legal environment relevant to HIV in the region, certain gaps persist and they are closely related to the human rights situation of people living with HIV, key populations most at risk of HIV infection and the legal and policy regulatory frameworks that govern national efforts in prevention, treatment, care and support. In cooperation with governments, other UN agencies, international organizations, and CSOs, UNDP works to develop the capacity of national legislators, government offices and CSOs on matters of HIV and the law. Through previous work as follow-up to the Report of the Global Commission on HIV and the Law, UNDP has sought to support and develop the capacity of non-state actors to address the nexus between human rights, laws, and HIV, as well as to foster effective and efficient dialogues and cooperation between governments and non-state actors in this area. Discriminatory laws and practices continue to render key populations at higher risk more vulnerable to HIV infections and compromise their access to prevention, treatment and care services. With criminalization of HIV transmission, drug use, sex work and homosexuality across the region, people living with HIV, people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men for fear of prosecution or violence often do not seek HIV–related services.

The development of government contracting mechanism(s) for non-governmental organizations and implementation of such mechanisms is a critical part of sustainable financing of the HIV response, and builds on the ongoing efforts of the government to support HIV prevention services for key populations. The intern will assist the consultant, who was already hired for conducting a more detailed legal assessment focusing on the regulatory frameworks for social contracting, including the normative framework of the health system at the levels of Federation BiH; Republika Srpska and District Brcko (if/where applicable, also on cantonal levels).  This will include defining the mechanism for government financing of “health NGOs”, an assessment of the existing practice of tender procurement of HIV prevention services through the Republika Srpska and Federal Institutes’ of Public Health, and recommendations on how to address potential legal barriers or gaps in the legal framework to enable the contracting of non-state actors for HIV and AIDS preventive service delivery.
The Intern reports to the UNDP Project Manager for HIV/Aids (Supervisor), and works closely and cooperate with both local and international consultants and support the process of reforming of NGO sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina during his/her engagement, for the period of August and September 2018.

Tasks:

• Support to advocacy for social contracting of NGO’s involved in activities related to support of HIV and other infectious as well as non-contagious diseases infected population Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Further lobbying for provision of higher quality and more transparent system for NGO social contracting on all institutions on all governmental levels for NGO’s involved in activities of helping the drug addicts as well as MSM and SW population .
• Other supporting activities related to advocacy and lobbying would include meeting with decisions makers involved in process of reformation of NGO’s sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina together with the local consultant (tba), assist in organizing the meetings with NGO’s involved in activities related to support of HIV and other infectious as well as non-contagious diseases infected population Bosnia and Herzegovina and discussing the potential initiatives under consultant’s and UNDP PM’s mentorship.
• Closely supporting and assisting the local consultant in all activities of enabling and facilitating the reformation of aforementioned field of NGO social contracting in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Analysing and editing the required documentation.

• Have a keen interest in the work of the UN and the UNDP and demonstrate a commitment to its statement of purpose and to the ideals of the UN.
• Ability to successfully interact with individuals of differing socio-economic, religious and cultural backgrounds both professionally and personally;
• Ability and desire to work in a team;
• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Excellent organizational and communication skills;
• Strong research skills and ability to identify relevant information
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities
• Ability to work under tight deadlines;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Detail-oriented way of working;
• Innovative and creative approach to tasks;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback.
   

Eligibility/Qualifications

Academic requirements:

• Be enrolled in a Master degree programme;

Skills

• Proficiency in English
• Knowledge of local languages would be an asset
• Computer literacy in standard office software applications.

Learnings

The intern will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in in-house training opportunities as applicable;
• Learn the structure, mechanisms, policies and practice areas of UNDP;
• Participate in dedicated trainings and UNDP online learning tools;
• Strengthen his/her effective writing.

How to Apply

The candidate should apply online through the Job Site by submitting his/her CV and motivation letter.

Terms and conditions

• UNDP internship programme does not provide a salary or remuneration for the internship; however, you will gain valuable insight into UNDP and a global network;
• All the expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern or sponsoring institution;
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months;
• Interns are expected to work full time but flexibility is allowed for their education programme;
• The intern is responsible for obtaining 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 with UNDP but to complement an intern’s studies.  Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.

More information available at: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/jobs/types-of-opportunities/internships.html