Background

The United Nations Development Programme, UNDP Brazil, offers a selected group of outstanding graduate-level students the opportunity to acquire direct exposure to the work of a successful multi-cultural international organisation.

 

The Socialprotection.org

socialprotection.org is an online, member-based, knowledge-sharing and capacity-building platform, open to social protection practitioners, policymakers, and experts, as well as academics and students. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Brazil hosts the initiative socialprotection.org, which is financially supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ).

 

The platform was launched on 12 September 2015, answering to a recommendation from the G20 Development Working Group in the aftermath of the triple crisis of the late 2000s to foster global knowledge-sharing on social protection policies. Thanks to the contributions of its members, collaboration with stakeholders, and the dedication of the socialprotection.org team, it directs access to the most up-to-date and comprehensive content on social protection, with a focus on low- and middle-income countries. Through these endeavours it has established a global interactive community of social protection practitioners.

 

It provides free access to a plethora of interactive features, such as searchable databases of social protection publications, audio, slides, infographics, videos, photos, online tools, and legal and policy frameworks—as well as blog posts, news, events, jobs, programmes, and country profiles. Members can connect in the social space and join Online Communities dedicated to prominent social protection topics. They can also access innovative learning tools, such as online courses, webinars, livestream events, and be informed of the latest academic opportunities available in the field, as well as podcast episodes produced by socialprotection.org. In addition, the platform allows for members to upload social protection-related content via the share feature.

Since its launch, socialprotection.org has garnered more than 12,500 members and amassed over 10,000 publications. It has organised multiple webinars and events in cooperation with a wide range of partners, and hosts dozens of multi-language Online Communities.

 

The Internship Programme for the socialprotection.org platform is designed to complement development-oriented studies with practical experience in various aspects of multilateral technical cooperation, international studies, international development and inclusive growth.

 

The purpose of the Internship Programme is to provide an opportunity to make substantive

contributions to the office’s work, mostly by providing support to the socialprotection.org Team in its daily activities and in the accomplishment of the goals and tasks that are part of UNDP Brazil Strategy.

 

This internship opportunity does not lead to further employment with UNDP. Its goal is to offer the intern the opportunity to learn, gather experiences and complement his/her studies.

Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of the internship.

 

Status

Interns are not considered staff members. During the internship with UNDP, interns shall be subject to the Regulations Governing the Status, Basic Rights and Duties of Officials other than Secretariat Officials, and Experts on Mission (ST/SGB/2002/9).

 

Interns shall not be sought or engaged as substitutes for staff and do not encumber authorized posts.

 

Interns shall not represent UNDP in any official capacity or commit resources on its behalf.

 

Interns shall not apply for or be appointed to any position during the period of their internship. The internship period shall not be foreshortened for the purposes of allowing an intern to apply for a position.

 

 

 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the substantive guidance of the Researcher, in accordance with the UNDP Brazil Country Office’s policies and guidelines, the Interns are expected to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of the following:

 

  • Mapping relevant social protection content in different formats, including searching Social Protection Programme Profiles; 
  • Adding and updating content in the platform's database, including Programme Profiles, following the determined taxonomy;
  • Supporting the team on specific tasks, including those related to Webinars, Online Communities, podcasts, e-courses, Ambassadors programme, and others.

 

Maintenance and development of the socialprotection.org platform and its activities, ensuring that up-to-date and relevant content is available on the platform, guaranteeing content diversity, which will contribute to plural debates, and knowledge dissemination in the area.

 

 

 

Competencies

Corporate

  • Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by following the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
  • Demonstrates discretion and reliability in handling confidential matters;
  • Promotes the furthering of socialprotection.org’s vision, mission and strategic goals;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

 

Communication and Relationship Management

  • Understands, explains and shares information on assigned tasks with accuracy and clarity;
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communications skills.

 

Judgment/Decision-Making

  • Mature judgment and initiative;
  • Client-oriented perspective focused on impacts and results;
  • Independent judgment and discretion in advising on handling major policy issues and challenges.

 

 

 

Required Skills and Experience

Essential:

 

Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of the application meet one of the following requirements:

  • Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher) in the areas of International Relations, Political Science, Development Studies, Public Policies, Communications, or related fields;
  • Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent) as defined in (a);
  • Have recently graduated with a university degree, as defined in (a) and (b) above and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;
  • Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.
  • Fluency in written and spoken English proven by certificate, previous work, academic and/or personal experience.

 

Desirable:

 

  • Prior experience with/knowledge of social protection is a plus;
  • Experience in organizing webinars or online events is desirable;
  • Proficient in using new technologies, web-based platforms and social media networks;
  • Fluency or working knowledge of Spanish and/or an East - or South Asian language is considered an asset. 

 

Application for internships:

Applicant’s must complete the application online form at UNDP Jobs and submit all prompted questions

  • Copy of the passport’s identification page (in the case of foreign applicants) or ID card (RG) for Brazilian nationals.
  • Proof of enrolment in a certified educational institution and/or
    university; OR Certificate of conclusion/diploma issued no longer than 12 months prior to internship start date.
  • Updated curriculum (optional);
  • Coverletter (optional);
  • A recommendation letter from a senior faculty member or employer who has directly supervised the applicant in the recent past and who is fully acquainted with the applicant's performance (optional).

 

 

 

Internship Location: Brasília, Brazil (home-based)

Duration: 24 weeks

Workload: 20 hours per week

This internship is not a paid position, however, interns may receive a monthly stipend according to UNDP’s rules and regulations, up to BRL 448.83 (Remote/Part-time). Where an intern is engaged remotely and is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, Government, foundation or scholarship programme, a remote stipend intended to help cover expenses related to the internship, such as internet connections or other means to remain in contact with the receiving office, must be paid by the receiving office.

Health and life insurance

UNDP is not responsible for any financial losses, personal illnesses and/or accidents that might occur during the internship period. Therefore, interns shall have their own source of health and life insurance. Applicants must provide their health and life insurance information in the application form.

UNDP is committed to ensuring the diversity of the workforce in terms of nationality, gender, race and culture. Individuals belonging to indigenous groups and people with disabilities are also encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated confidentially.

 

The selected candidates will pass through an online interview, which will be conducted mainly in English. Some questions may also be in Spanish, French, South/Asian language and/or Portuguese in accordance with candidate’s knowledge as indicated in their application.