Background

UNDP partners with national governments and people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. Active in more than 170 countries and territories, UNDP offers a global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. UNDP helps countries to build and share development solutions in the following three main areas:

  1. Sustainable Development
  2. Democratic Governance and Peacebuilding
  3. Climate and Disaster Resilience

In all its work, UNDP works to ensure the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women, minorities and the poorest and most vulnerable.

 

The EC UNDP Joint Task Force in Electoral Assistance (JTF) was established in 2007, to further strengthen and facilitate the already existing EC-UNDP partnership in the field of electoral assistance and improve the overall efficiency and adherence of the projects to the common EC-UNDP strategic approach. The JTF monitors and supports the EC-UNDP Partnership in Electoral Assistance, which, since 2004, has seen over $1 billion of EU funds support UNDP-implemented electoral assistance projects in approximately 50 countries. The JTF also develops and implements, in association with the European Commission, numerous training events and thematic workshops, as well as knowledge products on matters related to electoral assistance learned from experience implementing the national level projects. The success of the EC-UNDP Partnership in Electoral Assistance was referenced in the biennial report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly on the UN’s work in support of elections, where he said that: “UNDP continues to deliver a significant part of its electoral assistance activities within the formal framework of its partnership with the European Union. In addition to joint projects at the country level, the partnership has hosted a number of global thematic workshops, including on elections and violence, the use of technology and sustainability in electoral administration…the first, held in Kenya in 2012, focused on taking informed decisions about the possible introduction of technology in electoral processes. The second, in Mozambique in 2013, discussed sustainability in electoral administration more broadly, including the future of international electoral assistance. Participants agreed that comprehensive and consultative feasibility studies should be carried out before introducing new technological solutions into election processes.”

 

The day-to-day work of the JTF is divided between country-level support and knowledge production/training events. At the country level, JTF personnel participate in the formulation missions that lead to EC financial contributions to UNDP-managed electoral assistance projects. These formulation missions both assist the EU Delegations in the preparation of their programming documents, as well as ensuring that the recommendations of EU Election Observation Missions are programmed into the eventual projects, where harmonised with both the recommendations of the UN electoral Needs Assessment Mission and the UNDP CPD/CPAP priorities. JTF personnel often also participate in the DPA-led electoral Needs Assessment Missions themselves, on behalf of UNDP. Furthermore, the JTF assists the EC-UNDP projects to the end of the contractual obligations; seeks policy convergence in both organization’s electoral assistance, including advocating adherence to UN and multilateral norms and standards; and better positions UNDP with the EC in the domain of electoral assistance and related areas. On the knowledge production front, the JTF encourages the professional development of EC and UNDP staff, and supports the capacity building of electoral administrations where the EU and UNDP provide electoral assistance support. This knowledge production and dissemination takes form of face-to-face trainings and conferences, research and publications, and development of eLearning courses.

Duties and Responsibilities

Part of the JTF responsibilities is to assure adequate visibility to all electoral assistance projects funded by EU and implemented by UNDP. To that effect, JTF is currently launching a series of websites dedicated to each individual joint EC-UNDP electoral project, and provides ongoing support to all of the electoral assistance projects world-wide. Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Senior Electoral Advisor of the Joint EC-UNDP Task Force on Electoral Assistance (JTF), and in close cooperation with the other team members, the Electoral Communications Intern will:

  • Establish (according to the pre-approved template) and maintain all of the electoral assistance projects websites;
  • On a regular basis, liaise with UNDP electoral projects to gather information (articles, photos, videos, etc.…) on the implementation of activities undertaken, summarize them, and upload them on the website through a specific platform;
  • Maintain and update, on a regular basis, the main JTF website and the existing projects’ websites;
  • On a regular basis, liaise with the website design company focal point regarding the update and maintenance of the existing websites (regular upload to websites, including text, videos, photos);
  • Provide live feed in the main website, as well as relevant project websites, on major electoral events;
  • Update social media pages (Twitter, Facebook and others);
  • Compile information and draft short news articles on projects’ main activities, to be publicized on social media
  • Provide administrative support and coordinate the organization of a photo exhibition and other events;
  • Provide support to the team members in the production of monthly reports;
  • When requested, attend JTF and/or project functions, conference and other events and provide coverage (articles, photos, videos) for publication on websites.

Competencies

  • Strong organizational, research and writing skills;
  • Excellent analytical, communication and writing skills;
  • Excellent interpersonal skills;
  • Demonstrated keen interest in the work of the UN/UNDP;
  • Computer proficiency in standard software applications (MS Office, Excel, Word, PowerPoint);
  • Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modelling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

 

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

a) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);

b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);

c). 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. 

 

Language requirements:

  • Written and spoken proficiency in English required;
  • Written and spoken proficiency in French highly desirable.

 

Notes

 

Interns’ Expenses/Arrangements:

Please note that interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP. All costs associated 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; or by the intern, 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.

 

Subsequent Employment:

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.

 

Application Process:

The application should contain:

  • Motivation letter specifying reasons why candidate is seeking the internship and what is expected from the experience;
  • Recent Curriculum Vitae;
  • Official letter from the University confirming enrolment and specifying expected graduation date (for students);
  • Official letter from the University confirming graduation date (for graduates who should have graduated within 12 months of application for the internship).

 

(NB: Please upload the above in a single file. Incomplete applications will not be considered)

UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship.

 

Prior to being offered a Letter of Acceptance for Internship, the selected candidate will have to provide the following additional documents:

  • A Medical Certificate of Good Health from a recognized physician. If the intern is expected to travel outside the country of their residence, other than to Europe and North America, the physician must indicate whether s/he is for to travel and has the required inoculations for the country to which they are to travel;
  • Proof of valid Medical Insurance cover valid for the duration of the Internship Programme in Belgium;
  • For applicants who are not resident in Belgium, the insurance cover must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship duration which:

(a) requires transportation to the home country or country of residence for further treatment;

(b) results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the home country, or country of residence.

 

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.

 

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.