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

Rapid and continued economic dynamism has translated into growth and reduced poverty levels in several countries in Asia and the Pacific. Greater foreign direct investments and capital movements, accentuated by higher regional mobility, are reasons for further optimism for future regional growth. This progress has however also often come at the expense of the human rights of marginalized and disadvantaged groups in the interest of investments and financial gains.

At the global level a momentum is starting to pick up with more and more governments and companies acting on business and Human Rights. The endorsement in 2011 by the Human Rights

Council of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights provided a long awaited and needed framework of standards accepted at the international level as the main reference framework.

The Guiding Principles consist of three pillars: a) The State duty to protect Human Rights; b) the corporate responsibility to respect Human Rights; c) the need for greater access to remedy for victims of business-related abuses.

The Human Rights Council recommended all states to adopt a National Action Plan on the implementation of the Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework.

Though Asia Pacific lags somewhat behind other regions in following up on the implementation of the Guiding principles, there are encouraging signs of companies and governments increasingly ready to embrace the new set of standards.

To support the implementation of the Guiding Principles in Asia-Pacific, UNDP Regional Hub has launched the initiative “Supporting Regional and National Partnerships for the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Asia Pacific”. The goal of this regional initiative is to build on Regional Institutions to increase the level of compliance of states and businesses with international human rights standards. It will aim to achieve this by strengthening the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights through four principal outputs.

Under the first, states will adopt National Action Plans on business and human rights; under the second, decision-making on business and human rights will be expanded to include CSOs and marginalized groups; under the third, NHRIs will improve their capacities to oversee the compliance of states with the UN Guiding Principles and deal with cases of transboundary nature. The fourth output will expand access to remedies for victims of human rights violations through a provision of legal aid, strategic litigation and raising legal awareness.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern will assist in the following duties and responsibilities:

The intern must clearly indicate his/her area(s) of interest in his/her application, as well as his/her period of availability.

The internship is a full-time position at for a minimum period of three (3) months to a maximum of (6) months. The intern must indicate the timeframes of their availability in their application and the final length of the internship will be negotiated and agreed before entering duty.

Duty station is Bangkok. In case travel to countries in Asia-Pacific is required on specific assignments, any such travel costs will be compensated by UNDP BRH, in accordance with the prevailing UNDP rules and regulations.

Competencies

• Knowledge of international development trends, especially related to the areas of work mentioned above governance in Asia-Pacific countries;
• Knowledge of UN Human Rights Architecture, the Bill of Rights and the main Human Rights Treaties;
• Knowledge of and experience in Business and Human Rights area is strong asset;
• Experience from the Region is an advantage;
• Strong interpersonal, communication/presentation and negotiation skills;
• Highly organized and independent/motivated;
• Research ability; strategic, analytical and drafting abilities;
• Excellent writing and drafting skills in English as well as good communication skills, flexibility and internet research capabilities;
• Experience editing images or preparing graphics for the web and email communications;
• Experience engaging and building communities on social networks, particularly Twitter and Facebook;
• Ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

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 degree or master’s degree or equivalent studies.

Field of study: Public Administration, Public Policy, International Development, International Relations, Master of Laws or any other relevant field is preferred.

IT skills

• Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
• Adobe Suite.

Language skills

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

INTERNSHIP CONDITIONS

• UNDP internships are not remunerated. All expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern or her/his sponsoring entity;
• 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.

NOTE: If selected for the position, interns are requested to provide a letter from university confirming current enrollment and graduation date, a copy of school transcript, a letter of endorsement from professor, a medical certificate of good health, a copy of medical insurance coverage during internship assignment in Thailand, and a copy of passport.