Background

Interested applicants should complete UNDP Internship Application Form, UNDP P11 (Personal History Form) along with letter of motivation and send them directly to Human Resources Unit of UNDP through email ID: vacancy.ir@undp.org no later than 07 November 2019 (16:00 Tehran Local Time). Please make sure you will mention in the subject line of the email “Intern - RCO”.

Note: Submissions missing any of above-mentioned documents will not be considered for the internship program.

CORPORATE BACKGROUND

The United Nations Resident Coordinator system aims to bring together the different UN agencies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of operational activities at the country level. The UN Resident Coordinators lead UN country teams in 129 countries operating in 164 countries and territories and are the designated representatives of the Secretary-General for development operations.
In light of the ongoing UN Reform, the Reinvigorated Resident Coordinator System will be the main mechanism to coordinate the United Nation system’s activities for development in the country. It is guided by the UN General Assembly resolution 72/279 on the Repositioning of the UN Development System, which stipulates the establishment of an empowered and impartial RC system effective 1 January 2019.

INTERNSHIP OFFICE BACKGROUND
The United Nations system in the Islamic Republic of Iran consists of 18 resident UN funds, programmes and specialized agencies. The UN system supports the government in its development efforts and in doing so it contributes to ensuring the national ownership of UN programmes and projects and the further development of Iran’s individual and institutional capacities.
To coordinate the work of the UN system at the country level, the RC and UNCT are supported by the RC Office (RCO) that serves as a catalyst and vehicle for taking forward the planned results and priorities set by the UNCT in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The RCO currently supports 10 core coordination functions performed by RCs and UNCT as appropriate: 1) Strategic analysis and planning; 2) Oversight of the UN country programming cycle; 3) Representation of and support of UN Secretariat and UN agencies/NRAs; 4) Support to national coordination systems and processes; 5) Development and management of shared operational support services; 6) Crisis management and preparedness response; 7) External communication and advocacy; 8) Human rights and development; 9) Joint resource mobilization and fund management; and, 10) General UNC oversight and management.

Duties and Responsibilities

To mitigate the impact of the economic downturn on the most vulnerable and to make sure that no one is left behind, the UN developed a Technical Assistance Package (TAP) in February 2019.
The TAP is based on global best practices that have the potential to respond to the needs in Iran. For example, the combination of social protection and employment generation practices which can be highly effective to address the most urgent needs of the vulnerable. Drawing on global good practices corresponds at the same time with the UN’s commitment to support South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC). In Iran, SSTC is one of the key strategies for the UNDAF (2012-2017) implementation and a central part of the country programme documents and projects of the UN specialized agencies, funds and programmes operating in Iran.
Thus, in support of the TAP and to further enhance the SSTC approach of the UN in Iran, the UN Resident Coordinator Office is conducting a mapping exercise on socio-economic development good practices to compile and consolidate in a repository the TAP global good practices. The Resident Coordinator, therefore, wishes to hire an intern to support the Economist Officer in this regard.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN RCO Economist the intern will assist in the following duties and responsibilities:

Duties and responsibilities 

Compile and consolidate in a repository the TAP global good practices with focus on socio-economic development: 80%
• Compile global good practices in the area of socio-economic development by reviewing relevant materials and documents;
• Compile indicators of global good practices on socio-economic development;
• Analyze global good practices in socio-economic development with regard to their relevance and the possibility to utilization in Iran and provide the Resident Coordinator and UNCT with an evidence-based report;
• Attend related SSTC workshops in Iran.

Provide support and assistance in knowledge management and inhouse capacity building regarding global good practices in the area of socio-economic development: 15%
• Provide assistance in drafting high quality reference documents, briefing papers and proposals to share knowledge, build inhouse capacity and reach a common understanding regarding best practices in socio-economic development for Iran capacity to further enhance the integration of SSTC approach as cross cutting theme into UN facilitated activities in Iran, especially the ones related to the TAP, which aims at mitigating the impact of sanctions on the most vulnerable;
• Brief colleagues on global good practices on socio-economic development.

Other: 5 %
• Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed.

Competencies

Other competencies and attitude:
• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
• Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
• Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal oriented mind-set;
• Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
• Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
Candidates must meet one of the following educational 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.

Field of study: development studies, development economics, international relations, development planning or equivalent.

IT skills:
• Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
• Knowledge and proficiency in internet research and finding quality data and information

Language skills:
• Proficiency in English is required;
• Knowledge of Farsi is preferable;
• Knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.