Internship with the Executive Board Secretariat in UNDP

The Corporate Governance Team based in the Executive Office of UNDP provides support to effective organisational leadership by the Administrator and Associate Administrator, including overarching organisational steering and tracking as well as organisational governance and accountability of top management. The team also performs coordination and monitoring of a limited number of ‘mission critical’ governance issues as defined by the Administrator and the Associate Administrator. The Corporate Governance team is responsible for the design and development of internal governance arrangements, as well as strategic leadership and management of UNDP’s engagement with its external governing body - the Executive Board of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS. The Executive Board of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS is comprised of 36 Member States. The Executive Board is responsible for providing intergovernmental support to and supervision of the activities of UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS, in accordance with the overall policy guidance of the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and the responsibilities set out in the United Nations Charter. It must also be responsive to the needs of programme countries. The Board is under the authority of ECOSOC. As part of the Corporate Governance Team, the Executive Board Secretariat provides services to the Member States of the Executive Board of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS in the discharging of their oversight role. The Secretariat of the Executive Board is the UNDP, UNFPA and UNOPS focal point for Executive Board matters. The Secretariat organizes the arrangements for the Board meetings and those of the Bureau and coordinates the preparation of the Board session reports. The secretariat also manages the relationship between the Board and the respective agency secretariats for UNDP, UNFPA, and UNOPS in ensuring that management of the agencies assistance and the information necessary for the Executive Board to fulfil its functions as set out in General Assembly resolution 48/162 of 20 December 1993 and to accomplish the objectives set out in the annual work plan of the Board.

Under the overall guidance of the Policy Specialist in the Executive Board Secretariat, this will be an opportunity for a graduate level degree student to enhance her/his educational experience through practical work and gain familiarity with the work of the United Nations. The intern will have a variety of responsibilities, including the following:

Provide support to the Executive Board’s Second Regular Session 2020 in September 2020 during both the formal plenary meetings and informal consultations preceding the Board session
Contribute to the development of briefing notes, background notes, and other materials and documentation in support of the September Executive Board session
Provide editorial and quality assurance support to PowerPoint presentations and other materials before they are externally distributed to Board members in order to ensure quality control
Contribute to the strengthening of communications efforts with the Board through creative and innovative ideas
Actively support the Board meetings via the Zoom platform by providing technical support to Board members and UNDP colleagues as needed
Undertake any research assignments as requested on issues such as Covid-19, UN Development System reform, Executive Board policies and procedures, and other issues

Excellent verbal and written communication, organizational and analytic skills;
A well-organized individual with the ability to multi-task;
Strong research and writing skills and editing skills, with a strong attention to detail;
A team player with ability to work productively and effectively with others;
Excellent IT literacy, knowledge of the Zoom videoconferencing platform, and excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office suite of products, and a willingness to learn new applications;
Desire to work with and gain the confidence and respect of people with different language, national and cultural backgrounds;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter and the UNDP Statement of Purpose.

Education: The intern must meet one of the following requirements:

Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher); r
Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent)
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.

Experience:

Experience working or research in the field of international relations, international development, political affairs and social policy, with academic training in related areas;
Familiarity and knowledge of the UN system, Sustainable Development Goals and issues related to socio-economic development and health
Experience in the development and conduct of research and writing assignments,;
Experience in data analysis and/or presentation;
Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages.
Excellent organizational, inter-personal, communication and administrative skills;
Able to take initiative and work independently;

Experience in communications related assignments and producing knowledge management products;
Previous related work experience in a national or an international entity would be an asset but is not required.
Experience organizing virtual events and/or meetings via Zoom in particular is an asset;

Language Requirements:

Fluency in both written and spoken English.
Knowledge of one of the other five official languages of the UN (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) would be an asset.

Conditions

Interns must observe all applicable rules, regulations, instructions, procedures and directives of UNDP
Interns are not entitled to the privileges and immunities accorded by member states to UNDP, its officials and staff members
Where an intern is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation or scholarship programme, a stipend will be provided in accordance with the UNDP Internship Policy, which is intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station. All other expenses connected with it will be borne by the intern or by the sponsoring government or institution.
Interns must provide proof of enrolment in a health insurance plan. 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 will accrue leave at the rate of 1 ½ days per month
Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
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;
The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment within the UN System, but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.