Knowledge Management and Communications Intern

Contract

This is a Internship contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about Internship contracts.

Background

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is the UN’s Global Development Network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in over 170 countries, employing participatory approaches to developing local solutions to national and global development challenges.

Addressing gender equality and women’s empowerment is a key aspect of UNDP’s approach to achieving its core vision. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are seen as goals in their own right and are also central to the achievement of UNDP’s development mandate. UNDP is guided in its work by its Gender Equality Strategy which details how UNDP works towards gender equality in each of the goals and key results set out in the UNDP Strategic Plan. UNDP is in the process of developing its next Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025 and will launch it in the summer of 2022.

The Gender Team of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) is the institutional anchor of UNDP’s work on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The Gender Team provides policy advice and technical support to all of UNDP’s Bureaus and leadership on how to mainstream gender across all areas of their work. The Gender Team works to implement gender equality as a core objective of UNDP through a two-pronged approach (i) mainstreaming gender in all core practices; and, (ii) dedicated interventions that empower women and promote gender equality.

The Knowledge Management and Communications Intern will work under the direct supervision of the Communications Specialist for the Gender Team and the global Gender Community of Practice Facilitator to provide support on internal and external communications and knowledge management. This includes support for the launch the Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, UN General Assembly 2022, UN commemoration days and other gender-related global report launches and events. In particular, the selected candidate will support with social media outreach, virtual events and webinars, the creation of multimedia content, newsletter production, design and video work, research, and additional editing and writing deliverables.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Gender Community of Practice Facilitator and the Gender Team Communications Specialist, the intern will perform the following duties:

Knowledge management, research, and digital engagement:

• Support the development and implementation of the Gender CoP’s learning activities, including cross-cutting online discussions, high-level virtual events, and webinars.
• Support the creation of multi-media content, including weekly news digest, targeted e-mail updates, and monthly newsletters.
• Provide research support on a range of topics, including gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, GBV, inclusive growth, governance, human rights, conflict prevention, peacebuilding, SDG finance, and climate change and nature for development, and other relevant thematic and cross-cutting areas of UNDP work.
• Scan internal and external knowledge products to capture relevant content for CoP members.
• Continually update relevant resources, digital assets, and information on SparkBlue (UNDP’s digital engagement platform) and Yammer.
• Monitor and analyse CoP metrics, including engagement analytics and membership trends.
• Participate in weekly coordination meetings with SparkBlue and global Communities of Practice teams.

Communications:

• Support social media engagement and outreach, including the drafting of social media messages, scanning sources for gender news, the creation of social media assets and supporting UNDP Twitter accounts.
• Provide writing, editing and research support as needed for communications materials such as reports, brochures, flyers, stories, blogs and other assets.
• Design communications materials such as flyers, social media cards, and banners.
• Provide support for the drafting and research of internal communications materials, such as talking points, briefs and internal correspondence.
• Keep Gender Team external communications calendar up to date and gather Gender Team-related events, stories, launches, etc. for inclusion in weekly newsletter.
• Support the production of gender-related videos for events and social media.
• Support media engagement and outreach, including research, supporting the drafting of press releases and monitoring analytics.

Competencies

• Knowledge of gender equality and women’s rights in the context of development.
• Excellent communications skills, including verbal skills and writing and editing skills for technical and non-technical materials and social media content.
• Strong organizational and research skills.
• Experience with Canva and Mailchimp, or equivalent, for designing and editing of newsletters, infographics, flyers and other multimedia content is required
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Manages complexities, shifting priorities, and is able to work effectively without constant supervision.
• Proficiency in video-editing software is desirable.
• Strong PowerPoint and design skills is an asset.
• Knowledge of the UN system is an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Enrolled in or recently finished a Master’s degree in the areas of international development, gender studies, journalism, communications or related field in a graduate school (second university degree or higher) at the time of application and during the internship, or
• If pursuing their studies in a country where higher education is not divided into undergraduate and graduate stages, must have completed at least four years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution toward the completion of a degree. A certification must be obtained from the school regarding status of enrollment or graduation.

Experience:

• Academic knowledge and practical experience of gender equality programming in development and crisis contexts.
• Experience conducting research, writing and editing reports and other communications materials, and creating presentations.
• Experience with Canva and Mailchimp, or equivalent, for designing and editing newsletters, infographics, flyers and other multimedia content is required.
• Experience in a communications/media environment, including in digital communications with social media outreach and engagement, is desirable.
• Familiarity with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, In-Design and other graphic design production tools is an asset.
• Experience working collaboratively in a team structure in a multicultural environment is desirable.

Language:

• Fluency in English.
• Working knowledge of other UN languages a strong advantage.

Application information:

• Interested applicants should apply to this announcement through UNDP jobs site: jobs.undp.org
• All applications must include (in a single attachment) a CV, cover letter, writing samples and portfolio of previous work in multimedia design/video production. Portfolio can include links to work from related study courses/programmes, working experience, or free-standing projects.
• Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without portfolio will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered.

Working arrangements:

• As of 1 January 2020, Interns may be given a stipend according to UNDP Internship Policy, if it is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government foundation or scholarship programme. A stipend (up to the maximum amount of US$1,000) intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station. The stipend will be paid on a monthly basis and part-time internship arrangements are prorated accordingly.
• Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of the internship. UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship. Interns must provide proof of enrollment in health insurance plan.
• Interns are expected to work full time, but flexibility is allowed for education programmes.
• The intern is 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 are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
• The purpose of the internship 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.
• The intern will be evaluated at the end of the contract.

In case an applicant is successfully selected, s/he will be requested to provide electronic versions of:

• Copy of the applicant’s most recent resume or curriculum vitae;
• Letter from his/her university confirming current enrollment and graduation date;
• Letter of recommendation from a professor;
• Copy of his/her school transcript;
• Copy of passport;
• Completed UNDP internship application form (to be provided upon selection);
• Signed UNDP Internship Agreement (to be provided upon selection);
• Medical Certificate of Good Health (to be provided upon selection);
• Proof of medical insurance (to be provided upon selection).

Kindly note the above documentation is required within one week after selection.

__

Conditions

Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP. The costs associated must be borne by the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or by the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his or her own arrangements for travel, accommodation, visa, etc.

Insurance

UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. As interns are not covered under any insurance, including MAIP, and they should not travel to hazardous locations in the course of their internship with UNDP. Applicants for internship must show proof of valid medical and life/accident insurance for the duty station for which they will work. It must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship which requires transportation to the Home Country or Country of Residence for further treatment; or results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the Home Country, or Country of Residence.

Subsequent Employment

The purpose of the Internship Programme in UNDP is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but to complement the intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship. Should an offer of employment be envisaged, a 3-month break, from the end of the internship, must be respected. Interns cannot apply for posts or consultancies during the period of internship.

Third-party claims

UNDP is not responsible for any claims by any parties where the loss of or damage to their property, death or personal injury was caused by the actions or omission of action by the interns during their internship.