SECU Research and Outreach Intern

Contract

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

Background

UNDP’s Social and Environmental Standards (SES) apply to UNDP projects and programmes and are intended to strengthen the social and environmental outcomes of UNDP projects and avoid adverse impacts to people and the environment affected by projects. UNDP’s Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU) within the Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI) helps ensure compliance with the SES. SECU forms one of the two units that comprise UNDP’s Accountability Mechanism (the other being a dispute resolution function that is located in a separate office from SECU). SECU conducts compliance reviews in response to complaints alleging that the SES have somehow been violated in the context of UNDP projects and programming. SECU investigates these claims to determine if and how the SES have been violated (rendering a project “out of compliance with the SES”), and how a project can be brought into compliance with corrective measures.

The operations of SECU within OAI are ongoing and require support, with a particular emphasis on raising awareness of SECU, executing outreach campaigns with related media, coordinating our social media presence, assisting in policy/factual research, providing logistical support for events (such as conferences, presentations, and meetings), and supporting its operations, including the possibility of assisting in specific compliance review cases. SECU is seeking an intern to aid in these functions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the SECU Head of Unit, the Intern will be asked to complete tasks from the following:

• Assists in policy and/or factual research.
• Assists in social media, traditional media and other outreach/communication campaigns.
• Assists in editing, formatting, and drafting relevant documents.
• Assists in identifying, collating and analysing potential evidence.
• Assists in event and logistics coordination, including conferences that SECU would organize itself and ones that SECU would attend/present at.
• Assists in various administrative tasks.
• Assists in the intake and processing of SECU complaints and/or Dispute Resolution requests.
• Undertakes other related functions as requested by the SECU Unit Coordinator or others at OAI/SECU.
• If multilingual, assists in translations and translation quality control of relevant documents, as well as outreach/inreach in other languages.
• Possesses a willingness to be adaptive, take on extra responsibility, be proactive and willing to help on whatever needs assistance.
• Understands the importance of maintaining independence in executing SECU functions and is able to work in a dynamic environment.

Competencies

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (word, power point, excel) required;
• Knowledge of social media platforms required;
• Excellent research, writing, communication, editing, and time-management skills;
• Knowledge of graphic design and video-editing software (Adobe suite, etc) desirable;
• Interest and/or experience in law, compliance, administrative decision-making, accountability mechanisms, alternative dispute resolution, and/or international development desirable.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent required;
• Current enrollment in or recently graduated from (within 1 year) a related graduate program(s) such as communications, graphic visual design/communications, law, international development/affairs/public policy, human rights/environmental law, or other related field.

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English required;
• Proficiency in French and/or Spanish highly desirable; and
• Fluency in other languages from areas in which UNDP has significant project portfolios desirable.

Additional Information

• Internships are located at UNDP Headquarters in New York, however, due to the situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the role may be home based.
• Intern will need to use their own laptop/notebook.
• Internship will be 3-4 days/week, depending on availability.
• Internship to start in Fall 2021, with a maximum of 6 months and no fewer than 4.5 months duration.
• The chosen candidate’s schedule will be coordinated with the SECU Head of Unit to accommodate intern’s outside activities needs (classes, other work, etc) and the needs of SECU.

Application process: the application should contain the following uploaded as one file:

• Current Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Original text of up to 500 words addressing the following question: (i) why you would like to be considered for the internship and your primary motivation to apply for this role; (ii) timeframe and availability for internship with OAI.
• Please note that the UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents (CV/ Resume, Cover Letter etc. into a single file before uploading).

Conditions of internship:

• Internships within the UN system are subject to following conditions, which the candidates should familiarize themselves with prior to applying:
• Starting from January 2020 Interns who are not in receipt of financial support from other sources such as universities or other institutions will receive a stipend according to UNDP rules and regulations to partially subsidize their basic living costs for the duration of the internship.
• Any further costs associated with the internship must be borne by the student, who will have to make his or her arrangements for travel, accommodation and other costs.
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. The Intern must provide proof of enrolment in a health insurance plan.
• 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. The Intern will not be eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of internship or for the six months immediately following the expiration date thereof;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
• UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.

Selected candidates must submit following documents prior to joining:

• A duly completed UNDP Internship Application Form
• A signed UNDP Internship agreement
• Copy of updated CV/Resume
• Official letter from the university confirming current enrolment and graduation date
• Copy of passport/national ID card;
• A copy of his/her school transcript;
• Letter of endorsement/recommendation from a Professor;
• Proof of valid medical/accident insurance for the duty station for which they will work;