Intern for the UNDP Albania Operations Unit

Background

UNDP began its operations in Albania in 1991. As a member of the United Nations Country Team in Albania, the UNDP works with the government and people of Albania, including its civil society and businesses, to strengthen the rule of law, promote human rights and freedoms, protect the environment and support economic and social reforms for social inclusion and an equitable society. 

The United Nations Development Programme works with partners to promote economic and social reforms and innovations that help bring services to those who need them most – unemployed youth, vulnerable women, Roma and Egyptian communities and persons with disabilities.  It further provides support to independent institutions and fundamental democratic processes to foster rule of law and for deepening democratic practice. Through its programmes, UNDP promotes sustainability, identifying working solutions to respond to climate change by protecting Albania’s rich biological diversity and natural resources for future generations. 

Noting that the EU principles and the core values of the United Nations are shared, UNDP actively supports Albania’s EU integration. UNDP’s main goal is to translate principles of the UN and the EU into daily practice of the institutions of Albania, and into social, economic, political and cultural opportunities for men and women of Albania to live knowledgeable, healthy and prosperous lives.

The ultimate goal of UNDP is sustainable human development for an Albania:

• which deepens its democratic practices and ensures that all Albanians and Albanian institutions are equally accountable before laws that are in line with UN Conventions and international human rights norms and standards; 
• whose public and civil society institutions at all levels work towards removing barriers for all men and women, especially vulnerable groups, to participate in the social, economic, cultural and political life of the country; and leverages the market for equitable growth that benefits the poor;
• whose people have access to social and physical infrastructure that responds to their local needs and protects and ensures sustainability of natural resources for future generations;

UNDP’s work targets all levels of government and across the country, working with regional and local authorities that provide services to the people and support their capacities to participate in Albania’s economic and institutional reforms and its EU accession processes.

The Resident Coordinator is the designated Representative of the Secretary General in the country. He leads the UN Country Team in Albania and is also the Resident Representative of UNDP Albania.

The UNDP Country Director is responsible for ensuring the effective day-to-day management of UNDP Country Office and assumes overall responsibility for the UNDP programme and operations to ensure coherence and strategic direction of UNDP activities.

UNDPs work is clustered around mutually interlinked four programme areas: Social Inclusion, Democratic Governance and Rule of Law, Environmental and Climate Change, Economic Growth and Employment. A more detailed view on the focus and work of programme clusters is given in section 2 of these ToRs. 

UNDP Albania has a Communications and Advocacy Unit which provides strategic communication support to UNDP programme, works to raise awareness about impact of UNDP programmes, provide visibility for donors and partners.

Aiming to advance its current initiatives and expand on new ones, UNDP Office has organised internship programme to provide a framework by which young professionals from diverse academic backgrounds may be assigned to UNDP offices, where their educational experience can be enhanced through practical work assignments as well providing an opportunity to make substantive contributions to an office’s work.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the UNDP Operations Manager, the intern will assist in the following duties:

• Assist with daily administrative tasks of the unit, including but not limited to, scheduling and coordinating meetings and researching and organizing information for reports.
• Collect data from multiple resources to review, analyze, compile and store information as well as create standard statistical and other reports.
• Assist with the filing system.
• Undertake other ad-hoc assignments as requested by the supervisor.
• Get acquainted to the Procurement Unit’s activities, following with methods described in manuals and regulations;
• Analysis and application of a Business methodology to identify and improve the processes developed by the division;
• Exposition to different cultures and backgrounds, with many conferences, meetings and discussions;
• Assist with the preparation of documents and implementation of the document/file management system;
• Performing other ad-hoc duties as required and other related initiatives and activities;
• Participating in team meeting;
• Conducting research on best practices and potential solutions to identified issues;
• Preparing reports and statistics;
• Routine follow up action on procurement on behalf of the supervisor and inform supervisor of status;
• Oral/written responses to queries from internal and external clients regarding procurement matters;
• Maintenance of an effective filing system for financial records and documents;
• Participation in the trainings for the operations and projects staff on Procurement;
• Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Perform any other tasks, as assigned by the supervisor;
• Coordinating with different stakeholders;
• Assistance in drafting and preparing official documents;
• Providing administrative support to ongoing projects.
• Filing and maintaining finance office records;
• Filing and maintaining human resources office records;
• Perform other duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Ability to demonstrate sufficient technical knowledge to perform effectively and independently;

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
• Proven ability to work effectively and harmoniously with peoples of varying professional backgrounds and cultures, ability to adapt to a multi-cultural environment; demonstrated gender-sensitivity;

Communication:

• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills (tact and discretion; a high level of public presentation skills);
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed;

Planning and Organizing:

• Ability to develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;
• Ability to plan, organize, and execute specific tasks with good time management skills;

Accountability:

• Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules;
• Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards;

Integrity:

• Demonstrates the values of the United Nations in daily activities and behaviors;

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following 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); or c) have graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) in one of the following disciplines: 

• public / business administration, public policy, development studies, international relations, economics, rural development, tourism, social studies, environment and climate change, public administration, employment, social inclusion, information and communication technology, mechanical and/or electrical engineers and computer science and any other related field. 

Language       

Fluency in spoken and written English

How to Apply:

The candidate should apply online through the Job Site website by submitting his/her CV accompanied with motivation letter.

Selected candidate must submit following documents:

• a duly completed UNDP internship application form; www.un.org.al/sites/default/files/Application for Interns.doc
• a letter from your university confirming current enrollment and graduation date;
• a copy of your school transcript;

Kindly note that selected intern will be required the following:

• a Medical Certificate of Good Health from a recognized physician. If the intern is expected to travel outside the country of their residence, other than to Europe and North America, the physician must indicate whether he/she is fit to travel and   has had the required inoculations for the country or countries to which the intern is to travel; (Can be obtained from a Family Center (State one), free of charge)
• proof of medical insurance valid for the location(s) in which the internship will be carried out;

Financial Issues:

Internships within the UN system are unpaid and subject to conditions the applicant must get familiar with prior to signing his/her internship agreement.

The costs associated with the internship 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 etc.

UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship. Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.It is important to note that interns are responsible to arrange for their own visa and residence documents, and need to plan for these well in advance.

Subsequent Employment:

The purpose of the Internship Programme 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.More information available at: http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/rbec/en/home/about_us/jobs/internships/

More information on UNDP internship available at: http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/jobs/types-of-opportunities/internships.html

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.