Internship- Resilience & Inclusive Growth, UNDP (only Bangladeshi nationals are eligible to apply)

Background

UNDP is looking for young talent with a passion to contribute to Bangladesh at this exciting and transitional time when the country is becoming a middle income and prosperous society and being recognized as a champion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  This is an excellent opportunity for young talent to learn from the country’s top thematic leaders and grow as professionals within the development sector.

UNDP Bangladesh’s Country Programme Document (2017-2020) seeks to assist the Government of Bangladesh and its development partners to implement Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In the context of the Bangladesh 7th Five Year Plan (7FYP) and the government’s vision to graduate from Least Developed Country status, UNDP will aim to ensure a more resilient and inclusive society that shares its increasing prosperity with all. UNDP will leverage its unique position and experience to deliver tactical policy and programme expertise that supports the implementation of the 7FYP and cements UNDP as a strategic partner of the government on the sustainable development agenda. To realize this vision, in 2017 the UNDP will work within the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) to deliver a country programme focusing on three priorities:

• Ensuring economic growth is more inclusive and supports economic opportunities, particularly for women;
• Improving social policies and programmes with a focus on good governance and structural inequalities;
• Building resilience and improving environmental sustainability.

Within UNDP, the Resilience and Inclusive Growth Portfolio leads its programme and policy advisory support in climate change mitigation and adaptation; urban poverty and urbanization; social protection; disaster management and environmental sustainability, with a key focus on gender. We support the country by providing high-quality policy advice, mobilizing resources, developing capacity; knowledge management and innovation, and fostering south-south cooperation. 

The Intern position is created as an additional support to the programme and project to manage their programmatic activities in the Resilience and Inclusive Growth portfolio. The portfolio is fastest growing in terms of its scale and size and is comprised of top-level experts who lead respective thematic areas and oversee UNDP’s project implementation. The position Research Assistant is created to support the Programme Leaders in managing their programme which include planning and reporting; background research, project formulation, and communication. The position will be reported to the respective project managers and programme specialists. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions:

Under the supervision of the Programme Specialist (Environmental Sustainability & Energy) or Project Manager of the relevant project, the Intern will assist in conducting research, compilation and collation of information and data, management of the event, supporting project operation, support in accounting and finance and support communication activities for UNDP R&IG cluster. S/he will support project/program management team in achieving daily targets of operation. The intern will be placed to project or country office based on their academic background and academic interest. 

Support in project formulation:

• Drafting of project concept notes, presentations and other documents;
• Managing appointments and coordinating with external contributors and agencies;
• Draft ToRs, support recruitment, and procurement of consultants, project staffs and coordinate consultants when needed;
• Support in conducting various project relevant mission;

Assist in conducting and coordinating project relevant research:

• Review of literature and relevant document relevant to the program;
• Collection and collation of primary and secondary data and information and analysis;
• Develop bibliographies, including preparation of citation and reference;
• Transcribing and translating interviews;
• Keeping a record of all relevant research and relevant documents.

Support to coordinate various media and advocacy initiative to assure understanding and visibility of the project.

• Support for responding to requests for information by facilitating access to relevant UNDP materials.
• Support to organize awareness, advocacy, and result sharing/dissemination events, exposure visits, etc.;
• Regularly monitor and keep an overview on for national and environmental sustainability, ecosystem management, and environmental governance innovations;
• Participate in meetings, conferences/workshop/roundtable, training, etc. prepare meeting minutes, conference/workshop proceedings, the summary of events, etc. and perform any other task as directed by the UNDP
• Support in preparation of budget and support in liquidation of expenditure for various events.

Support in overall administrative and financial matters 

• Assist the Programme Specialist/PM in the overall administrative and financial matters of the project/programme; 
• Support in administrative (contractual, organizational and logistical) and accounting (disbursements, record-keeping, cash management) matters under the project;
• Provide general administrative and financial support to the project so as to ensure the smooth running of the project management unit; provide logistical support to the project staff and consultants in conducting different project activities; 
• Support monitoring the budget expenditures by preparing payment documents, and compiling financial reports; maintain the project’s disbursement ledger and journal; keep files with project documents, expert reports; control the usage of non-expendable equipment (record keeping, drawing up regular inventories); 
• Draft and finalize correspondence of administrative nature; arrange duty travel; fax, post, and e-mail transmissions, and coordinate appointments. 

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Promotes UN’s values and ethical standards (tolerance, integrity, respect, results orientation, impartiality);
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

Management and Leadership:

• Work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills; 
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Provides inspiration and leadership to project staff as well as all the partners.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Capability to engage in team-based management, an experience of leading workshops and being a resource person;
• Ability to undertake results-based management and reporting;
• Ability to oversee timely project implementation and to provide the necessary troubleshooting to keep project implementation on schedule;
• Ability to implement new systems and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change.

Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes knowledge management and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development;
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral);
• Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners;
• Respectful and helpful relations with all UN/UNDP staff.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualification Requirements:

• Enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme in Economics, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Environmental Sciences/Management, Engineering, Biological Science, Geography, Sociology, etc.; Only those students who will return to their studies upon completion of their internship assignments are eligible. (Letter of enrollment from school will be requested from the selected applicants);
• Outstanding academic credentials at the undergraduate level;
• Fluent in communicating in both English and Bangla; 
• Good planning skills demonstrated through good time management, capacity to plan, and deliver tasks on time;
• Willingness to participate in all aspects of UNDP programme activities;
• Strong computer skills, particularly of MS Word, and e-mail applications.

Terms and conditions:

UNDP Internships are NON-PAID and a minimum of 6 weeks of commitment on behalf of the applicants is required, with longer commitment considered desirable. In return, UNDP commits to assign at least 1 staff member to act as a mentor to the intern and to ensure that interns are exposed to meaningful and adequately challenging professional tasks.