Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the lead development agency of the United Nations, connecting countries to a vast network of global knowledge, experience and technical and financial resources. UNDP works with governments and citizens on nurturing their own solutions to global and national development challenges, and on developing local capacity to addressing those issues. The UNDP country office in Jamaica also serves Bermuda, The Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands. 

Organizational/Project Context

This internship role will offer support to the Social Resilience Portfolio. The Social Resilience Portfolio includes a suite of UNDP projects and initiatives which fall under the following categories:

(i) Social Cohesion and Community Security

(ii) Social Protection and Human Rights and (iii) Health and HIV.

Social Protection seeks to increase access of basic services to beneficiaries while addressing human insecurities faced by vulnerable groups.  In an effort to address the diverse human insecurities in a comprehensive manner, the Joint United Nations (UN) Team comprising the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment, Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO); the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UN Women are partnering with the Government of Jamaica to implement the three-year “Strengthening human resilience in Northern Clarendon & West Kingston” Programme under the “Delivering as One” approach. The programme is aimed at enhancing resilience and human security of communities in Northern Clarendon and West Kingston in Jamaica. It will also support improvement in the policy and regulatory framework in water management as well as mainstream the human security approach in development strategies. This will be achieved through four key objectives:

1.      Objective One: Local and community governance bodies strengthened to design and oversee interventions to address insecurities

2.      Objective Two: Enhanced economic, food and nutrition security in selected communities

3.      Objective Three: Improved environmental health and water security at the community, local and national levels

4.      Objective Four: Institutional capacity for integration of Human Security Approach strengthened.

UNDP is seeking an intern to support the implementation of the Jamaica component of the Strengthening human resilience in Northern Clarendon & West Kingston Project, in addition to other activities under the social resilience portfolio.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern will be supervised by the Programme Manager and will work closely with the team on delivering the following tasks:

1.      Support to Programme Implementation

 

  • Contribute to day-to-day support to programme/project implementation and ensuring conformity to expected results, outputs, objectives and work-plans.
  • Provide technical support to the implementation of the Project related activities
  • Support logistic arrangements for meetings, workshops, engagements with stakeholders
  • Consult with UNDP Teams, national partners and any other stakeholders deemed appropriate to support project implementation.
  • Assist in project implementation and monitoring, including participation in field visits
  • Draft progress reports and other reporting material in preparation of semi-annual and bi-annual progress reports
  • Draft speeches, letters, memos and other documents and respond to queries on programme matters.
  • Regularly update and maintain project database and stakeholder’s database.
  • Support and assist with other tasks when needed.

 

2.      Financial Management Support

 

·          Assist in the provision of documentation to support procurement and payment processes.

·          Ensure that grant funds are distributed and expended in keeping with the Work plans

·          Support to spot checks, financial audits and financial closure of the project and ensure provision of requisite documentation;

·          Participation in the trainings for the project staff on Finance

 

3.      Administrative Programme Support

·          Support to the roll out of the capacity assessments and capacity development plans

·          Support to implementation of UNDP programme on alternative livelihoods, human security, sustainability planning and capacity building for CSO’s

·          Coordination between regional organizations to support implementation of regional dialogue and national dialogues

·          Support the roll out of training and workshops to support capacity building for CSO’s

·          Establish a proper filing system and maintain files and documentation in good order.

·          Draft routine correspondence and communications.

·          Prepare background information and documentation, update data relevant to the programme areas and compile background material for project/programme.

·          Support other activities as requested, including providing logistical support to various events organized by UNDP such as consultations, workshops, and side events.

 

Competencies
  • Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity
  • Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment
  • Self-development, initiative-taking
  • Acting as a team player and facilitating teamwork
  • Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively
  • Creating synergies through self-control
  • Managing conflict
  • Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others.
  • Informed and transparent decision making

·       Strong service and team-work orientation, cultural sensitivity and ability to work in a fast-paced multi-national environment

·       Demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment to learning

·       Commitment to UNDP vision, mission and values and knowledge of UN work environment an advantage

Required Skills and Experience

Education

·        The Intern must have studies in field of Social Sciences or other related areas and must meet one of the following requirements;

                            i.          Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);

                          ii.          Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent);

                         iii.          Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.

Experience

·        Experience with Microsoft Office Package (Word, Excel and others) as well as experience in handling web-based applications

Language:

·       Fluent in written and oral communication skills in English; competency in other UN languages is a strong asset. 

 

 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 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.

The interns will be responsible for providing his or her own laptop. Internet access and printing facilities will be available at UNDP during the internship.


This vacancy is archived.

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