Back Roma Inclusion Internship

Background

UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub is implementing sub-regional project “Regional Roma Survey” in six Western Balkan countries and territory (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo (1)) and Turkey.

The overall project objective is to narrow the gap in multi-dimensional poverty and access to socio-economic rights between marginalized Roma and non-Roma Populations in Western Balkans and Turkey by 2020, by contributing to fact-based decision making and to more informed and focused policy debate on Roma inclusion.

This will be achieved through collecting and making available comprehensive quantitative and qualitative data as the basis for evidence based policy making, and to guide related budgetary allocations for interventions aimed at narrowing the gap between marginalized and non-visible (those with no personal documentation) Roma and non-Roma in various aspects of wellbeing, including but not limited to income, education, employment, health, housing, and access to civil registration/ personal documentation.

The quantitative data resulting from survey will be supplemented by qualitative studies on key aspects of Roma exclusion, such as the obstacles to integration of returning Roma migrants from EU member states; barriers to accessing personal documents; barriers to the employment of Roma and experience of labour market discrimination; gender roles and the experience of gender-based violence and early marriages; and the extent to which Roma communities experience environmental deprivation, i.e. live and work in hazardous and/or unhealthy environments.

The project will make the quantitative and qualitative data available to stakeholders influencing Roma Inclusion policies and programmes (international organizations active in supporting and promoting Roma inclusion policies and programmes; national government bodies responsible for Roma inclusion strategies and national statistical offices in the Western Balkans and Turkey; national and regional research institutions; civil society organisations), resulting in greater ability of a range of stakeholders to assess the different possibilities of Roma and non-Roma populations to access their socio-economic rights. This will contribute to a more informed and focused policy debate regionally and in the individual countries covered by the project. The final beneficiaries will be the more marginalized sections of the Roma populations and returnees in the Western Balkans and Turkey, who will ultimately benefit from the use of reliable data to design better focused and targeted inclusion policies.

UNDP IRH is looking for a knowledgeable and dedicated intern to join the Sustainable Development Team for support in the area of Roma inclusion. 

Notes:
(1) - This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. All further references to Kosovo in this document should be understood in this manner.This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. All further references to Kosovo in this document should be understood in this manner.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Sustainable Development Team Leader, and with a day-to-day guidance from the Employment and Social Inclusion consultant, the intern will have the following tasks:

• Research relevant projects, knowledge products and resource materials, and drafting/consolidating documents/briefs for the team in relation to Roma inclusion;
• Assist the team in developing communication materials for the Regional Roma Survey project, including support to preparation of policy notes and infographics;
• Write articles, blogs for newsletters, UNDP website, and web-based platforms on topics of Roma inclusion;
• Assist the team in the preparations (both substantive and logistics) for the thematic events;
• Assist the team in organising a virtual library for Regional Roma Survey project;
• Any other related tasks that are deemed necessary and appropriate to support the project work. 

Competencies

• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
• Attention to critical details;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment. 

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 a relevant discipline (Social Policy, Political Science, Law, other Social Sciences or other relevant field) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;

Experience:

• Understanding of specifics of the international organizations, particularly UN/UNDP and its tasks and mandate, sharing UNDP’s goals;
• Experience with handling of web based management systems, web administration, data analysis and social innovation tools is an advantage;

Language skills:

• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English; 
• Knowledge of languages spoken in Western Balkans is an asset.

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.

Selected candidate must submit following documents:

• Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme;
• Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out. Selected intern must have medical and life insurance.

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/