Back Internship - Communication, Geneva Representation Office

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.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To respond effectively to complex development challenges, partnership is at the heart of everything UNDP does. In the organization, the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) leads and supports UNDP in cultivating, building and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances with Member States, UN sister agencies, private sector and civil society, that are essential for successfully achieving its mission of advancing the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion.

The UNDP Geneva Representation Office (GRO) is an integrated partnerships office, led by BERA, working across programmatic and representational functions. It contributes to UNDP’s mission by engaging and forging partnerships with a wide range of partners in Geneva and across Europe to support the attainment of the SDGs. In addition to leading donor relations with Switzerland and France and contributing to intergovernmental processes with Member States’ Permanent Missions, the Office has a specific responsibility for the development of partnerships with UN sister agencies and other international organisations headquartered in Geneva, as well as with the private sector, in particular the finance community.

In addition, through relevant coverage and participation in intergovernmental and UN agency debates, the Office provides intelligence to UNDP’s senior management to help shape corporate positioning and UNDP engagement strategies on specific thematic areas, such as inequality, nature and climate, crisis prevention and response, or financing for development. Furthermore, it also tracks trends and opportunities in the external political environment that may affect UNDP’s mandate, for instance in the areas of innovation for development or private sector engagement for the SDGs.

Under the direct supervision of the Communication Manager and overall guidance of the UNDP Geneva Representation Office Director, and working closely with relevant UNDP teams in BERA and in the UNDP’s Global Policy Network (comprising the UNDP Bureau of Policy and Programme Support and the UNDP Crisis Bureau), the Communication intern will be in charge of supporting:

1. Media coverage
2. Event promotion
3. Digital communication

   And any other related duties, as assigned by the UNDP Geneva management.

   For more information on the mandate and work of the UNDP Geneva Office, please visit: https://www.undp.org/geneva

   
   

   Duties and Responsibilities

   Media coverage (25%):

   Under the guidance of the Communication Manager, the intern will:

   • Maintain the global media data base, research as needed for new contacts on specific themes, research and analyse specific media coverage on topical trends
   • Attend the bi-weekly press briefer when necessary, support the preparation of UNDP representative briefing by specific research, background notes and follow up requested by journalists

     Event promotion (25%):

     Under the guidance of the UNDP Geneva Office senior management, and in partnership with relevant policy colleagues and administrative colleagues, support the organization of in-person and virtual events/policy dialogues/advocacy events in Geneva and Western Europe (such as public launch of flagship UNDP reports, policy briefs, inter-agency consultations, donor events, external advocacy campaign), including through ensuring:

     📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

     ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

     • Support the development of digital promotional material (website page, social media kit, post event summary, short video) to advertise and summarize the event
     • Support on site the event public relations (registration if any, distribution of flyers, speakers support, etc.)
     • Research on social media and digital platforms for potential amplifiers that could disseminate event and campaign material
     • Support administrative organization of the events (liaise with service providers, secure logistics, support event set-up)

       Digital communication (50%):

       • Support the organization of an internal communication group: Identify communication leads and interns, support the organization of a monthly meeting, take and disseminate minutes, follow up on action points
       • Develop web stories related to technical teams and to the Partners at Core campaign to explicit how UNDP is leveraging at country level the support received by key donors
       • Develop social media kit for each of these stories, identify content on Twitter that could be RT and research for content that would deserve native post from UNDP Geneva account
       • Develop graphic and audio visual material for social media content
         

         Competencies

         Required skills and competencies:

         • Highly motivated and a self-starter, with an excellent combination of strategic vision and communication skills.
         • Strong understanding and knowledge of development issues and demonstrated ability to think strategically and to convey complex development concepts in a clear and persuasive manner.
         • Proven ability to write clearly and convincingly in English, with meticulous copy-editing skills and rigorous eye for content accuracy. Capable of adapting style and content to different audiences, with persuasive, coherent and well-founded arguments, in a style that is accessible to a broad audience of policymakers, private sector and activists.
         • Excellent organization and coordination skills, with ability to plan and deliver activities with limited supervision and by taking initiatives.
         • Ability to produce high quality digital content, including with familiary with design/web based tools and audiovisual software to create graphic material for social media content.
         • Demonstrated integrity by modelling the UN's values and ethical standards; displaying cultural, gender, religion, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

           Core Values:

           • Demonstrates an international outlook and an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff.
           • Demonstrates an ability to manage workload with minimum supervision and collaborate with a wide range of colleagues in a fast-paced environment, while meeting tight deadlines.
           • Demonstrates an intellectual curiosity and a deep desire to learn, displaying strong versatility and adaptability.
           • Openness to change and ability to receive / integrate feedback.

             Additional Functional Competencies:

             • Strong organizational skills and ability to multi-task.
             • Excellent knowledge of MS Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) required.
             • Proficiency with social media would be an asset. Knowledge of CMS an asset.
             • Familiarity with graphic design software and online dissemination (e.g. Canvas, Mailchimp) is an asset.
               

               Required Skills and Experience

               Education:

               Applicants must at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements:

               • Be enrolled in a post graduate degree programme (master programme or higher) in International Development, Political Science, Innovation or Economics, Marketing, Journalism and Communication or any relevant Social Science related programme; or
               • Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (bachelor degree or equivalent), in above relevant field; or
               • Have recently graduated with a university degree, as defined in the above field and, if selected, the candidate must start the internship within one year of graduation.

                 Experience:

                 • Demonstrated experience in communication.
                 • Knowledge of multilateral organizations would be an asset.

                   Language requirements:

                   • Fluency in English is required.
                   • French or German an asset.

                     Conditions of internship:

                     • Interns may be given a stipend in accordance with the UNDP Internship Policies, if the intern is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation or scholarship programme; a stipend is intended to compensate for the cost of living at the duty station.
                     • 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.
                     • To travel to the duty station, 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 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.
                     • The intern will be evaluated at the end of the contract and due recognition of work will be issued in writing.
                     • For more information about the application process and UNDP's internship terms and conditions, visit: www.undp.org/internships

                       How to Apply:

                       Applicants should send a cover letter, and CV through the online portal. Please note that only one document can be uploaded, therefore please scan the cover letter and CV all into one document.

                       Selected candidates will be contacted by email and will be asked to submit the following documents:

                       • Letter from his/her university confirming current enrollment and graduation date;
                       • Letter of recommendation from a professor;
                       • Copy of his/her most recent school transcript;
                       • Copy of national passport;
                       • Completed UNDP internship application form (to be provided upon selection);
                       • Signed UNDP Internship Agreement (to be provided upon selection);
                       • Medical Certificate of Good Health (to be provided upon selection);
                       • Proof of medical insurance coverage for the duration of the internship assignment in Switzerland (to be provided upon selection).