Background and Organizational Context

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

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.

The Internal Displacement Solutions Fund (IDSF) is a United Nations financing mechanism established to catalyse nationally led, development-oriented solutions to internal displacement. The Fund supports governments, Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams to move beyond short-term responses and advance durable solutions that improve access to housing, livelihoods, services, documentation and social protection for internally displaced persons and displacement-affected communities.

IDSF provides targeted catalytic financing to help countries strengthen national leadership, develop and implement solutions strategies, improve data and evidence, and connect initial investments to larger-scale public, bilateral and multilateral financing. The Fund also supports learning across its country portfolio and generates evidence on approaches that can be replicated or scaled.

IDSF is seeking an intern to support the day-to-day work of the Secretariat, with a particular focus on communications, knowledge management, content development and coordination support.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern will work under the direct supervision of the IDSF Secretariat and in close coordination with Secretariat colleagues and country-level partners. Responsibilities will include the following:

1. Knowledge Management and Learning

• Support the documentation of lessons learned, good practices, country examples and results from the IDSF portfolio for wider dissemination.
• Help maintain and organize the IDSF SharePoint, contact lists, knowledge repositories, meeting folders and other internal information-management systems.
• Support the preparation and formatting of knowledge products, briefing notes, meeting readouts, case studies and publications in line with IDSF templates and standards.
• Assist with tracking knowledge-management outputs, country updates and follow-up actions from IDSF meetings and consultations.

2. Communications and Visibility

• Draft and edit concise communications products, including website text, newsletter items, social media copy, donor updates, event summaries and internal announcements.
• Support the collection, organization and captioning of visual assets, including country-level and agency-provided photographs, for use in IDSF communications products.
• Assist with website updates and content organization, ensuring that public-facing information is clear, accurate, current and aligned with agreed IDSF messaging.
• Support the development of PowerPoint presentations, talking points and other visual materials for meetings with partners, donors and UN stakeholders.

3. Coordination, Events and Secretariat Support

• Assist in organizing IDSF meetings, donor consultations, webinars and other events, including invitations, agendas, participant lists, note-taking and follow-up tracking.
• Draft high-quality meeting notes and action points for internal meetings and external stakeholder consultations.
• Provide ad hoc administrative and coordination support to the IDSF Secretariat, including routine correspondence and the preparation of background folders.

Competencies

Functional Competencies

• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex material into clear, concise products for different audiences.
• Strong analytical and research skills, including the ability to organize information, identify key messages and translate findings into usable outputs.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to maintain organized files, trackers and knowledge products.
• Demonstrated interest in international development, internal displacement, durable solutions, communications or knowledge management.
• Good command of information and communication technology, including Microsoft Office and collaborative platforms such as SharePoint or Teams.

Core Competencies:

• Professionalism: Demonstrates sound judgement, initiative, reliability and the ability to work under pressure.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly, concisely and effectively; listens to others and responds appropriately.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues from different functions, organizations and cultural backgrounds.
• Planning and Organizing: Identifies priorities, manages multiple assignments and delivers outputs within agreed timelines.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of responsibilities and delivers work to agreed standards of quality and timeliness.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements:
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme or higher);
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as a bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
• Have recently graduated with a university degree, as defined above, and, if selected, start the internship within one year of graduation; or
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship programme and undertake the internship as part of this programme.

Experience:

• Excellent writing and editing skills, with the ability to adapt tone and level of detail for different audiences.
• Experience or strong interest in communications, knowledge management, public information, international development, forced displacement or humanitarian affairs.
• Experience drafting meeting notes, summaries, web content, newsletters, presentations or other communications products is desirable.
• Familiarity with website content management, SharePoint, Mailchimp, Canva, PowerPoint, Adobe tools or similar communications and design platforms is an asset.
• Some knowledge of internal displacement, durable solutions, UN coordination or development policy would be helpful.

Languages:

Fluency in English, both oral and written, is required. Knowledge of another UN official language would be an asset.

Stipend

• Where an intern 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 will be paid by the receiving office.
• The monthly stipend amount will be determined in accordance with applicable UNDP internship policies and duty-station rates. Part-time internship arrangements will be prorated accordingly.
• Where an intern is financially supported by an institution, government or third party, UNDP will, subject to the applicable rules, pay the difference, if any, between the external financial support provided and the applicable UNDP stipend.
• No other payments of any kind will be made to an intern by the office in connection with the internship agreement.
• Interns will accrue combined sick and annual leave at the applicable monthly rate, prorated for part-time arrangements where relevant. Any accrued leave not used by the end of the internship will be forfeited.

Application Procedure:

• The application should contain (i) brief Cover Letter (in English) stating why you would like to be considered for the internship; and (ii) current CV (in English).

Please combine the above into one single PDF document as the system only allows uploading of a single document.

In case an applicant is successfully selected, s/he will be requested to provide electronic versions of the following documents upon selection:

• Copy of most recent curriculum vitae;
• Letter from university confirming current enrolment and graduation date, or;
• Copy of recent graduation certificate;
• Letter of recommendation from a professor;
• Copy of school transcript;
• Copy of passport;
• Medical Certificate of Good Health;
• Proof of medical insurance cover.

Disclaimer

Important information for US Permanent Residents (‘Green Card’ holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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