Intern for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (UNDP)

his continent-wide Regional Programme supports Africa’s transformation agenda by 1) enhancing inclusive and sustainable growth, 2) widening political participation and giving everyone a voice, and 3) developing responsive institutions which deliver desired services and promote inclusive processes of state-society dialogue. The work builds on UNDP’s expertise in development thinking and practice, and decades of experience working at country level and globally.

Specific areas of work led from the Centre, on a regional and continent-wide basis include: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), improving countries’ public finance management, mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS, building capacity for disaster risk management and climate change mitigation and adaptation, enabling access to sustainable energy and sustainable use of natural resources, promoting gender equality and empowerment, and enhancing food security in the Sahel. The Centre also provides support to countries on aid and development effectiveness and South-South Cooperation.

Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction/Management and Resilience building:

This area leads the development and coordination of policy in climate change adaptation and mitigation, climate risk management, disaster risk reduction (DRR) early recovery and resilience building. The Cluster specifically incorporates risk as a key element of strategies to pursue sustainable development, to anticipate weather related extreme events and hazards and to strengthen early warning systems for early action and resilience building. Specific areas of work include:

• Climate Change
• Disaster Risk Reduction
• Sustainable Energy for All

Country Office Support:

The Climate Change and DRR Team works with the Country Support Team to provide policy, technical and programmatic advisory support to country offices on a regular basis and ensures coordinated support to their day-to-day activities, including but not limited to programme and management-related matters from a corporate perspective, planning, monitoring and reporting, and troubleshooting.

Objective of the UNDP-RSCA Internship Programme:

The internship will be beneficial to the intern as well as to UN Office. The internship is intended to familiarize the intern with UNDP system and with its multidimensional activities in Africa. The placement should further add practical knowledge and skills to the intern’s theoretical knowledge of international development issues disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

The UNDP-RSCA will also benefit from the wide variety of academic knowledge, professional experience and personal creativity of interns.  Interns can bring new, refreshing ideas/thoughts to the Office.  Moreover, they can contribute by keeping the Office self-reflective and critical of its own performances.

Responsibilities:

The intern will not be given responsibilities equal to staff members in the execution of tasks. The task package, accorded to the intern, shall be supplementary to the regular responsibilities of the staff member. No responsibilities may be transferred to the intern. The staff member bears ultimate and sole responsibility for successful implementation of the programme work, projects and supplementary activities.

Nature of Assignment:

The intern will assist a staff member in the Office, who will concurrently function as the supervisor, in the execution of his/her work. The intern may be asked to perform any task indicated in the Terms of Reference or designated by the supervisor. The intern will be involved to the greatest possible extent in substantive Office activities. Interns could also add valuable contribution in preparations to specific or incidental activities such as forums, exhibitions or workshops.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Intern is responsible for performance of the following duties:

• Technical input to regional (Africa Union and Regional Economic Communities) and national disaster risk reduction policy/plans and climate change adaptation development processes;
• Technical input to the Country Programme Document (CPD) formulation processes in the UNDP Strategic Plan alignment thematic area of disaster risk reduction and subsequent programme development processes after approval of CPDs;
• Assistance in preparation of disaster risk reduction and resilience plans including linking with best practices with Early Warning Systems to common extreme weather events such as El-Niño countries;
• Providing administrative and technical support to processes that contribute to implementation of global frameworks such as with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals;
• Technical and administrative support to undertaking of national and regional disaster rapid assessments, Post Disaster Needs Assessment and Disaster Early Recovery Contingency Plans, regional DRR/CCA programmes/projects and events including organisation of workshops and dialogues;
• Development of ToRs, concept notes and proposals for strategic regional DRR/CCA interventions;
• Conducting research and drafting technical analytical papers on selected resilience building topics;
• Knowledge management and advocacy activities including publications, blogs, linking countries to best practices;
• Revision/updating of country office DRR/ CC contacts and expert rosters.

Competencies

Personal Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to receive / integrate feedback;
• Works collaboratively with team members by sharing information openly and displaying cultural awareness and sensitivity;
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external partners;
• Positive and results-oriented attitude.

Technical / Functional Competencies:

• Good writing and researching skills;
• Strong analytical aptitude, communication and presentation skills;
• Good organizational, time management and strong interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work flexibly and meet tight deadlines;
• Attention to details and proven ability to work independently and effectively;
• Computer proficiency: MS Office.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); in the field of in natural sciences, preferably in the field of climate sciences, disaster risk reduction, international development, environmental studies or international politics;
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);
• Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.

Experience:

• Interest in disaster risk reduction, response and resilience building should be reflected in the curriculum vitae. Some work experience in the field of international cooperation, development assistance or humanitarian aid in their home countries would be an asset;
• Computer literate in standard software applications;
• Demonstrated keen interest in the work of the UN, and of UNDP in particular, and have a personal commitment to UNDP’s Statement of Purpose and to the ideals of the UN Charter;
• Demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Language:

• Fluency in written and spoken English/French;
• Knowledge of additional languages such as Portuguese/Spanish would be an advantage.

Intern requiements:

• Applicants should indicate which months they are available part and/or full time and when they complete their studies;
• UNDP internship programme does not provide a salary or remuneration for the internship;
• All the expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern, sponsoring Government or institution;
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• 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 or for six months immediately following the expiration date of internship;
• The intern must provide proof of enrollment in health insurance plan;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
• The Intern is expected to work full time but flexibility is allowed for his/her education programme;
• The intern will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his/her own arrangements for internship, travel, VISA, accommodation etc.
• Additional information regarding the UNDP Internship Programme may be obtained at http://www.undp.org/internships.

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