UNDP

Background

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both societies at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.

UNV engages over 9,450 volunteer assignments annually. With an average age of 34 years and the requisite professional skills and qualifications of some with 5 to 10 years relevant experience. The majority come from developing countries themselves. Roughly one half of UN Volunteers served in their own countries, with the other half carrying out international assignments. The financial equivalent of programme activities exceeds US$ 235 million annually.

UNV is headquartered in Bonn, Germany and has approximately 120 staff positions – with a large presence in Bonn and some positions with different UN peacekeeping and political missions, and in other Headquarters locations (e.g. New York and Tokyo) and Regional Offices (Nairobi, Dakar, Bangkok, Panama, Istanbul, and Amman).

UNV Information and Communications Technology Unit (ICTU), located in Bonn, Germany, is responsible for creating and maintaining multiple corporate applications

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the ICTS Infrastructure Team Leader, the Intern will support the unit as follows:

• Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the team by interviewing team members and business units about workflow procedures
• Support team to retire legacy systems by interviewing stakeholders using such systems;
• Attend team meetings and compile action points.
• Assist other assigned activities within the ICT Unit, as necessary:
• Update the ICT Unit workplan deliveries;
• Provide trainings and webinars;
• Run surveys on UNV staff and cost-recovery partners’ feedback;
• Lead asset disposal exercise;
• Perform helpdesk tier one support as needed;

Competencies

• Achieve results: plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
• Think innovatively: open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
• Learn continuously: open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
• Adapt with agility: adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
• Act with determination: shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
• Engage and partner: demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
• Enable diversity and inclusion: appreciates/respects differences, aware of unconscious bias, confronts discrimination

Learning opportunities

• General understanding of the work and mission of the UNV programme, and of volunteerism’s contribution to peace and development effectiveness.
• Insight and hands-on experience in UNV’s broad range of operational ICT activities.
• Insight and hands-on experience in volunteer management; and
• Become more familiar with working in an International Organization and in a multicultural environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

1. Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);

2. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);

3. Have recently graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;

4. Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

• Strong interest in development cooperation and in the work of the United Nations Volunteers programme.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills as well as proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required.
• Knowledge of Visio and other design applications would be an asset.
• Interest and experience in volunteering is a strong asset.
• Experience in developing countries is desirable.
• Fluency in English, knowledge of other official UN language is desirable

Conditions

• Intern will be given monthly stipend in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP Internship policy, which applicants should become familiar with prior to signing an UNDP Internship Agreement Form . Where an intern is financially supported by an institution, government or third party, UNDP will, subject to the rules of such institution, government or third party, pay the intern the difference, if any, between the external financial support provided and the applicable UNDP Stipend.
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship;
• All the expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern, sponsoring government or institutions;
• The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment within the UN System, but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.
• The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment within the UN System, but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

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.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.