Business and Human Rights Intern

Background

CORPORATE BACKGROUND:

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

UNDP is working to strengthen new frameworks for development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. We support countries’ efforts to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals, which will guide global development priorities through 2030. The key 2030 Agenda principle of leaving no one behind and stamping out inequality is at the core of everything we do.

UNDP focuses on helping countries build and share solutions in three main areas:

• Sustainable development
• Democratic governance and peacebuilding
• Climate and disaster resilience

In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women, minorities and the poorest and most vulnerable.

INTERNSHIP OFFICE BACKGROUND:

In many countries in Asia, open markets and pro-growth policies have translated into several decades of economic growth and reduced poverty rates. Yet, economic progress has, in some contexts, resulted in a large number of human rights abuses along the length of operations and their supply chains. The human rights impacts of these operations are no longer deemed acceptable to many consumers, shareholders, government authorities, and business leaders.

The UNDP Asia-Pacific, Business and Human Rights Unit, is playing a central role in promoting the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The UNGPs clarify the duty of states and the responsibility of businesses to uphold international norms on human rights. The UNGPs rest on three pillars, namely the State duty to protect human right, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and; and the independent and complementary roles of States and businesses to ensure that victims of business-related human rights abuses have access to effective remedy.

UNDP’s regional project on Business and Human Rights, titled “Business and Human Rights in Asia: Promoting Responsible Business Practices through Regional Partnerships”, has the objective of strengthening the business and human rights agenda in Asia through awareness raising, capacity building, and peer-learning among a diverse set of stakeholders including governments, businesses, national human rights institutions, civil society organisations and others. The project provides technical and advisory support to governments and national human rights institutions; promote corporate human rights policies, due diligence practices, and remediation; amplify the voices of rights holders and highlight the need for effective remedy through awareness raising, capacity building, facilitating peer learning,  conducting research and developing toolkits.

The internship will be an excellent opportunity to become familiar with UNDP and the wider UN system, learning more about the different thematic areas of work in the business and human rights field and of the UNDP B+HR Asia project, engage with key stakeholders, engage in awareness raising and capacity building events, and support research activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

DUTIES:

The intern will assist in the following duties and responsibilities:

Competencies

COMPETENCIES AND ATTITUDE:

• Demonstrable interest in Business and Human Rights;
• An eagerness to learn;
• Proactive, problem-solving and hands-on mentality;                                                                                 
• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
• Good analytical skills, and an ability to gather and consolidate data;
• Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal oriented mind-set;
• Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
• Good in proactively organizing and structuring competing tasks and responsibilities;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

INTERNSHIP CONDITIONS:

• UNDP will not pay interns for internship but will provide a stipend in the amount of THB 8,302.50 monthly in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP internship policy; all other expenses connected with it will be borne by the intern or their sponsoring Government or institution;
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• Interns are 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 must provide proof of enrolment in health insurance plan;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
• Interns are expected to work full time but flexibility is allowed for education programmes;
• Interns need to obtain financing for subsistence and make own arrangements for internship, travel, VISA, accommodation, etc.

Required Skills and Experience

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

• currently in the final year of a Bachelor’s degree; or
• currently enrolled in a Master’s degree; or
• have graduated no longer than 1 year ago from a bachelor’s or master’s degree or equivalent studies.

Field of study: international law, political science, international relations, global governance, business administration, business and human rights, responsible business. sustainability or equivalent.

IT skills:

• Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
• Knowledge and experience in organizing Meetings and Webinars through Zoom is an advantage.

Language skills:

• English is required;
• Knowledge of other UN or Asian languages is an advantage.