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 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 primary 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:

Internships offer a small group of outstanding undergraduate and graduate-level students the opportunity to acquire direct exposure to UNDP’s work. Internships are not alternative forms of employment. They are a way to offer young professionals the opportunity to complement their studies with hands on experience. This is excellent outreach for UNDP Philippines as well as a chance to have resources for a short period of time for focused contributions. It is the relationship of the work experience to their studies and/or their future academic or career ambitions which gives the internship assignment value.

They cannot be used to replace support staff or conduct strictly support functions. While some routine functions may be components of internship assignments, they are intended to be learning and developmental experiences that compliment advanced studies. Providing an opportunity to make substantive contributions to an office’s work is an essential requirement of offices taking on interns.

Five (5) internship assignments will be open for the following projects under the Institutions Capacity Building and Partnerships Programme Team.

1. The Youth Empowerment Project in Asia and the Pacific (YEP-AP) aims to invest in and empower young people across the region, to accelerate the implementation of SDGs. YEP-AP believes that youth can be leaders who create inclusive and equitable societies free of discrimination. They can make a positive difference by taking on the challenges through social innovation, mobilising their peers and communities, and creating adaptive and innovative solutions. YEP-AP focuses on youth political, social, and economic empowerment by building the capacities of young people and key stakeholders and creating safe, inclusive, and enabling environments for youth participation and civic engagement, especially for women and those from marginalised groups. UNDP is committed to help achieve the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and remains dedicated to its goal to help improve the lives of the poorest women and men, the marginalized and the disadvantaged in Philippines. From 2017-2022, the YEP-AP reached and engaged more than 11,000 young Filipinos with focus on underrepresented sectors, including out-of-school youth, youth affected by conflict, LGBTQIA+, differently abled and ethnic and religious minorities.
2. The Unified Budget, Results, and Accountability Framework (UBRAF, 2022-2026) stand as the central tool guiding and framing our Joint Programme’s actions for results. It plays a pivotal role in aligning with the implementation of the Global AIDS Strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals. This comprehensive framework encompasses eight Strategic Results Areas, including i) HIV Testing and Treatment, ii) Elimination of mother-to-child transmission, iii) HIV Prevention among young people, iv) HIV prevention among key populations, v) addressing gender inequality and gender-based violence, vi) promoting sexual and reproductive health rights, vii) human rights, stigma, and discrimination, and viii) optimizing investment and efficiency in HIV and health services integration. UNDP’s core mission involves mitigating inequalities and social exclusion that contribute to HIV and poor health outcomes. This is achieved by championing effective and inclusive governance for health and fostering the development of resilient and sustainable health systems. UBRAF serve as a strategic enabler, aligning with UNDP’s commitment to addressing these critical issues in tandem with the broader goals of the Global AIDS Strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals.
3. The Connectivity, Capability, and Resiliency through Free Wi-Fi for All (CoRe FW4A) Project, through the partnership between UNDP and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), recognizes the Philippine government’s priorities in terms of establishing connectivity infrastructures to ensure that educational institutions are responsive to the needs of the new normal, healthcare information and communications technology (ICT) systems are improved, and disaster preparedness and response of DICT and local government units (LGUs) are enhanced. In support of these priorities, the CoRe FW4A project aims to: broaden people’s access to free internet services in schools, geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, and indigenous people’s communities; capacitate DICT and LGUs in installing and managing ICT and internet equipment and services; and help improve disaster preparedness and response for emergency communications.
4. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government is in the crucial process of establishing a foundation for good governance in its area of jurisdiction. To provide guidance on regional development, the Bangsamoro Development Plan (BDP 2020-2022) has been prepared. The overall goal of the BARMM government “is to uplift the lives of the Bangsamoro and the establishment of the foundations of self-governance through moral governance”. The BARMM government, through its MILG, partnered with the UNDP for the Localizing e-Governance for Accelerated Provision of Services (LeAPS) Program to support the Office of the Chief Minister, all BARMM ministries, and local government units (LGUs) in using ICT solutions to simplify business processes, improve local public services and make them more accessible to Bangsamoro people. The program targets 118 municipalities and two (2) component cities of the BARMM. The overall objective of the LeAPS Program is to create “A highly trusted governance aimed at co-creating and bringing meaningful citizen-centric services towards the digital transformation for an empowered Bangsamoro”.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the respective Project Managers, the Interns will assist and support on the Communications and Advocacy efforts of said projects. Other tasks, such as but not limited to programmatic and operational tasks, may also be performed by the Interns. The Interns will work in close collaboration with various stakeholders of the projects, including programme and communications staff, government counterparts, private sector stakeholders, CSOs, and communications units of both the Country Office in the Philippines and the regional team at the Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH).

Duties and Responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Communications – 60%

• Support in co-designing the Communications Plan with partners and co-creating communications materials
• Support the execution of the Communications Plan and other relevant project initiatives;
• Support the creation of an Editorial Calendar
• Contribute to the development of (a.) visual communication products such as presentations, infographics, and social media cards; (b.) multimedia products such as animations, videos, and interactive content;
• Monitor engagement and insights of communication materials;
• Support content creation (teasers, event highlights, press releases, newsletters, etc.) for UNDP Philippines social media channels; and,
• Assist in the preparation of activity design, terms of reference, and other relevant documents for the production of communications materials

2. Event Management – 15%

• Provide administrative and logistical support to the organization of dialogues, presentations, meetings, and other events;
• Support in the documentation of events

3. Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation – 15%

• Assist in mapping exercises;
• Monitor and update the stakeholders directory;
• Support in conducting monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) activities such as, but not limited to, data collection, data visualization, work planning, progress reports, and impact management

4. Other – 10%

• Support the management of Online Volunteers in UNDP Philippines; and
• Support other/ad hoc activities as requested by the supervisor

Competencies

Other competencies and attitude

• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
• Shows initiative and thinks out-of-the box with a goal-oriented mindset;
• Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
• Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
• Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view; and
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude showing willingness to learn.

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 Masters degree or equivalent studies

Field of study: Development Communications, Communications Research, International/Development Studies, Public Management/Administration, or any related fields is an advantage

Digital skills: 

• Proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools, preferably knowledgeable in Excel functions and SharePoint
• Proficient user of Adobe or other design tools for development of multimedia products;
• Knowledge of Kanban boards and/or other collaborative tools, or willing to learn their use; and
• Experienced in digital campaigns through platforms such as, but not limited to, MailChimp and Microsoft Sway

Language skills: 

• Fluency in Filipino and English required;
• Knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage

INTERNSHIP CONDITIONS

• UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• When necessary, interns are responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
• When necessary, interns may be required to join official field missions outside of the duty station, at the expense of the appropriate project;
• 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 educational programmes;
• Interns need to obtain financing for subsistence and make their own arrangements for internship, travel, VISA, accommodation, etc.;
• Interns are expected to have their own equipment and connectivity; and
• Mobility arrangements (onsite or online) for interns will be agreed upon by the respective Project Managers with selected candidates, following the policy of the UNDP Philippines Country Office.