Intern-UNV Volunteer Solutions Section Onsite-Online Solutions- (Onsite)

Background

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 society and volunteers at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity, and reciprocity among citizens and purposefully creating participation opportunities. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for the 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, worldwide. 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 is based in Bonn, Germany, with around 150 staff at headquarters, and engaged 12,857 UN Volunteers deployed in 166 countries and territories and 8,000 Online Volunteers in 2023. With an average age of 34 years of UN Volunteers and the requisite professional skills and qualifications of some with 5 to 10 years of relevant experience. The majority come from developing countries themselves. Two thirds of the UN Volunteers served in their own countries, with one-third carrying out international assignments.  

The Volunteer Solutions Section (VSS) develops policies and solutions to support the mobilization of UN Volunteers and Online Volunteers across the UN system. VSS is responsible for providing robust and innovative volunteer service offers to the UN system, including consolidated volunteer types and categories, policies, talent acquisition (sourcing to recruitment) and volunteer engagement and management expertise. VSS works in close collaboration with all UNV units (headquarters, Regional Offices and Field Units) to provide relevant products and tools to support onsite and online volunteer mobilization.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Programme Analyst – Volunteer Solutions and overall guidance of the Programme Associate – Onsite-Online Solutions, the Intern will support as follows: 

Implementation of the UN Volunteer category evaluation and Online Volunteering review

• Assist in developing and implementing the action plan(s) related to the UN Volunteer category evaluation and Online Volunteering review management decision/ recommendations, including formulation of transition planning and roll-out to relevant stakeholders.
• Support the coordination with various stakeholders related to the implementation of the action plans and participate in meetings or working groups for documentation and notetaking.
• Develop and maintain documentation related to the evaluation and review  action plans, including communications material, support the tracking and monitoring of progress and provide regular updates.
• Assist in formulating implementation guidance related to the UN Volunteer Cycle, based on evaluation and review findings and management recommendation/ decision.
• Support in drafting of policy advice on interpretation of policies, regulations and rules and on substantive questions related to administration and management of UN Volunteers and Online Volunteers.
• Assist with other assigned activities assigned by the supervisor, as necessary.

Review of VSS content on the SharePoint and UN Volunteer knowledge base

• Support review of the content of the VSS SharePoint and materials on the Volunteer Management Knowledge Base ;
• Propose a structure to best present the information to end users;
• Support reorganizing knowledge pages content in line with the new structure;
• Support the Programme Associates with document management, including uploading documents and ensuring links are active and up to date.

Deliverables

• Implementation guidance and progress report: finalized guidance document/s related to the Volunteer Management Cycle and updated progress tracking report/s, highlighting the implementation status.
• Policy advice documentation: Final draft/s of policy advice documents on the interpretation of policies, regulations and rules related to the administration and management of UN Volunteers and Online Volunteers.

Competencies

Competencies

• Strong interest in development cooperation and the work of the United Nations Volunteers programme;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills ;
• Analytical mindset and approach to problem-solving
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required;
• Proficiency with SharePoint or other knowledge management tools is an asset

Learning opportunities for the intern

• 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 and programmatic issues on volunteer management;
• Become more familiar with working in an International Organization and in a multicultural environment.
• Insight and hands-on experience in technical writing, policy, process and system analysis, and translation

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Applicants to the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) internship programme must, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements:

• Currently enrolled or having recently graduated from a Master’s / Professional degree / academic programme in Public International Law, Peace and Development Policy, Social Sciences or a related field;
• Have recently graduated with a university degree, and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation;
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Experience:

• Familiarity with producing guidance material is desirable;
• Familiarity with document and/or knowledge management (especially using SharePoint) is desirable
• Interest and experience in volunteering is a strong asset;
• Experience in developing countries is desirable;

Language:

• Proficiency in English is required;
• Knowledge of other official UN languages (especially French or Spanish) is a strong asset.

Conditions

• Intern will be given monthly stipend in accordance with the provisions of the , which applicants should become familiar with prior to signing an . 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.

Candidates who are shortlisted for an interview must submit prior to the interview the following documents:

• Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in a graduate-level degree programme.

Only a successful candidate will be required to submit the following documents:

• A copy of the applicant’s most recent resume or curriculum vitae.
• A letter from his/her university confirming current enrollment and graduation date.
• A copy of his/her school transcript.
• A letter of recommendation from a professor.
• A signed UNDP Internship Agreement.
• A Medical Certificate of Good Health.
• Proof of medical insurance including provision for medical evacuation and removal of mortal remains or life insurance.

Copy of passport and working visa for Germany