Internship Assignment, Inclusive and Green Growth

Background

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

UNDP’s Internship Programme provides interns with a framework for gaining experience through practical work assignments and exposure to UNDP’s work. One of the most important advantages of being an intern is the close interaction with the supervisor and colleagues and the opportunity to develop the skills required within a professional environment.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting Montenegro to fulfil its international reporting obligations on environment/climate change and its efforts to move towards a more environmentally friendly and climate-neutral society. This is in line with Montenegro’s commitments to the Paris Agreement and the European strategic long-term vision. UNDP is implementing initiatives aiming to reduce the country’s carbon footprint in tourism and transportation, protect nature, promote sustainable resource use, and encourage green growth.

UNDP’s efforts focus on supporting Montenegro’s national stakeholders and partners in “greening” key economic sectors through integrated strategies, policies, and financing frameworks. This includes identifying ways to improve the governance, business environment, create new opportunities in green sectors, and drive competitiveness through digitalization. UNDP also has specific projects dedicated to coal phase-out, just transition, and climate neutrality, which aligns with the Just Transition process.

In the implementation of its actions, UNDP places special emphasis on gender equality principles. This includes empowering women to participate in designing Montenegro’s climate mitigation and adaptation responses and in the implementation of respective policies. UNDP recognizes that there are still gender gaps in responding to climate change and evolving green labour market opportunities, and it is working to identify these gaps and address them to ensure an inclusive and gender-responsive just transition, that leaves no one behind.

Slovak Trust Fund/CEF project aims to drive meaningful change in cities through continued collaboration with municipalities such as Pljevlja and Podgorica to co-create innovative solutions that enhance urban resilience and support sustainable and inclusive development. These efforts are deeply integrated with Montenegro’s EU integration goals and the global SDG agenda.

ReWaste: Reducing Waste and Rethinking Waste Management in Montenegro project aims to transform the waste management system of Podgorica, the Capital of Montenegro, into a sustainable, modern, integrated, and EU-compliant model, advancing the City’s environmental and urban resilience and enabling the city to serve as a role model for the entire country.

The intern will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in in-house training opportunities as applicable.
• Learn the structure, mechanisms, policies and practice areas of UNDP.
• Strengthen his/her effective writing.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intern will work under the direct supervision of the UNDP Project Analyst for Sustainable Local Development and will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Conduct research on best practices and policies related to green and digital transition, urban resilience, just transition, green growth, reducing carbon footprint, local economic diversification, and other.
• Support the collection and analysis of sex-disaggregated data related to UNDP’s initiatives in Montenegro.
• Support the development of the Twin Transition (green and digital) portfolios in two cities for the City Experiment Fund project.
• Participate in social listening and horizon scanning activities in two cities for the City Experiment Fund project.
• Help organize workshops and events aimed at increasing awareness and capacity development, including planning, sending letters and invitations, preparing minutes, logistics, etc.
• Assist in the development of proposals for new initiatives aimed at promoting green and digital transition, waste management, just transition, sustainable growth, and reducing carbon footprints in key economic sectors, and other.
• Help prepare materials and resources aimed at promoting gender-responsive and youth-responsive climate action and a just transition to a green economy.
• Assist in the coordination and communication with partners and stakeholders involved in UNDP’s initiatives in Montenegro, including government agencies, NGOs, and community groups.
• Support communication initiatives related to UNDP’s initiatives in Montenegro, such as drafting social media posts, website updates, and other.

This is a full-time office-based assignment. The intern will be expected to work closely with the Project Analyst for Sustainable Local Development and Portfolio Team Leader and other members of the Inclusive and Green Growth Portfolio team to achieve its objectives.

Education:

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

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

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

(c) 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;

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

Field of study: Climate Change, Economics, Social Sciences, Tourism, International Relations, Political Science or equivalent.

Experience and competencies:

• Demonstrated interest and some experience in the field of green development.
• Demonstrated experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis and reporting will be an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in coordination of meetings, stakeholder workshops, organization of events.

IT skills:

• Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
• Knowledge of statistical software tools/applications (e.g. Stata, R-studio, SPSS, etc.) will be an advantage;
• Knowledge of social media and graphic design apps/tools will be an advantage.

Language skills:

• Proficiency in English and Montenegrin, both written and verbal is required.

Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding UN’s values, ethics and integrity,
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability,
• Actively promotes gender equality in all assignment activities,
• Self-development, initiative-taking,
• Acting as a team player.
• Very strong communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrated ability to build trust,
• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position,
• Ability to carry out tasks independently as well in team environment,
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments,
• Able to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible, mature manner, providing sound judgment.
• Good analytical and writing skills.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.

General Internships Terms & Conditions:

• UNDP Internship programme is governed by the UNDP Internship policy framework & rules.
• Under the UNDP internship policy, UNDP will provide a monthly internship stipend to its interns, in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP Internship policy. All expenses connected with the internship will be borne by the intern.
• Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP and must provide a medical certificate of good health prior to starting the internship. UNDP will not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern. Any costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern.
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to personal effects that may occur during the internship.

UNDP’s expenses

• Costs incurred by interns, including undertaking official travel at the request of UNDP, in the discharge of the activities related to the internship are reimbursed by UNDP on the same basis as costs incurred by staff members or costs reimbursed to staff members, including payment of daily subsistence allowance, as applicable.

Stipend

• The stipend will include a monthly remuneration.
• Where an intern is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation or scholarship programme, a stipend intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station, must be paid by the receiving office.
• The stipend will be paid on a monthly basis and part-time internship arrangements are prorated accordingly.
• 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.
• No other payments of any kind will be made to an intern by the office in connection with an internship agreement.
• Interns will accrue combined sick and annual leave at the rate of 1 ½ days per month, which will be prorated to the nearest half day for part-time internships. Any accrued leave days not used by the end of the internship will be forfeited. Any unjustified absences during the internship period exceeding a total of nine days or as prorated for part-time internships, will be deducted from the monthly stipend.

Subsequent Employment

There is no expectation of employment with UNDP following an internship.

Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. UNDP is committed to creating an inclusive workplace, and to taking appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities to have access to UNDP job opportunities and benefit from participating in UNDP selection, hiring and employment processes. UNDP is committed to providing reasonable accommodation during recruitment, hiring and employment.

Disclaimer

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: 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.

Non-discrimination

UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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