Internships With National Adaptation Plan (NAP): Knowledge Management Intern and Communications Intern

Background

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN lead agency on international development, working in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. As part of UNDP’s Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, the Climate Hub is supporting country-driven action to deliver the goals of the Paris Agreement.

UNDP is supporting around 50 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Central Europe in scaling up the integration of climate change adaptation into policy, planning, and investments through the support to the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process. The NAP global team based in Istanbul coordinates this work, providing guidance to the NAP projects around the world, closely aligned with relevant initiatives such as the support to countries in enhancing and implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

As part of its support to countries’ adaptation planning process, the global NAP Team seeks to recruit two interns to support its communication and knowledge management efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior Technical Advisor, Climate Change Adaptation Policies and Planning, and in close collaboration with the NAP Communication and Knowledge Management Officers, the Knowled Management Intern and Communications Intern will undertake the following tasks respectively:

Communications related tasks for Communications Intern (who will work home-based):

1. Support to updating country project pages and event webpage content on NAP website(s);
2. Support to drafting tweets and visuals weekly for the NAP social media plan in 2024;
3. Support to drafting promotional content as part of dissemination plans;
4. Support to preparing three 1-minute video scripts as part of a series;
5. Support to reviewing web articles, photo stories and other written content;
6. Support to team’s communication and advocacy efforts by designing visuals, drafting/reviewing presentations, etc.

Knowledge management related tasks for Knowledge Management Intern (who will work office-based in Istanbul):

1. Support to conducting research on thematic areas relevant for adaptation planning processes;
2. Support to development of knowledge products such as policy papers;
3. Support to knowledge exchanges and organization of online and in-person events;
4. Support for updating the internal NAP Database based on country project progress reports;
5. Provide support with translations (if needed and depending on the language skills of the selected intern).

Competencies

• Excellent communications skills.
• Computer literacy in standard software applications.
• Strong interest in, and knowledge of, climate change adaptation and international development cooperation.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues and partners.
• Good organizational and time management skills.
• Able to work independently.
• Cultural sensitivity and appreciation for different cultures and practices.
• Ability to pay attention to detail, openness to learn and receive/integrate feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Languages:

• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in French and/or Spanish is desirable.
• Knowledge of additional UN official languages will be considered a plus.

Experience:

• Previous related work experience in research and communication would be an asset but is not required.
• Experience with organization of events, social media and coordination would be an asset.

Eligibility

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

• Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);
• 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;
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Additional Information:

Financial Issues

Internships within the UN system are subject to conditions the applicant must get familiar with before signing his/her internship agreement. Starting from January 2020 interns will receive stipends according to UN rules and regulations. Any further costs associated with the internship must be borne by the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or by the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his or her arrangements for travel, accommodation and other costs.

Selected candidate must submit following documents:

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

•             Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out. Selected intern must have medical and life insurance.

UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.

UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship. Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.

It is important to note that interns are responsible to arrange for their own visa and residence documents, and need to plan for these well in advance.

Subsequent Employment:

The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but to complement an intern’s studies.

Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.

More information available at: