Research Intern

Location : New Delhi, INDIA

Application Deadline : 14-Oct-23 (Midnight New York, USA)

Additional Category : Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction

Type of Contract : Internship

Post Level : Intern

Languages Required : English

Starting Date : (date when the selected candidate is expected to start)

23-Oct-2023

Duration of Initial Contract : 3 Months

Expected Duration of Assignment : 6 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

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.

Background

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

•  Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs.
•  Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized.
•  Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability.

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.

Project Background: The Sustainable & Inclusive Growth portfolio is anchored in the national priority of ‘accelerated growth with inclusion and equity, employment generation, and skill India’, aligned to outcome 1 of the UNDP strategic plan. While the focus of outcome 2 is on decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and reducing inequalities (SDG 10), the UNDP comparative advantage in the sector as a facilitator and knowledge leader is being leveraged to strengthen institutional linkages between enterprise and skills-training providers and to identify synergies between national programmes and missions to assist marginalized groups access to sustainable skills, jobs, livelihoods, and productive assets.

The focus of the portfolio has been primarily women and youth from the marginalized communities across the country. It takes into consideration that women face significant social and economic barriers in participating in India’s workforce. Under the portfolio, there are several projects being implemented, working towards increased awareness, career guidance and counselling, apprenticeships promotion (with industry clusters), micro-enterprise development, strengthening of the farm/non-farm and artisanal values chains, and developing second generations managers, enhancing employability and business skills capacity, facilitation of linkages, mentorship support and nurturing the innovation potential of youth and women of rural and urban areas.

UNDP in India is committed to support the efforts of the Government of India towards working with partners and key stakeholders to advocate for an environmentally sensitive response to COVID-19 that resets towards greener pathways for recovery. Focus is to not only move towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient recovery, but also help to strengthen recovery by focusing on emerging and innovative green job opportunities. The COVID 19 global pandemic could potentially threaten to deepen inequalities and undo progress on the SDGs. We are already witnessing the detrimental impact of the pandemic on the economies and the populations especially poor and vulnerable populations. India is no exception to this challenge that can jeopardize India’s gains in reducing poverty, improving access to livelihoods and social protection.

Building on the experience and the partnership base of earlier projects and keeping in view the need for intense work on local livelihoods for green growth and expanding digital capacity and access to social security, PROmoting Inclusive GRowth through Enhanced Access to Local Livelihood Opportunities, Education to Work Transition and Social Protection Schemes (PROGRESS) programme has been initiated in partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

The programme is being rolled out in close partnership with the Central and State Governments and aims to leverage partnerships with private sector actors, financial institutions, educational and vocational institutes, training partners, and the community to fill the gaps through innovative approaches and practices. Similarly, it will leverage flagship public schemes.

The overall objective of the proposed engagement is to work closely with the Inclusive Growth Unit and extend expert input and support on skilling and employment aspects of the programme implementation. This will include providing research, proposal writing, collating, and verifying data, developing communication collaterals, leading online/offline events.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Head, Inclusive Growth the intern shall perform, inter alia, the following tasks:

•  Conduct supervised secondary research on specific topics in the area of cross-cutting matters related to climate action and conservation.
•  Provide support in writing of project related documents (concept notes, proposals, etc.), and synthesize documents and other relevant knowledge products;
•  Participate in and contribute to preparation, conduct and follow-up of meetings, workshops and consultations as needed by engaging with relevant stakeholders including governments, communities, and donors.
•  Contribute towards furthering the priorities of UNDP and Government of India towards international commitments such as United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UN Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
•  Prepare PowerPoint presentations, visual representations, infographics as required;
•  Assist in the organization of webinars/conferences/events/forums
•  Proof reading and editing of reports, books, booklets, or any other type of publications/communications material.
•  Ensure effective and efficient provision of services, full confidentiality in all aspects of assignment, management of information flow and follow-up on deadlines and commitments made;
•  Support the team with other relevant tasks.

Competencies

•  Strong sense of collaborative work, excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
•  Keen attention to detail;
•  Excellent analytical, writing and research skills;
•  Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise;
•  Is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda;
•  Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position

Required Skills and Experience

Education

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

•  Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a Master’s programme, or higher) in one of the following disciplines: Finance, Business & Administration or other relevant subjects.
•  Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the above field;
•  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.

Skills

•  Experience in data collection and analysis in the field of social or economic development fields;
•  Outstanding command in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Experience with data visualization platforms will be considered an advantage.
•  Basic understanding of current affairs and interest in development challenges
•  Experience in writing blogs, features, articles would be an asset.
•  Good team player and ability to adapt to change in work environment

Language Requirements

Fluency in English and understanding of Hindi is desirable

Application procedure: The application should contain:

•  The completed “Application Form” provided in the link, which requires names of 3 referees.
•  Current and complete CV in English.

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Candidates who are selected must submit the following documents, upon selection:

•  Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in their undergraduate or 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.

Kindly note, UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months

IMPORTANT: Family relationships are required to be disclosed in order to avoid real or perceived family influence or conflict of interest, within UNDP. If the candidate/ hiring manager has not disclosed that he/she was related to an individual employed by UNDP in whatever contractual modality and irrespective of the nature of the family relationship, this may constitute a basis for withdrawing the offer of internship or, if the internship has started, to terminate it without notice or indemnity.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination.

All selected candidates will be required to undergo rigorous reference and background checks.