INTERN (ACCOUNTABILITY AND GENDER) FOR BCPR GENEVA - EARLY RECOVERY PARTNERSHIPS TEAM
Location :
Geneva, SWITZERLAND
Application Deadline :
13-Sep-13
Additional Category
Women's Empowerment
Type of Contract :
Internship
Post Level :
Intern
Languages Required :
English
Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
23-Sep-2013
Duration of Initial Contract :
6 months
Expected Duration of Assignment :
6 months
Background
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee established the global Cluster Working Group on Early Recovery (CWGER) in 2005 with the aim of enhancing the global capacity for developing relief and recovery-related interventions, enhancing the impact of development interventions, and integrating risk reduction measures at the very early stages of emergency response and beyond.
The CWGER is chaired by UNDP and is comprised of 34 active global partners from the humanitarian and development communities, including representatives of UN Agencies, Red Cross Movement, and NGOs.
The CWGER work agenda focuses on four main lines of action:
- Providing direct strategic and coordination support to the humanitarian system: supporting Humanitarian Coordinators, Resident Coordinators, DSRSGs, Humanitarian Country Teams and Cluster Lead Agencies at country level;
- Defining and coordinating the work in the areas of early recovery not covered by other clusters (e.g. governance, non-agricultural livelihoods, or other thematic area identified by the HCT);
- Providing support and guidance on the integration of early recovery in the work of other programmatic clusters; and
- Advocating at the global policy level on strengthening financing mechanisms, building capacity on early recovery, and making humanitarian response more strategic to link better with the resilience agenda, disaster risk reduction, and development work.
The Early Recovery Partnership Team (ERP), UNDP Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) in Geneva, Switzerland acts as the CWGER Secretariat. The overall purpose of the ERP team is to support the strategic integration of the Early Recovery approach in the overall humanitarian response as a foundation for building resilience in a post-crisis context.
The ERP intern (Gender and Accountability) will support the CWGER Coordinator (ERP Team Leader) in his capacity as UNDP Focal Point for a) Gender in humanitarian settings and b) Accountability to Affected Populations in humanitarian settings.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist the Coordinator of the Global Cluster Working Group on Early Recovery (CWGER) and his team in performing daily tasks in connection with Early Recovery Partnership team’s work (help organize and prepare relevant background documents for meetings, provide overall support in preparation for and follow up of meetings and conferences, preparing and circulating the meeting minutes, taking notes, and reporting to non-attending team members, etc.);Provide overall support in preparation for and follow up of IASC Gender Sub-Working Group meetings. Provide overall support in preparation for and follow up of IASC Task Force on Accountability to Affected Populations meetings.
- Draft outline and collect materials for presentations to UNDP senior staff and other BCPR teams;
- Provide support to the Early Recovery Advisor training and the Cluster Coordinators training.
- Read material about Early Recovery in general, and Accountability to Affected Populations and Gender Mainstreaming in Humanitarian Settings more specifically;
- Attend and support inter-agency meetings (e.g. other IASC subsidiary bodies meetings; IASC weekly meetings; Global Cluster meetings; Early Recovery Partnership team meetings).
Competencies
Corporate:
- Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modelling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN and UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
Development and Operational Effectiveness:
Communication
- Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
- Excellent interpersonal and networking skills.
Client Orientation
- Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
- Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback;
- Ability to build and sustain effective partnerships with UN Agencies and main constituents, advocate effectively, and communicate sensitively across different constituencies.
Planning and Organizing
- Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
- Sound time management and organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple tasks;
- Manage and organise training materials being delivered by multiple developers and teams;
- Capacity to work under tight deadlines, manage stress and adapt to rapidly evolving situations.
Required Skills and Experience
Education
- Enrolled in an advanced degree (master’s level) in adult education, political science/international relations, or other relevant field. Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field.
Experience
- Experience /interest in Gender and/or Accountability issues;
- Some knowledge of inter-agency coordination, humanitarian and development goals and processes, strategy formulation, programme planning and monitoring & evaluation in crisis and post-crisis settings would be an advantage;
- Experience in working in an international setting and/or organisation in international development and/or humanitarian assistance would be an advantage.
Language requirements:
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required for this post. French language skills would be an advantage.
Other Information:
The 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 (and graduation date);
- Copy of school transcript;
- Duly completed UNDP Internship Application form;
- 2 relevant writing samples.
Before receiving a contract, the selected candidate will have to provide the additional documents:
- Letter of endorsement from a senior faculty member who has directly supervised the student in the recent past and who is fully acquainted with the student's performance;
- A brief paper setting out the reasons why he/she is seeking an internship with UNDP and what is expected from the experience;
- A Medical Certificate of Good Health from a recognized physician. If the intern is expected to travel outside the country of their residence, other than to Europe and North America, the physician must indicate whether he/she is fit to travel and has had the required inoculations for the country or countries to which the intern is to travel;
- Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location(s) in which the internship will be carried out. Click here for a list of insurance carriers offering expatriate individual health and life/accident insurance plans for students.
Selection Process
- Interns are considered gratis personnel. They are not staff members;
- Interns are not financially remunerated by UNDP. The costs associated 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 own arrangements for travel, accommodation, visa, etc;
- Candidates must present proof of medical insurance coverage during the internship period.
For more information about the application process and UNDP's internship terms and conditions, visit: www.undp.org/internships.
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.
