Background

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) is responsible for UNDP’s external relations and advocacy functions. BERA leads and supports the organization in building and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances essential for successfully achieving the mission of UNDP. These relationships include a range of constituencies and development partners, related to resource mobilization and donor relations, intergovernmental affairs with member states, multilateral institutions, IFIs, the European Commission, private sector, foundations, UN system agencies and UN inter-governmental bodies.

BERA is positioned around three audience-oriented service lines, namely Public Partners Partnerships, Marketing and Communications and Private and Finance partners, each guided by the Directorate and supported by the Management Support and Strategy and Analytics Teams. BERA has a network of Regional External Relations Teams in five hubs co-led with Regional Bureaux and Representation Offices in Europe, Japan and the US, namely, Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Tokyo and Washington D.C., which manage and strengthen relationships with Public and Private Partners in country and help build a strong brand for UNDP within the local ecosystem including UN partnerships.

The Public Partnerships Group (PPG) guides trusted engagement with public partners in support of UNDP Strategic Plan. This involves coordinating multi-stakeholder partnerships including quality assurance; and engaging with key political constituencies and actors, as well as intergovernmental and inter-agency processes.

The Public Partnership Group (PPG) consists of five teams:

1. UN System Affairs,
2. Partnerships Portfolio Management,
3. Performance and Analysis Portfolio,
4. International Financial Institutions,
5. New Strategic Partnerships.

Key functions of PPG include:

• Build a strong constituency around UNDP’s strategic agenda with partners through proactive dialogue and advocacy with stakeholders.
• Develop and advise on annual engagement strategies and priorities for public partners, including organizing annual strategic dialogues.
• Set, monitor and deliver corporate public partnership priorities, goals, and key performance indicators in line with the corporate engagement strategies and audience specific accountability framework.
• Advise UNDP senior management on public and partnership engagement including multi-stakeholder engagement and funding mechanisms.
• Monitor emerging risks affecting UNDP’s positioning with the Member States and UN Partners and devise and implement risk mitigation plans.
• Coordinate and advise on UNDP contributions to system-wide policies on UN coherence modalities.
• Identify risks and opportunities to be given due consideration by UNDP management; advise senior leadership on issues arising and recommend course of action.
• Assess partner perceptions of UNDP and advise on UNDP’s response to partners’ assessments of performance.
• Oversee partnership management and RM tracking mechanisms across UNDP (including through a CRM platform)

Duties and Responsibilities

The Intern will have the opportunity to contribute to the work of the ‘UN System Affairs’ team (UNSAT). The Intern’s support and time will be defined and agreed upon with the respective supervisor/team leader.

Under the overall guidance and direction of the UNSAT Team Leader, the Intern will undertake tasks within one or more of the key functions listed below.

• Gather data on inter-agency and intergovernmental meetings and support analysis on key strategic issues.
• Regularly monitor and update through briefs/readouts/notes key developments within the intergovernmental and interagency spaces – flagship initiatives, campaigns, advocacy, news/update.
• Provide background research and analytical support for UNSAT team members, including for briefing notes, talking points, analysis, external correspondence, and statements, as required.
• As requested, attend bilateral, interagency, and intergovernmental meetings and consultations, provide timely information on issues of relevant importance to UNDP, prepare notes, readouts and briefings, including their presentation in team meetings.
• Support coordinating and liaising with UNSAT team members in organizing events including consultations, briefings, workshops, teleconferences, webinars, as required, preparing agendas, presentations, documents, meeting minutes, and identifying follow-up as required.
• Support regular monitoring of Member States and UN entities’ positions and providing inputs to intel notes, briefs, as well as to the tracking system.
• Perform other duties as may be required in support of the team’s objectives and workplan.

Competencies

1. Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP.
2. Good understanding of international development and multilateralism, particularly the UN system, its intergovernmental bodies and fora, Secretariat, agencies, funds and programmes.
3. Excellent analytical and data handling capability.     
4. Excellent organizational, general administration, time management skills.  
5. Strong English language skills (oral and written).
6. Demonstrates strong computer skills and ability to produce information visually.
7. Ability for problem-solving, multi-tasking, meet deadlines and work under pressure, strong follow-up skills  
8. Ability to work as part of a team in a constantly evolving work environment.

Required Skills and Experience

1. Enrollment in graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent or higher).
2. Enrollment in the final academic year of a university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent).
3. A university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) within one year of graduation.
4. Currently enrolled in a Master’s / postgraduate university in international relations, political science or related field.

Experience

1. Relevant national and/or international experience in multilateral diplomacy, sustainable development, human rights, humanitarian or political affairs, international relations, finance/economics, political science, management, communications, business consulting, knowledge management or related field.
2. Knowledge in multilateral diplomacy, development-related areas, multi-stakeholder engagement, international or multilateral organizations.
3. Prior relevant experience is an asset, including experience in drafting meeting notes and reports, as well as organizing meetings and collaborative events.

Learning Opportunities:

Learning and mentoring as well as facilitating exposure to a range of experiences for the intern will be an explicitly targeted goal during the internship. The Intern will be exposed to having a robust understanding of key intergovernmental United Nations bodies and mechanisms (General Assembly, ECOSOC, HLPF, SSC, 2nd Committee, etc.), as well as UNDP’s own governing body (Executive Board) – all of which will happen during the period of the internship. The Intern will be able to understand the dynamics of the UN development system reform and UNDP’s key contributions and collaboration with other UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes.