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Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  With presence in 170 countries and territories, UNDP endeavors to help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships, and institutions so they can sustain their progress. UNDP personnel are united by a common purpose: to help countries and communities across the world pursue peaceful, prosperous lives, lived in harmony with the planet.

Enabling UNDP to meet client and partner needs, the Office of Human Resources in the Bureau of Management Services (BMS/OHR) is the hub for the global HR function at UNDP, providing strategy, policy setting, guidance, and oversight. In addition, OHR provides a broad range of HR advisory and talent management services enabling UNDP to deliver fully integrated development solutions at corporate level.  Within BMS/OHR, UNDP’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team serve as a center of excellence on a range of DEI matters, such as anti-racism, disability inclusion, LGBTIQ+ allyship and more, partnering across the organization to drive forward UNDP’s inclusive culture and strengthen its diverse workforce.

In 2023, UNDP launched the first phase of its ambitious DEI Strategy (2023-2025), which provides the organization with a progressive maturity model to enable action and growth around key areas. The strategy also mandated the establishment of a DEI Committee, which is a high-level oversight body which supports the acceleration of DEI commitments and implementation across the organization. At the same time, UNDP established an Anti-Racism in Programming Steering Group which is specifically focused on integrating Anti-Racism into UNDP’s programming offering through bureau level pledges. In this context, BMS/OHR is seeking an intern to support both UNDP’s DEI Committee and UNDP’s Anti-Racism in Programming Steering Group to ensure they are set up for success and are able to fulfil their objective. In addition, the intern will contribute overall to strengthening the Anti-Racism and DEI footprint within the organization.

Full-time for 6 months, the internship requires strong project management and coordination skills, ability to work independently, passion for DEI, eagerness to learn and to contribute to empowering personnel from marginalized backgrounds in the workplace.

Candidates from minoritized backgrounds, including people with disabilities and LGBTIQ+ persons are strongly encouraged to apply.     

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Assist in the coordination of UNDP’s DEI Committee:

• Support the DEI Committee in organizing UNDP’s annual “DEI week” and its promotional efforts. This includes tracking deliverables, assisting with scheduling of events, drafting messages, designing communication assets, promote the DEI week campaign and liaise with Committee members for updates on their bureau activities as needed.
• Participate in all DEI committee meetings, and ensuring they are documented through notetaking, updating the shared drive, and developing follow up and actioning messages.
• Support the DEI Committee Secretariat with ad-hoc needs such as gathering information, providing updates, and analyzing DEI engagement through internal channels.
• Support the DEI Programme Officer with preparation of notes, reports, briefs, or presentations on the results of the Inclusion Survey and on the implementation of the DEI Strategy and polishing these to make them visually appealing and in line with branding guidelines.
• Contribute to the 2025 Inclusion Survey communication efforts, including the development of internal communication assets, decks, briefing notes etc.

2. Support and help manage the work of the Anti-Racism in Programming Steering Group:

• Manage the steering group reporting schedule and provide timely reminders to focal points, including by tracking and monitoring all reporting requirements and supporting periodic updates.
• Support the coordination of the Anti-Racism in Programming Steering group meetings, including scheduling of meetings, follow-up with participants, note-taking and drafting meeting de-debriefings.
• Assist the Chair of the DEI committee in issuing reminders and conducting outreach to relevant stakeholders.
• Create a Teams channel for the group and create a repository for knowledge sharing.
• Create a SharePoint page for Anti-Racism in Programming and maintain it to ensure it is up to date.
• Contribute to strengthen the Anti-Racism Steering Group presence on social media by creating an Anti-Racism in Programming Viva Engage community or campaign, as needed and contributing to it.

3. Contribute to strengthening the DEI footprint within the organization:

• Alongside the DEI Analyst, co-manage the DEI community space on UNDP’s corporate social media (Viva Engage) and keep the community active and comments duly responded to.
• Support the curation of relevant DEI internal and UN-wide updates, events, news, and announcements, and develop them into Viva Engage and SharePoint media posts.
• In collaboration with the DEI team, contribute to the launch of the DEI Newsletter in 2025 and create a distribution plan for its quarterly issue.
• Assist in reaching out to the DEI Committee and other partners across the organization to curate rich content for the newsletter and inclusive images that best represent the topics being covered.
• Organize and maintain the DEI and DEI Committee shared folders.

Competencies

Innovation: Ability to make new and useful ideas work.
Level 1: Assesses work with critical eye

Leadership: Ability to persuade others to follow
Level 1: Takes responsibility for and ensures high quality of own work

People Management: Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.
Level 1: Understands personal and team roles, responsibilities and objectives

Communication: Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.
Level 1: Reliably and consistently listens and interprets information and instruction correctly

Delivery: Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement
Level 1: Meets goals and timelines for team deliverables

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Applicants to UNDP internships must at the time of application meet one of the following academic requirements:

(a) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) in Human Resources, Marketing, Communications, Social Sciences or related field;

(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent) in Human Resources, Marketing, Communications, Social Sciences or related field.

(c) Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one year of graduation.

Experience:

• Experience in project coordination and management would be a distinct advantage.
• Knowledge of In-Design, Canva or other design or illustration software would be an asset.
• Passion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, especially LBGTIQ+ inclusion or Anti-racism would be a benefit.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of other UN languages would be an asset.