[Hiring] Internship (Development as Defense: Stakeholder Mapping, Partnerships, and Financing) @UNDP

Role Description

The objective of the internship is to identify how UNDP can position itself with defense and security stakeholders, develop concrete partnerships and access new sources of financing. To get there, the work has three objectives:

• Evolve UNDP's message: identify how the development-as-defense narrative can connect with the priorities and language of the defense and security community.
• Identify partnership opportunities: map where UNDP could partner with defense and security actors in government and industry.
• Identify financing opportunities: map defense and security-related funding streams that could support UNDP's work, and how to access them.

The work covers four thematic angles:

• Climate and health resilience
• Governance systems
• Digital systems and AI
• Economic security

Duties and Responsibilities

• Map Defense and Security Narratives:
  • Review national security and defense strategies, alliance and regional security frameworks, defense ministry and parliamentary statements, and defense industry and think tank publications.
  • Document how these actors define threats and priorities, and how they describe the role of development, resilience and prevention.
• Climate and Health Resilience:
  • Map how defense and security actors treat climate change and health emergencies as security threats, including climate-related instability, disaster response and biosecurity.
  • Identify where UNDP's resilience work aligns with these concerns.
• Governance Systems:
  • Map how security actors approach fragile states, stabilization, counterterrorism and preventing violent extremism.
  • Identify where UNDP's governance, rule of law and stabilization work complements security objectives.
• Digital Systems and AI:
  • Map defense and security priorities on cyber resilience, disinformation, critical infrastructure protection and AI.
  • Identify where UNDP's work on digital public infrastructure, information integrity and AI governance connects with these priorities.
• Economic Security:
  • Map how security actors frame economic resilience, supply chain security, energy security, youth unemployment and private sector recovery in fragile settings.
  • Identify where UNDP's work on livelihoods, jobs, energy access and private sector development speaks to these priorities.
• Message Gap Analysis:
  • Compare UNDP's current framing with the language and priorities of defense and security audiences.
  • Recommend how messaging can evolve to build credible connections without compromising UNDP's development mandate.
• Partnership Mapping:
  • Identify potential partners and entry points across defense ministries, security alliances, national security agencies and the defense industry.
  • Look for opportunities in joint analysis, early warning and data, stabilization and recovery, civil preparedness, economic resilience and technology.
• Financing Opportunities:
  • Map defense and security-related financing that could support UNDP programming, including resilience and civil preparedness commitments within defense spending, stabilization and peace and security funds, security cooperation budgets, and co-investment with the defense industry and private sector.
  • Assess eligibility, entry points and the positioning UNDP would need to access these resources.

Qualifications

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent);
• 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;
• Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.
• Preferred fields of study: Development Studies, Economics, Governance, Health or Development, or other related field.

Requirements

• Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
• Familiarity with digital platforms, AI tools and data visualization tools is desirable.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, including advanced Excel skills.
• Fluent in English - both written and spoken is required;
• Knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.
• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
• Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
• Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal-oriented mind-set;
• Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
• Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Internships Conditions

• UNDP will not pay interns for internship but will provide a stipend in the amount of USD $500 monthly in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP internship policy.
• Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP and must provide self-certification of good health prior to starting the internship.
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
• Interns are expected to work full time but flexibility is allowed for education programmes.
• UNDP does not provide assistance with travel and/or housing and the Intern will be responsible for obtaining the necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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