Background

While UNDP has helped countries achieve significant progress in making gender equality and women’s empowerment integral to human development, much work remains to be done. Against a backdrop of growing distrust in governments, a sense of unfairness and a deterioration in the quality of democracies, there is now notable pushback against gender equality. This backlash has also been seen in the form of a rise in fundamentalist ideologies, authoritarianism, and extremism. Women and other affected groups continue to face a host of discriminatory laws and social norms, and women human rights defenders often lose their lives. 

UNDP’s Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025 focused on helping countries shift systems and power structures that generate gender inequalities and women’s disempowerment. UNDP targets public institutions to deliver public policies towards gender equality. UNDP commits to equip them with capacities to identify and address backsliding, protect and expand gender equality gains in policies and laws, and address negative social norms in society.  Our vision is to work for a world with strong public institutions and policies that work and are accountable for gender equality and expand spaces for civil society engagement. 

The Gender Team has the leading role in this work and in the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy 2022-2025. A key pillar of this work is the UNDP Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions, one of UNDP’s pioneering flagships, helping create a new generation of public policies, institutions, and policymakers to diminish discriminatory norms, enhancing public institutions skills and capacities for delivering gender responsive public policies. It is a global voluntary awarding program, specifically designed for public institutions, that aims to support, recognize and champion public institutions that commit to and improve on advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.  

The Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions team seeks to hire an intern. The selected candidate will support the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions programme and the implementation of our communications strategy. The intern will support the communications products needed to position the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions as a key player in this space and as a significant mechanism for advancing gender equality in public administration globally. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Global Manager of the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions, the intern will assist in the following duties and responsibilities: 

1.Support the implementation of the Gender Equality Seal communication and outreach plan and activities  

• Develop bimonthly Seal newsletter and disseminate through UNDP email groups, social networks and participant public institutions. 

• Produce weekly blogposts related to the activities implemented within the Seal, or other related to be published in the GES online platform blog. 

• Support the content development of the Seal Sparkblue Page. 

• Support organizing and running comms campaigns on social media and tracking impact and results. 

• Support the development of pitches, presentation, key messages, social media card or any other products. 

• Manage the Seal webpage (updating content, identifying potential improvements etc.). 

• Support the organization of global online events (trainings, forums, community of practice exchanges etc.) 

2. Support Seal implementation and knowledge management 

• Support updating the monitoring of Seal KPIs 

• Prepare notes on good practices and lessons learned. 

• Graphic design of simple documents 

Competencies

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability; 

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements: 

• Field of study: communications, journalism, international development, gender studies, public administration, or related field

Experience: 

Language: 

INTERNSHIP CONDITIONS

• Internships within the UN system are subject to conditions the applicant must get familiar with before signing his/her internship agreement.
• Starting from January 2020 interns will receive stipends according to UN rules and regulations.
• Any further costs associated with the internship 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 arrangements for travel, accommodation and other costs.
   

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The application should contain:

• Brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the post;
• 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:

• Official letter from the University confirming enrolment in a 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.
• UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.
  UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship.
  Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity.
  It is important to note that interns are responsible to arrange for their own visa and residence documents, and need to plan for these well in advance.

Subsequent Employment:
The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but to complement an intern’s studies. 
Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.
More information available at: http://www.eurasia.undp.org/content/rbec/en/home/about_us/jobs/internships/.

Preliminary top-down estimates of the global financial gap for biodiversity range from US$ 100 to 400 billion annually, and detailed bottom-up assessments in participating BIOFIN countries validate these significant financial needs and help identify finance solutions required to achieve the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and biodiversity related SDGs. In recent decades, biodiversity finance tools and solutions have demonstrated their importance for achieving biodiversity and sustainable development goals. But since countries have not approached the issue of biodiversity finance in a comprehensive manner the choice and adoption of finance solutions has remained experimental and opportunistic. Improved choice, design and implementation of effective well-tailored finance solutions will strengthen countries’ chances of achieving national and global biodiversity targets.

The Biodiversity Finance Initiative – BIOFIN – is a global programme that developed, piloted, and is continuously improving a methodology to measure existing biodiversity expenditure levels, assess future financial needs, and design comprehensive plans to use finance tools and solutions that increase financing, effectiveness and efficiency of biodiversity management in up to 132 countries. BIOFIN’s first phase (2012-2018) enabled full assessments and initial implementation of finance plan elements in target countries. Significant scaling up of finance solutions is required in all countries to address the biodiversity finance challenge.

BIOFIN’s second phase enables up to 132 countries to complete the design and implementation of priority finance solutions and allowed a further 11 countries to undertake the assessments and create the finance plan. At the central level, knowledge management platforms will be expanded and additional guidance produced for most valuable finance solutions.

The primary objective of BIOFIN Phase I was to develop and pilot a new methodological framework – the BIOFIN Workbook – to help countries mobilise sufficient resources to implement their national biodiversity policies. The fully updated  Methodology  released in 2018 (in English, Spanish, Russian and French) integrates lessons learned from implementation, and highlights practical examples.

For the second phase, BIOFIN follows a two-pronged strategy. Firstly, it strives to generate high levels of awareness and technical capacity about the wider range of possible finance solutions that are available to countries and locales. This is complemented by developing supporting guidance and knowledge products for those areas where limited resources are available. Second, it actively supports the implementation of finance plans and solutions on the ground, working to develop feasibility studies, design new policies, enable the required capacity development, support advocacy of prioritised finance solutions, and implement through piloting and scaling. For more information see BIOFIN website – www.biofin.org.

Background

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (ICPSD) was established in Istanbul, Türkiye based on the Partnership Framework Agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Türkiye and the UNDP in March 2011. The center is one of the five global thematic policy centers of UNDP. It supports the private sector and foundations to become transformative partners in development through research, advocacy, facilitation of public-private dialogue and brokering partnerships. ICPSD leads UNDP’s global work on private sector and foundations and supports UNDP’s offices, governments and the private sector all around the world. 

Towards fostering sustainable and inclusive growth for the achievement of the Agenda 2030, ICPSD has developed targeted multi-stakeholder partnerships for skills development. ICPSD and HP Foundation are collaborating to enhance entrepreneurial and 21st century skills development both at global and local levels with the Entrepreneurial Skills Development Initiative for the SDGs (E-SDG). The global support initiative aims to advance entrepreneurial skills development through HP LIFE. HP LIFE is the HP Foundation’s free IT and business skills-training curriculum. It is accessible online, offline, and in person offering. Within the framework of the partnership, ICPSD conducts research and awareness raising activities, provides technical advisory for different institutions, and implements capacity development activities. It nurtures HP LIFE network and supports the advancement of entrepreneurship ecosystems in different regions and countries. Under E-SDG, partners now aim to leverage HP's existing expertise to help entrepreneurs globally through mentorship and coaching.

Moreover, together with its partner European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), UNDP ICPSD established Skills for an Inclusive Future (S4IF) network, a multi-stakeholder advisory and partnership network. Through S4IF Network, ICPSD aims to unlock the potential of private sector to equip disadvantaged populations with skills for the future. UNDP IICPSD and EBRD focuses on enhancing skills for digital transformation, future of work, and green economy. S4IF Network has four key services lines including developing private public private partnerships, fostering membership, knowledge and advisory, and resourcing initiatives.

Partnerships and Research Fellow will contribute to the implementation of the strategies of ICPSD on skills development through facilitating and advancing partnerships and resource mobilization primarily for the partnership with HP Foundation and the entrepreneurship component of S4IF initiative.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Support Fellow will assist in the following duties and responsibilities:

Competencies

• Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
• Shares knowledge and experience;
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills;
• Proven ability to problem-solve, and think creatively to develop and implement smart business solutions in a challenging socio-economic environment;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including presentation skills, both face-to-face and online;
• Ability to obtain, evaluate and interpret factual data and to prepare accurate and complete reports and other documents;
• Focuses on result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Displays culture, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Excellent with deadlines;
• Self-driven and open to self-development;
• Good operations management skills;
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision;
• Good level of technical writing to conceptualize ideas from scratch, including conducting background research, defining objectives, methodologies, and expected outcomes.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

• currently enrolled in a postgraduate program (such as a master's program or higher) OR
• have graduated with a university degree or equivalent studies.

Field of study: economics, management, business administration, international development, engineering, social and political sciences, economic development, or related field is required

Experience:

• Proven experience in preparing reports, policy briefs, or academic papers.
• Research and/or fieldwork experience in entrepreneurship or private sector development is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative research, particularly in entrepreneurship, skills development, or private sector-related topics is strongly preferred.

Language skills:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Turkish is an asset.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

The application should contain:

• Brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the post;
• Current and complete CV in English;

Please group all your documents into one single PDF document as the system only allows you to upload a maximum of one document.

Candidates who are selected for must submit prior to the interview the following documents:

• Official document(s) confirming meeting at least one of the educational requirements.

Stipend: During the time of the fellowship, UNDP will provide a monthly stipend.