Background

Multi-hazard early warning and preparedness supports the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In particular, early warning systems are positioned as vital tools for decision-makers to progress towards sustainable development – supporting, for example, agricultural productivity, health, safety, overall well-being, poverty reduction and peaceful societies – providing cross-cutting benefits to nearly all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given coherence across global frameworks, the importance of early warning systems is also recognized within the Paris Agreement and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, the implementation of these agendas in turn expediting progress in achieving the SDGs.

UNDP plays an important and unique role in supporting countries to achieve their development goals by reducing loss to life and assets, and by strengthening long term resilience. The UNDP Strategic Plan 2022-2025 contributes to the resilience-building objectives of the 2030 Agenda by committing UNDP to help countries eradicate poverty in all its forms and expand people’s choices for a fairer, more sustainable future. UNDP’s Crisis Offer outlines UNDP’s commitment to helping countries anticipate, prevent, respond to, and recover from crises.

For UNDP, early warning and preparedness embody a series of integrated anticipatory measures based on a comprehensive understanding of multidimensional risks, enabling individuals, communities, organizations and governments to make informed decisions about potential impacts and take timely and preventive action. Over the last decade, UNDP has been on the ground improving access to early warning services in over 90 countries and, since 2008, has mobilized investments of over USD $2 billion to support initiatives for early warning and preparedness, enhancing evidence-based decision-making to save lives. The principles, key actions and programmatic results of UNDP’s early warning and preparedness work are summarized in the UNDP Practice Note on Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Preparedness.

UNDP’s programmatic service offer for early warning and preparedness is focused on capacity strengthening of national and local stakeholders, institutions, systems and mechanisms with its development mandate. Among other services, UNDP is deploying its capacity development support through the UNDP Preparedness Learning Pathway and the UNDP Preparedness Toolkit, led globally by UNDP’s Crisis Bureau/ Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience Team (DRT) and based on cross-practice collaboration with a wide range of UNDP thematic teams across its Global Policy Network (GPN).

• The UNDP Preparedness Learning Pathway is a capacity development initiative that supports countries to enhance their institutional, strategic and operational capabilities for preparedness. The Pathway facilitates joint learning and knowledge exchange for and among decision-makers and practitioners from national and local authorities engaged in disaster preparedness as the primary audience, along with UNDP, UN entities and other relevant in-country stakeholders. The Pathway is built upon the UNDP Preparedness Toolkit, and it is delivered as a bespoke service upon demand. More information can be accessed by visiting the online Homepage, Brochure and Promotional Video.

• The UNDP Preparedness Toolkit is an online interactive platform supporting national and local authorities, UNDP Country Offices and other in-country stakeholders in enhancing their institutional, strategic, and operational capabilities for preparedness, improving the speed and efficiency of their response, and applying foresight to be better prepared to cope with future risks, disasters and crises. The Toolkit is available in English, Spanish, French. To learn more about the Toolkit, please access the Brochure, Access guide and Promotional Video.

This internship position is intended to support UNDP’s global work on early warning and preparedness as one of the key strategic work streams of the DRT Geneva, Switzerland. The intern will support the team with training development and rollout, knowledge management and communications tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

Support the rollout of capacity development services related to preparedness

• Undertake research and categorization of relevant resources to support the continuous update of the UNDP Preparedness Learning Pathway and UNDP Preparedness Toolkit, including collecting UNDP project examples, country case studies and guidance materials related to preparedness and anticipation;
• Support the organization of webinars for the rollout of the UNDP Preparedness Learning Pathway;
• Support the organization of online events (webinars) deploying the content of the UNDP Preparedness Learning Pathway, including support to tailoring the modules to be delivered, developing session plans, engaging with facilitators and participants, developing webinar communications materials and final reports;
• Support remotely the organization of face-to-face workshops deploying the content of the UNDP Preparedness Learning Pathway, including support to tailoring the modules to be delivered, developing session plans, engaging with facilitators and participants, developing country-specific communications materials in collaboration with communications specialists, consolidating pre-workshop and post-workshop evaluation forms using online forms (Google Forms; Survey Monkey), and developing final reports.

Undertake research and analysis on topics related to preparedness

• Undertake research and develop research outputs using qualitative and quantitative methodologies within thematic areas related to early warning and preparedness (for example: technology and innovation for early warning and preparedness; foresight; risk anticipation and anticipatory action; preparedness in fragile settings; etc.);
• Undertake research on cross-cutting themes including disability-inclusion, gender equality and women’s leadership, digitalization and technology, and develop research outputs using qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

Develop communications products on topics related to preparedness and cross-cutting themes

• Tailor and adapt materials drawn from the rollout of the preparedness service offer as knowledge and communications products geared towards external audience such as blog stories, social media cards, briefs to be used for UNDP’s corporate website and UNDP’s presence at/ related to global events such as the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and others;
• Develop slide decks, Miro/MURAL Boards, and other interactive materials for presentations at UNDP internal events, workshops, webinars, etc.

Competencies

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English;
• Excellent command of Microsoft Office suite (Outlook, Word, PPT, Planner, etc.)
• Command of online tools such as Canva, Miro, MURAL, Zoom, MS Teams, Google Forms;
• Initiative taking;
• Strong organization skills;
• Great attention to detail and proven experience in proof reading;
• Ability to work well in a team;
• Demonstration of cultural sensitivity and appreciation for different cultures and practices;
• Sound computer skills and experience using web-based applications, social media and data management systems.

Required Skills and Experience

Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

(a) Enrolment in a Master’s programme or equivalent in the area of disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, disaster management, environmental management, humanitarian affairs, international development;

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

(c) Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program and undertake the internship as part of this program.

The applicant should be enrolled in a programme, as stated in requirements (a).

Languages:

• Fluency in English, both oral and written is required.
• Working knowledge of other official UN languages (preferably French or Spanish) is an asset.

Institutional and Management Arrangements:

The intern will be part of UNDP’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience Team in Geneva. The Internship will be carried out under the overall guidance of the Head DRT and Team Leader, and in close day-to-day consultation and supervision of Programme Specialist, Early Warning and Preparedness . The Intern will support timely delivery of the key tasks and deliverables as envisaged and any other relevent tasks as required.

The Intern will be responsible for organizing her/his own laptop and other IT resources to support the assignment and UNDP will not be responsible for meeting any expenditure incurred thereon including internet and other IT support services over the duration of the Internship.

Travel: The assignment does not entail or envisage any travel. However, depending on the need, any travel outside the regular place of stay (home/office) by the Intern, if required, would be paid for separately.

Application Procedure:

• The application should contain a) brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the post; and (b) current and complete CV in English.

Conditions of the Internship:

• As of 1 January 2020, Interns may be given a stipend according to the UNDP Internship Policies, if is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation, or scholarship programme;
• Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of the internship. UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• In cases when the intern is expected to travel to the duty station, the intern is responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed; this internship is homebased;
• Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
• 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;
• The intern will be evaluated at the end of the contract and due recognition of work will be issued in writing.
• For more information about the application process and UNDP’s internship terms and conditions, visit: www.undp.org/internships

In case an applicant is successfully selected, s/he will be requested to provide electronic versions of the following documents upon selection:

• Copy of the applicant’s most recent resume or curriculum vitae;
• Letter from his/her university confirming current enrolment and graduation date.
• Letter of recommendation from a professor.
• Copy of his/her school transcript.
• Copy of passport.
• Completed UNDP internship application form.
• Medical Certificate of Good Health
• Proof of valid Medical Insurance coverage for the duration of the internship assignment. Insurance coverage must include adequate coverages in the event of an injury or illness during the internship with specific indication of the following: a) in the event of injury, transportation to home country or country of residence for further treatment; and, b) in the event of death, requires preparation and return of the remains to the home country, or country of residence.

Application process:

• In your application, please (i) state in one paragraph why you would like to be considered for the internship, and (ii) indicate your preferred start and end date, as well as your availability timeframe in 2025.

Please combine the above into one single PDF document as the system only allows to upload one document.

Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.