UNDP is working to strengthen new frameworks for development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. We support countries’ efforts to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals, which will guide global development priorities through 2030. The fundamental 2030 Agenda principle of leaving no one behind and stamping out inequality is at the core of everything we do.

UNDP focuses on helping countries build and share solutions in three main areas:

• Sustainable development
• Democratic governance and peacebuilding
• Climate and disaster resilience

In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women, minorities and the poorest and most vulnerable.

Internship Office Background 

Under the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative and the direct supervision of the Programme Analyst, the Intern assists in ensuring the effective delivery of the CO’s programme unit by entering and managing data and supporting programme and project implementation consistent with UNDP rules and regulations. The programme unit includes two portfolios, as explained below:

• The Governance Portfolio: This portfolio involves working with the Government of Kuwait on improving the governance systems, including digital governance, policy and strategy support, anti-corruption, international cooperation, and partnerships that feed into the implementation of national development.
• The Sustainable Development Portfolio: This portfolio involves working with the Government of Kuwait and other integral stakeholders, including private sector entities across various industries, to advocate for the realization of the SDGs and including the improvement of human capital and human development, prioritizing the involvement of individuals with disabilities, gender equality, and youth, who represent a significant part of the community. The Sustainable Development portfolio also extends to environmental protection, conservation, and energy efficiency, all of which feed into the implementation of the national development.

The Intern will collaborate closely with the operations, programme and projects staff in the CO and UNDP HQs as required.

Assist in Programme Planning and Implementation:

• Support the development and implementation of program activities.
• Contribute to the preparation of work plans, budgets, and progress reports.
• Provide administrative support for the assigned program portfolio, including supporting event organization, maintaining accurate portfolio documentation, and preparing required correspondence.
• Assist in collecting, analyzing, and presenting background information to prepare the country office programme.
• Develop a database of information.

Research and Analysis:

• Assist in researching relevant topics to support programme objectives.
• Analyze information on projects as needed.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Assist in monitoring project progress and evaluating programme impacts.
• Contribute to collecting and analyzing data for reporting purposes.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Liaise with programme partners, government counterparts, and other stakeholders as needed.
• Provide administrative support for the assigned program portfolio, including event organization, accurate portfolio documentation, and required correspondence.

Communications:

• Prepare social media posts as necessary
• Support the preparation of briefs and press statements as necessary
• Update content for the UNDP website

• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Ability to work in multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Ability to work under pressure against strict deadlines.
• Ability to think out-of-the-box.
• Good communication and organizational skills
• Desire to work with and gain the confidence and respect of people with different languages and national and cultural backgrounds.

Eligibility:

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

(a) Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);

(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);

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

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

A person who is the child or sibling of an UNDP staff member is not eligible to apply for an internship at UNDP. An applicant who bears any other family relationship with a UNDP staff member may be engaged as an intern, provided that they must neither be assigned to the same work unit of the staff member nor be placed under the direct or indirect supervision of the staff member.

For purposes of this policy, “child” means (i) the adult child of a staff member; (ii) the adult child of the spouse of a staff member (stepchild); and (iii) the spouse of an adult child of a staff member or the child of a staff member’s spouse (son- or daughter-in-law). “Sibling” includes the adult child of both or either parent of a staff member and the adult child of the spouse of a parent of a staff member (that is, also half- and stepsibling).

Required skills and experience

• Fluency in English and Arabic is required.
• Excellent research and analytical skills
• Excellent drafting and written and verbal communication skills in both English and Arabic.
• Excellent computer literacy in standard software applications (MS Office Suite).
• Ability in the use of digital and social media platforms.
• Sensitivity to political, cultural, and national differences and adaptability to multicultural environments.

Internship conditions

• UNDP will not pay interns for internship but will provide a stipend and the amount will be paid monthly in accordance with the provisions of the UNDP internship policy; all other expenses connected with it will be borne by the interns or by the sponsoring Government or institution.
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship.
• Interns are responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed.
• Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship.
• Interns must provide proof of enrolment in health insurance plan.
• 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;
• Interns need to obtain financing for subsistence and make own arrangements for internship, travel, VISA, accommodation, etc.