Location: UNFPA, 605 3rd Ave., New York, NY, 10158
Modality: Remote
Full/Part-time: Full-time
Duration: 24 weeks (January to June 2025)
The Position:
Under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist (interim), Quality Assurance, Quality Programming Branch, Programme Division, Headquarters, the intern(s) will support the planning and implementation of the Programme Review Committee (PRC); ie: the UNFPA programme development, review, and approval process for country, regional and global programmes. The intern will also engage in and contribute to other branch priorities, related to supporting quality programming.
A work-plan with deliverables for the duration of the internship and learning opportunities will be agreed upon. Periodic progress meetings will enhance the intern’s skills and capacity in areas of development programming and quality assurance and other thematic areas related to UNFPA’s mandate.
About UNFPA and How You Can Make a Difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s Strategic Plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD Agenda and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations, and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on women' s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
The strategic plan 2022-2025 also recognizes the vital role of UNFPA country programmes in translating its transformative ambition into concrete action on the ground. This is the basis for the UNFPA country programme review and approval process (also commonly known as the ‘Programme Review Committee’ or PRC process) - a unique corporate mechanism at the global level, with the ultimate aim of assuring and strengthening the quality of Country Programme Documents (CPDs) before they are approved by the UNFPA Executive Board, comprised of Member States.
UNFPA is recruiting two interns to join the core PRC Secretariat team, to support the coordination, administration, communications and analysis tasks for the PRC process, which will focus on the qualitative review of UNFPA country programmes from across the world. UNFPA is seeking candidates who are passionate about the mandate and that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results. We need interns who are exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
You would be responsible for:
● Providing coordination support to the Programme Review Committee (PRC) process, including processing, managing and quality checking documents; process coordination tasks; and administrative tasks;
● Contributing to communications tasks of the team - including preparations of presentations and correspondence with multiple PRC stakeholders, the update of resources and creative communications products for PRC stakeholders;
● Analyzing trends in the substantive quality reviews of UNFPA country programmes, along programmatic, technical and operational dimensions, and contributing to a global strategic analysis;
● Providing statistical inputs to the PRC Secretariat presentations in support of periodic PRC sessions;
● Providing support for the selection and mobilization of political and substantive peer review teams;
● Contributing inputs to talking points for senior management in preparation for the informal and formal sessions of the Executive Board and the PRC;
● Participating in meetings related PRC Secretariat;
● Any other branch priorities as needed and as per the interest of the interns;
● Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
You Have:
All interns must meet the following educational and other eligibility requirements:
Educational requirements
a. Be enrolled in a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and have completed one full academic year;
b. Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as master’s programme or higher);
c. Have recently graduated with a university degree as defined above and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation; or
d. Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional trainee programme and undertake the internship as part of this programme.
Other eligibility requirements
e. Demonstrate interest in the field of development;
f. Demonstrate written and spoken proficiency in at least one of the working languages of the United Nations (English or French) and fluency in the official language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish) of the UNFPA office; and
g. Demonstrate ability to adapt to new environments and to establish and maintain good working relations with individuals of different cultural backgrounds.
Your Experience:
● Experience in working with development or humanitarian agencies, NGOs and/or social change organizations, including in a volunteer capacity;
● Strong organizational and coordination skills; experience supporting document management, project coordination initiatives;
● Strong analytical skills, hands-on experience with managing and reviewing qualitative and quantitative data with precise attention to detail;
● Strong editorial and synthesis skills; experience with writing clearly and concisely for varied audiences;
● Strong communication skills is a plus; experience with designing and creating presentations, organizing resources in user-friendly and engaging ways;
● Fluency in English. Knowledge of other UN languages, including French or Spanish, is an asset;
● The ability to work logically and systematically, self-organize, and take proactive initiative and responsibility;
● Initiative, Sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members from different national and cultural backgrounds.
Learning Elements:
Upon completion of the assignment, and depending on its duration, the intern will gain the following knowledge assets:
1. Increased understanding of the UNFPA mandate and the work of the Programme Division within UNFPA;
2. Understanding of UNFPA country programme design and delivery mechanisms, and key programme quality issues towards achieving the UNFPA mandate in different country contexts;
3. Understanding the dynamics of operational and programme support, and quality assurance functions of HQ, and the role of regional offices and country offices;
4. Learning UN technical language, working procedures, and coordination mechanisms;
5. Conducting substantive analysis on country programme quality matters;
6. Networking and exchange with UN colleagues;
7. Work experience as a team member in a multicultural setting.
Financial Aspects:
Interns do not receive a salary or any other form of remuneration from UNFPA. The costs associated with an intern's participation in the programme must be assumed either by the nominating institution, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students, or by the students themselves, who will have to meet living expenses as well as make their own arrangements for accommodation, travel and other requirements. However, they receive a stipend to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, if not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation, or scholarship programme. The stipend is based on the intern’s agreed place of work, which may be different from the duty station of the hiring office in cases of remote arrangements.
In addition, applicants must have medical insurance for the duration of the internship. Proof of insurance will need to be submitted before the internship begins. UNFPA does not provide medical insurance for interns.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce.
How to Apply and Interview Timeline:
Please email your applications (1 page cover letter and 1-2 page resume in one single pdf) to mbasu@unfpa.org with the subject line “Application for Intern, PRC, Quality Programming Branch” by Thursday 2 January 2025, 11:59 pm New York time (EDT).
Kindly note that interviews and a brief written test will take place in the week of 6 January 2025, and interested candidates - if shortlisted for an interview - should expect to keep aside 2-3 hours total for the interview and test on these dates. Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview and test.
The two candidates who successfully secure the internship will be expected to begin the 24 week internship in the week of Monday 13 January 2025.
