UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. BPPS’s staff provides technical advice to Country Offices, advocates for UNDP corporate messages, represents UNDP at multi-stakeholder fora including public-private dialogues, government, and civil society dialogues, and engages in UN inter-agency coordination in specific thematic areas. BPPS works closely with UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) to support emergency and crisis response. BPPS ensures that issues of risk are fully integrated into UNDP’s development programmes. BPPS assists UNDP and partners to achieve higher quality development results through an integrated approach that links results-based management and performance monitoring with more effective and new ways of working. BPPS supports UNDP and partners to be more innovative, knowledge and data driven including in its programme support efforts.

BPPS’s Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy and Waste, with the support of the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit, works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate nature, climate, energy and waste related concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies, support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and oversee the implementation of the UN’s largest portfolio of in-country programming on nature, climate change, energy and waste.

The UNDP Climate Hub is the arrowhead of UNDP’s commitment to the “Climate Promise” that aims to support programming countries in designing and implementing pledges under the Paris Agreement, including ambitious National Determined Contributions, with climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions fully embedded in the national development planning and budgetary processes. The Climate Hub builds on UNDP’s existing portfolio of over US$4 billion in country-level climate action on Climate Change Policies and Strategies, Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Change Mitigation, Climate and Forests, covering over 142 countries, as well as on UNDP’s Nature portfolio, UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP’s Digital offer and other relevant portfolios on youth, gender, health, climate security among others.

The UNDP Climate Hub is responsible for:

• Thought leadership on Climate and to be the custodian of UNDP policy positions on Climate;
• Strategy and vision formulation;
• Pipeline development in coordination with the other hubs and the Vertical Fund Programme Support, Oversight and Compliance Unit;
• Provision of integrated policy and programme support to Country Offices;
• Global engagement, advocacy in collaboration with BERA;
• Integration across thematic areas;
• Strategic Partnerships development and resource mobilization;
• Lead and Support global flagship initiatives and partnerships on Climate;
• Serve as focal point with relevant UN coordination mechanisms and Conventions (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change);
• Cross-organization knowledge and learning; and
• Innovation.

UNDP is seeking a French climate digital communications intern to support the Climate Hub’s communication efforts in engaging French-speaking external audiences. The intern will work closely with communications specialists in the UNDP Climate Hub. This internship involves supporting the proofreading of translated communication pieces (such as blogs, photo stories, and corporate campaigns), helping to maintain a consistent flow of editorial content, visual assets, and social media posts in French, and assisting with publishing French on the Climate Promise website. The intern would report to the Climate Promise communications focal point for Africa, and work with the broader UNDP Climate Communications Team and UNDP’s Bureau of External Relations & Advocacy (BERA).

• Provide support to UNDP Climate Hub communications specialists to release and promote communications products in French;
• Assist in proofreading texts translated from English to French by external providers, to ensure accuracy and alignment with UNDP’s website in French, the internal terminology database and the United Nations Terminology Database (UNTerm);
• Support in translating/drafting social media posts in French based on editorial content for UNDP social media channels, ensuring alignment with UNDP Climate Hub’s communications guidelines;
• Support in updating the team’s promotional Trello boards with language content;
• Assist in translation (from English to French or French to English) and adapting visual and video assets for UNDP’s digital platforms using Canva or other digital software;
• Assist in translating and adapting digital advocacy campaigns to ensure outreach to French-speaking external audiences
• Assist in updating the language versions of the Climate Promise website in French;
• Support in managing the team’s internal terminology database to ensure accurate translations of climate-related terms in French;
• Support the collaboration with other teams, including UNDP’s BERA language editors and Africa regional teams, to produce content during joint campaigns and ensure promotion of content on UNDP corporate digital channels in French;
• Support communications specialists on setting up best practices for translation, release and promotion of content in languages.

Work closely with the Africa communications specialist to produce multimedia content and campaigns in French, including translations from English to French or French to English.

General:

• Takes initiative and works with minimum supervision;
• Upholds highest standards of integrity, discretion, and loyalty;
• Shows excellent organizational, interpersonal, communication, and administrative skills;
• Able to multitask, balance multiple responsibilities, and meet deadlines;
• Shows commitment to UNDP’s vision, mission, and strategic goals;
• Able to work in a multicultural environment and be aware of political sensitivities.

Communication Skills:

• Speaks and write clearly and effectively in English and French;
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others, and responds appropriately;
• Asks questions to receive further clarity on requests and exhibits interest in having two-way communication;
• Tailors language, tone, style, and format to match the audience.

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational and unit goals;
• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise and willingness to learn from others.

Technical:

• Ability to create and/or edit written content for multimedia
• Ability to create and combine images, text and audio- visuals to produce multimedia content
• Ability to convey information in engaging narratives through digital media to achieve communication outcomes
• Ability to communicate visually and create appealing UNDP graphic products
• Knowledge of social media and ability to advise the use of social media for development outcomes

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

• Be enrolled in a graduate school Programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) in communications / social media / media;
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a second university degree Programme (minimum Master’s level or equivalent);
• Have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation.

Required  skills 

• Sound research skills, particularly for translating climate-related terminology and gathering relevant background information.
• Experience in and understanding of communicating climate-related information to diverse audiences.
• Understanding of digital communications in international organizations and/or non-profit organizations.
• Proven records of interest in global issues such as climate change and the work of the United Nations.
• Experience in drafting and editing content for websites, social media, and other digital platforms.
• Technical Skills: Microsoft Word, Power point, Excel, Canva.

Required Language(s) 

• Native or fluent French speaker, with advanced language knowledge of English and solid writing and editing skills
• Fluency in additional UN languages will be considered an asset.

Certificates

• Letter from the university confirming current enrolment and graduation date
• A copy of his/her school transcript
• Proof of medical insurance and a medical certificate of good health prior to starting the internship

Interns’ Expenses

Interns may be given a stipend under conditions prescribed in the section on stipends, below. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, passports, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of:

(a) The nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or

(b) The intern.

Stipend

Where an intern is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation or scholarship program, a stipend intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station, will be paid by UNDP.

The stipend will be paid on a monthly basis and part-time internship arrangements are prorated accordingly.

Where an intern is financially supported by an institution, government or third party, UNDP will, subject to the rules of such institution, government or third party, pay the intern the difference, if any, between the external financial support provided and the applicable UNDP stipend.  No other payments of any kind will be made to an intern by the office in connection with an internship agreement.

Interns will accrue leave at the rate of 1.5 days per month. Any accrued leave days not used by the end of the internship will be forfeited. Any unjustified absences during the internship period exceeding a total of nine days, will be deducted from the monthly stipend.

Insurance

Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship with UNDP. UNDP will not reimburse the medical insurance of the intern. Any costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship assignment will be the responsibility of the intern.  Applicants for internships must show proof of valid medical insurance for the duty station in which they will intern.  For applicants who are neither nationals or residents of the duty station, the insurance must include adequate coverage in the event of an injury or illness during the internship duration which:

• Requires transportation to the home country or country of residence for further treatment;
• Results in death and requires preparation and return of the remains to the home country, or country of residence.

 Subsequent Employment

There is no expectation of employment with UNDP following an internship.  Interns cannot apply for, or be appointed to, any position during the period of their internship.

Third-party claims

UNDP is not responsible for any claims by any parties where the loss of or damage to their property, death or personal injury was caused by the actions or omission of action by the interns during their internship.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements