Background

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in about 170 countries and territories, working with national counterparts on solutions to global and national development challenges. In the programme countries, UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in in partnership with the host governments, the United Nations system, the development partners and other partners to help the country to achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shock. UNDP has worked in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development, from systems and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment and resilience. UNDP’s programmes continue to fully integrate a global vision for catalytic change with India’s national priorities. With over 30 projects on the ground in almost every state, today UNDP India works to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by transforming traditional models to do development differently. In a rapidly changing global environment, the work of UNDP and the broader UN family aligns with the Government of India’s new national development vision, India 2030, and builds upon the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP India’s country programme for 2018-2022 has three major focus areas:

• Inclusive growth

• Environment and energy

• Strengthening systems and institutions

These are supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, a pool of financial and technical resources for greater impact and scale, and South-South expertise. You are invited to join a team of dedicated development professionals whose primary role is to support the India to achieve the 2030 Agenda. As part of the UNDP team your focus will be to work with multiple stakeholders to find the country specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and to ensure no one is left behind – and we reach those furthest behind first. UNDP is looking for individuals who have the communication, analytical, planning and implementation capacities that can address links, choices and connections across many issues and sectors. We seek individuals who can apply global best practice to national contexts. We are looking for people who are enthusiastic, motivated, and committed to making a positive contribution to Development in India. Scope of Portfolio The Inclusive Growth portfolio is anchored in the national priority of ‘accelerated growth with inclusion and equity, employment generation, and skill India’, aligned to outcome 1 of the UNDP strategic plan. While the focus of outcome 2 is on decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and reducing inequalities (SDG 10), the UNDP comparative advantage in the sector as a facilitator and knowledge leader is being leveraged to strengthen institutional linkages between enterprise and skills-training providers and to identify synergies between national programmes and missions to assist marginalized groups access to sustainable skills, jobs, livelihoods, and productive assets. The focus of the portfolio has been primarily women and youth from the marginalized communities across the country. It takes into consideration that women face significant social and economic barriers in participating in India’s workforce. Under the portfolio, there are several projects being implemented, working towards increased awareness, career guidance and counselling, apprenticeships promotion (with industry clusters), micro-enterprise development, strengthening of the farm/non-farm and artisanal values chains, and developing second generations managers, enhancing employability and business skills capacity, facilitation of linkages, mentorship support and nurturing the innovation potential of youth and women of rural and urban areas. UNDP in India is committed to support the efforts of the Government of India towards working with partners and key stakeholders to advocate for an environmentally sensitive response to COVID-19 that resets towards greener pathways for recovery. Focus is to not only move towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient recovery, but also help to strengthen recovery by focusing on emerging and innovative green job opportunities. The COVID 19 global pandemic could potentially threaten to deepen inequalities and undo progress on the SDGs. We are already witnessing the detrimental impact of the pandemic on the economies and the populations especially poor and vulnerable populations. India is no exception to this challenge that can jeopardize India’s gains in reducing poverty, improving access to livelihoods and social protection. Building on the experience and the partnership base of earlier projects and keeping in view the need for intense work on local livelihoods for green growth and expanding digital capacity and access to social security, PROmoting Inclusive GRowth through Enhanced Access to Local Livelihood Opportunities, Education to Work Transition and Social Protection Schemes (PROGRESS) programme has been initiated in partnership with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The programme is being rolled out in close partnership with the Central and State Governments and aims to leverage partnerships with private sector actors, financial institutions, educational and vocational institutes, training partners, and the community to fill the gaps through innovative approaches and practices. Similarly, it will leverage flagship public schemes. The overall objective of the proposed engagement is to work closely with the Inclusive Growth Unit and extend expert input and support on skilling and employment aspects of the programme implementation. This will include providing research, proposal writing, collating, and verifying data, developing communication collaterals, leading online/offline events.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Head, Inclusive Growth, the intern/s will have the responsibility for the following activities: Main responsibilities:

Conduct supervised secondary research on specific topics in the area of skills, entrepreneurship, livelihoods, innovation, green economy including data analysis, collation and representation
Provide support in writing of project related documents (concept notes, proposals, etc.), and synthesis documents and other relevant knowledge products;
Prepare PowerPoint presentations, visual representations, infographics as required;
Assist in the organization of webinars/conferences/events/forums
Proof reading and editing of reports, books, booklets or any other type of publications/communications material.
Ensure effective and efficient provision of services, full confidentiality in all aspects of assignment, management of information flow and follow-up on deadlines and commitments made;
Support the team with other relevant tasks.

Competencies

Strong sense of collaborative work, excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
Keen attention to detail;
Excellent analytical, writing and research skills;
Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise.
Is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda;
Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position
Experience in data collection and analysis in the field of social or economic development fields;
Outstanding command in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) as well as handling web-based applications such as Canva.
Basic knowledge of data analysis and secondary research tools.
Basic understanding of issues pertaining to the development sector, skilling ecosystem/ enterprise development, value chain development
Knowledge of gender issues, gaps in skilling and employment/enterprise development will be an added advantage
Fluency in English and Hindi

Required Skills and Experience

Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application,

a. Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher) in a relevant field of expertise (e.g., social sciences, statistics, economics, or related field) or

b. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in any of the above or related fields or

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.

To apply for this job please visit jobs.undp.org.