Project Management Support - Intern

UNDP•New York, NY

12h

About The Position

The Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA) is responsible for UNDP’s external relations and advocacy functions. BERA leads and supports the organization in building and nurturing strategic relationships and alliances essential for successfully achieving the mission of UNDP. These relationships include a range of constituencies and development partners, related to resource mobilization and donor relations, intergovernmental affairs with member states, multilateral institutions, IFIs, the European Commission, private sector, foundations, UN system entities and UN inter-governmental bodies. BERA is positioned around three service lines, moving towards an audience orientation, namely, Public Partners Partnerships, Marketing and Communications, and Private and Finance partners, each guided by the Directorate and supported by the Management Support and Strategy and Analytics Teams. BERA has a network of Regional External Relations Teams in five hubs co-led with Regional Bureaux and Representation Offices in Europe, Japan, Qatar, the US, namely, Bonn, Brussels, Copenhagen, Doha, Geneva, Tokyo and Washington D.C., which manage and strengthen relationships with Public and Private Partners in country and help build a strong brand for UNDP within the local ecosystem including UN partnerships. The Partnerships Group (PG) leads UNDP’s corporate approach to external relations, advocating its brand and value as a global authority on sustainable development and a trusted partner for delivering the SDGs. PG facilitates engagement with partners in line with the UNDP Strategic Plan, coordinates strategic and multi-stakeholder partnerships, and advises on strategies, intelligence gathering, and donor engagement. It provides guidance on UN system-wide coherence, represents UNDP in intergovernmental fora, and cultivates relationships with member states for positioning and fundraising, while monitoring funding performance and supporting engagement with international financial institutions and civil society organizations. The Group consists of six teams: UN System Affairs, Partnerships Portfolio Management, Performance and Analysis Portfolio, Partnerships with Philanthropy, New Strategic Partnerships and Japan Unit. Japan Unit is committed to strengthening partnerships with Japan (the public and private sectors and civil society organizations in Japan) by playing a coordination and facilitation role within UNDP and between UNDP and Japan. Japan Unit, with close collaboration with the UNDP Representative Office in Tokyo, undertakes a wide range of activities including strategic management of Japan Supplementary Budget (JSB) and Grant Assistance-funded programmes, coordination with the Government of Japan, and facilitation of partnerships with Japanese private sector actors, including in areas such as sustainable supply chains, responsible business conduct, and innovation. Japan Unit also strengthens multi-bi cooperation with Japanese development partners (mainly the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)). Under the direct supervision of the Japan Unit staff, the intern’s main output would be to assist in compilation process of proposal submission from UNDP regional hubs and country offices for the Japan-funded projects. The intern will also assist analytical work and visualization of Japan’s funding trend, as well as meeting logistics and other activities to be undertaken by the Unit. The intern will support other BERA partnership group activities, if required, in addition to other tasks with prior consultation with and approval by the supervisor.

Requirements

Applicants to the UNDP internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher), (b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent), (c) Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year of graduation. Candidate is also preferred to have been enrolled in a Master’s level program in international affairs, development, public policy, economics, business administration or related fields. Background or knowledge of SDG implementation and ESG frameworks is highly desirable.
Prior experience in government, think tanks, international organizations, or policy research institutions is a strong asset.
Experience related to trade, economic security, sustainability policy, or private sector engagement is highly desirable.
Fluency in English and Japanese (both written and oral). Knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.
Interest in Japan’s ODA, work of the UN (of UNDP in particular) and a personal commitment to UNDP's Statement of Purpose and to the ideals of the UN Charter
Demonstrated understanding of Japan’s foreign economic policy, ODA architecture, and public–private partnership approaches.
Strong policy research, drafting, and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information for senior audiences.
Energetic self-starter with multi-tasking abilities and discipline with deadlines
Ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views
Ability to work with MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Teams, and Zoom

Nice To Haves

Experience with online analytical tools, including Microsoft Power BI is desirable
Prior exposure to government institutions, economic diplomacy, or international negotiations is a strong asset.

Responsibilities

Assist in screening, consolidation, and quality control of project proposals submitted by UNDP Regional Bureaux and Country Offices for Japan-funded projects.
Support preparation, review, and tracking of official submissions to the Government of Japan, including: Project proposals and revisions Financial Agreements, refund documentation, and confirmation of receipts Progress, final, and financial reports
Assist in internal coordination with BERA, BPPS, BMS, and Regional Bureaux on Japan-funded projects.
Conduct policy and funding analysis on Japan’s ODA instruments, with particular attention to: Japan-funded projects Alignment with Japan’s foreign, economic security, and sustainability priorities
Prepare briefing notes, analytical memos, and background papers for internal use and senior-level engagement with Japanese counterparts.
Support research and stakeholder mapping of Japanese private sector actors relevant to UNDP programmes, including: Sustainable supply chains Climate, GX, and responsible business practices Innovation and technology partnerships
Assist in preparing materials related to procurement engagement, public–private partnerships, and corporate outreach, including presentations and briefing notes.
Any other tasks assigned by the supervisor
Maintain and update databases on Japan-funded projects (JSB / Grant Assistance).
Support preparation of data-driven visual materials (PowerPoint / Excel / Power BI) for donor reporting and internal decision-making.
Assist in drafting and translating (EN/JP) official correspondence, briefs, and communication materials related to Japan partnerships.
The intern is also expected to learn about Japan’s ODA funding schemes to the various partnerships between UNDP and Japan.
Analytical notes and briefing materials on Japan Supplementary Budget, Grant Assistance, and private sector engagement prepared.
High-quality policy-oriented background notes supporting senior-level engagement with the Government of Japan.
Consolidated and well-documented submissions to the Government of Japan completed in a timely manner.
Data visualization and donor-facing materials on Japan-funded portfolios produced.