Intern – Risk Informed Urban Development

Background

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, reduction of inequalities and building resilience to crises, shocks and disaster/climate risks in an effort to safeguard development. UNDP helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and access cutting edge technical and advisory support in the pursuit of their sustainable development objectives.

Recognizing the imperatives brought about by rapidly evolving development and risk management landscape, UNDP’s Global Policy Network (GPN) works across knowledge domains and thematic areas to support countries and communities identify context specific development interventions, in support of the signature solutions and outcomes envisioned in the UNDP Strategic Plan (2022-2025).

Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau (CB) guides UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for risk reduction, crisis prevention, response and recovery and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience Team (DRT) supports the implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030) by providing integrated policy and programme support on disaster risk reduction and recovery in the context of UNDP’s broader approach to resilience building. It fosters mainstreaming of disaster/climate risk reduction as a key element to deliver sustainable development at the national, sub-national, city/municipal and sectoral level with a focus on integrated approaches.

One of the key focus areas under DRT’s strategy and its technical, policy and programmatic support to countries/cities relates to urban risk management and resilience. Given the rapidly urbanizing world, concentration of socio-economic development assets and increasing evidence of accumulation of disaster and climate risks in urban areas, the primacy of addressing urban risk management and fostering resilience has become a sine qua non for achieving the objectives of the 2030 Agenda including the SDGs, the New Urban Agenda, Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework.

Over the past decade, UNDP has implemented several urban risk management projects at regional, country and city level to support local and municipal authorities on different facets of urban risk management and resilience. Recognizing the convergence of climate adaptation and mitigation, sustainable development, inclusive growth, local governance, poverty eradication, migration, crisis prevention, fragility and risk reduction etc. in urban contexts, the need to advance an integrated approach addressing different dimensions of resilience and all typologies of risks in a comprehensive manner has been strongly felt. As a key milestone in the process, DRT has undertaken an analysis of the policy and programmatic work on urban risks and resilience over the past decade identifying existing demands and emerging needs in ‘A Decade of Urban Resilience: An Analytical Review’, which informed the development of the ‘Urban Risk Management and Resilience Strategy’ to advance policy, programmatic and technical action at national and city level.

The need to strengthen UNDP’s urban risk management and resilience practice and augment partnerships with key actors and stakeholders to implement global, regional, national and city-level urban resilience programs has gained urgency. This includes identifying digital technology-based interventions to improve effectiveness of urban governance, services, risk analytics and stakeholder engagement and others. It will have positive impacts on the resilience of different urban population groups and ensure no one is left behind.

Duties and Responsibilities

In line with the needs and priorities above, one of the key action areas to support the same entails harnessing the potential offered by latest technological advancements viz. AI, ML etc. to assess risks, identify resilience priorities and provide real-time development solutions to the complex challenges faced by cities and their communities including for vulnerable sectors like water and hazards like the heatwaves.

With a view to support the process of programmatic advancement of the urban risk management and resilience building strategy, the scope of work and key objectives of the assignment as envisaged to be performed by the Intern are as follows viz. 

1. Assess the extent of and readiness for application of digital technologies, innovation and other novel interventions to improve urban governance, services, etc.
2. Identify potential digital tools, methodologies and innovation that can be applied for data analytics and resilience diagnostics, assessing water infrastructure and services to identify gaps and needs.
3. Support DRT, regional teams and UNDP COs to develop Concept Notes on innovative initiatives aimed at harnessing the potential of digital technologies and innovation for application at city level for improved water governance, water risk management and heatwave resilience.
4. Research and identify potential interventions for integrated water governance for improved water resource management (access to and delivery of water) and for reducing water-induced risks.
5. Identify potential for application of digital technologies and innovation to improve provision, supply, management and monitoring of water infrastructure and services.
6. Support development of contextual water resource management interventions like water and rainwater harvesting, recycling, waste reduction and other innovative practices with potential for being advanced as part of community-led approaches towards urban resilience.

Competencies

• Good understanding and familiarity with disaster and climate risk related issues, climate adaptation, urban planning and development, sustainable development, etc. will be desirable including a discipline relevant to resilience building and sustainable development.
• Relevant academic/research experience in areas relevant to the objectives of the Internship.
• Research and analytical orientation and demonstration of understanding of 2030 Agenda including Sendai Framework, New Urban Agenda, SDGs, urban resilience etc.  
• Familiarity with appropriate IT tools and emerging technologies and knowledge of using the Adobe Creative Suite and MS tools etc.
• Strong organization, inter-personal skills and ability to work in a team environment with cultural sensitivity and ability to engage with a diverse set of stakeholders.
• Sound computer skills, experience using web-based applications, social media and data management systems including Power BI.

Required Skills and Experience

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

(a) Enrolment in Engineering programs in advanced Bachelors or Master’s degree program with focus on (i) computer programming, AI, Machine Learning (ML) and related technological focus and (ii) urban planning, architecture, disaster management, climate change, environment, public policy and related academic areas;

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

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

The applicant should be enrolled in a programme, as stated in requirements (a).

Languages:

• Fluency in English, both oral and written is required.
• Working knowledge of other official UN languages (preferably French or Spanish) is an asset.

Institutional and Management Arrangements:

The intern will be part of UNDP’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience Team. The Internship will be carried out under the overall guidance of the Head, DRT and Team Leader, DRR and in close day-to-day consultation with Policy Specialist, Disaster/Climate Risk Governance and Thematic Lead for Urban Resilience, and the Intern will support timely delivery of the key tasks and deliverables as envisaged and any other tasks as required.

 The Intern will be responsible for organizing her/his own laptop and other IT resources to support the assignment and UNDP will not be responsible for meeting any expenditure incurred thereon including internet and other IT support services over the duration of the Internship.

 Travel: The assignment does not entail or envisage any travel. However, depending on the need, any travel outside the regular place of stay (home/office) by the Intern, if required, would be paid for separately.

Application Procedure:

• The application should contain a) brief Cover Letter (in English) stating interest in and qualifications for the post; and (b) current and complete CV in English.

Conditions of the Internship:

• As of 1 January 2020, Interns may be given a stipend according to the UNDP Internship Policies, if is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation, or scholarship programme;
• Interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of the internship. UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• In cases when the intern is expected to travel to the duty station, the intern is responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed; this internship is homebased;
• Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
• The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNDP but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship;
• The intern will be evaluated at the end of the contract and due recognition of work will be issued in writing.
• For more information about the application process and UNDP’s internship terms and conditions, visit:

In case an applicant is successfully selected, s/he will be requested to provide electronic versions of the following documents upon selection:

• Copy of the applicant’s most recent resume or curriculum vitae;
• Letter from his/her university confirming current enrolment and graduation date.
• Letter of recommendation from a professor.
• Copy of his/her school transcript.
• Copy of passport.
• Completed UNDP internship application form.
• Medical Certificate of Good Health
• Proof of valid Medical Insurance coverage for the duration of the internship assignment. Insurance coverage must include adequate coverages in the event of an injury or illness during the internship with specific indication of the following:  a) in the event of injury, transportation to home country or country of residence for further treatment; and, b) in the event of death, requires preparation and return of the remains to the home country, or country of residence.

Application process:

• In your application, please (i) state in one paragraph why you would like to be considered for the internship, and (ii) indicate your preferred start and end date, as well as your availability timeframe in 2024-2025.

Please combine the above into one single PDF document as the system only allows to upload one document.

Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.