Internship to support the Resident Representative (RR) Office, Programme and Operations Teams

UNDP is working to strengthen new frameworks for development, disaster risk reduction and climate change. We support countries’ efforts to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals, which will guide global development priorities through 2030. The key 2030 Agenda principle of leaving no one behind and stamping out inequality is at the core of everything we do.

UNDP focuses on helping countries build and share solutions in three main areas:

• Sustainable development
• Democratic governance and peacebuilding
• Climate and disaster resilience

UNDP Bahrain supports national implementation of Economic Vision 2030 and the Government of Bahrain Plan 2023 -2026, in accordance with the new Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2025-2029 and the comparative advantage offered by UNDP’s mandate and expertise. The CPD will focus on Economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and societal well-being, Governance, rule of law, human rights, and civic engagement.

As a Net Contributing Country (NCC), the UNDP Country Office in Bahrain is fully dependent on government cost-sharing resources to fund its Country Programme activities, with operations and staffing costs covered by the Government Contributions to Local Office Costs (GLOC).

The CO operations have already been reduced to the minimum footprint, as of 1 December 2024 to 9 personnel. This includes 4 core local staff on FTA contracts, 4 personnel on NPSA and an international RR position.

To implement the new country program document, the new resident representative will require, support capacity to draft memos, ToRs to roll out a new strategy for country program document implementation. Additionally, this is an opportunity to learn more about the operations and program of a country office, the different functions and the wider UNDP corporate setting. The intern will support in various activities related to programme and operations such as facilitating workshops, meetings and events, digital content and social media management, as well as performing related administrative tasks as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

RR Office: 

• Production of slide decks for communication with counterparts and HQ
• Support with event organization
• Draft required documents and points
• Conduct background research and mapping for select areas of interest
• Support with efficient filing
• Contact list and data base of Bahrain contacts
• Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed.

Programme Unit:

Programme Support: 

• Assist in the implementation of programme activities, research, data collection, and documentation.
• Draft concept notes, reports, and briefing materials.
• Track project progress and compile updates for reporting

Research and Analysis: 

• Conduct research on thematic areas (e.g., sustainable development, governance, climate action, youth empowerment).
• Prepare background briefs and summaries of key policy documents and reports.

Administrative and Logistical Support:

• Organize and coordinate meetings, workshops, and stakeholder consultations.
• Draft meeting minutes and follow up on action points.
• Maintain organized records of programme-related documents

Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination:

• Support communication with government counterparts, civil society, and private sector partners.
• Assist in preparing outreach materials and engagement strategies.

Monitoring and Reporting: 

• Support data collection and analysis for programme monitoring and evaluation.
• Draft periodic reports, presentations, and project summaries.

Communications and Knowledge Management:

• Develop social media content and outreach materials.
• Maintain an updated repository of programme documents

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Provide additional support as needed by Programme

Operations Unit (ICT & Admin):

Digital Content Management Support:

• Posting text, graphics, and videos on Social Media platforms (X and Instagram).
• Posting text, graphics on the official website.
• Reposting relevant content from other social media accounts.
• Assisting with designing digital materials, infographics, and other visual content.
• Observing and monitoring comments and messages on social media accounts.
• Analysing the performance and analytics of social media sites.
• Assisting with social media campaigns or global events by coordinating with the Digital Communicators Network.
• Ensure coherency with UNDP’s Communication Plan and Strategy.
• Collect the information and the coverage from various sources: websites, newspapers and social media sources.

IT and Administrative Support:

• Provide general administrative and logistical support to the CO in accordance with UNDP rules, regulations, policies, and strategies.
• Assist the office with re-structuring the SharePoint Space (Backup).
• Assist with arranging, facilitating workshops, meetings and events (In person).
• Taking photos and videos during events (In person).
• Assisting with meeting room reservation, connecting PCs to screen, and arranging for virtual and hybrid meetings/videoconferences over MS Team, Zoom and other platforms.
• Support with IT equipment tracking and tagging.

• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization;
• Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation;
• Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal oriented mind-set;
• Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently;
• Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Field of study: International Development, International Relations, law, Economics, Business and Public Administration, IT, Digital  Graphic Design, Digital Media and Communication or equivalent.

IT skills:

• Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools;
• Knowledge of Power BI and Dynamics
• Basic graphic design and videography skills;
• Knowledge with dealing with OneDrive and SharePoint Online will be an advantage;
• The ability to use Adobe Photoshop, Canva, Adobe Illustrator are an added advantage;

Language skills:

• Fluent Arabic and English (reading, speaking and drafting) required.
• Knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage.

Internship Conditions: 

• Where an intern is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, government, foundation or scholarship programme, a stipend intended to help cover basic daily expenses related to the internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station, must be paid by the receiving office.
• The monthly amount of the stipend will be determined for each duty station based on the stipend rates published yearly by the OHR Policy and Compensation Unit. The stipend will be paid monthly 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.
• UNDP accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness or death incurred during the internship;
• Interns are responsible for obtaining necessary visas and arranging travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed;
• Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in UNDP during the period of the internship;
• Interns must provide proof of enrolment in health insurance plan;
• Interns are not staff members and may not represent UNDP in any official capacity;
• Interns are expected to work full time but flexibility is allowed for education programmes;
• Interns need to obtain financing for subsistence and make own arrangements for internship, travel, VISA, accommodation, etc.