UNDP Malawi

Working With UNDP Malawi
Vacancies	Internships	Training	Procurement Notices

Internships - Terms & Conditions

1. Purpose: 
The purpose of UNDP’s internship programme is to:

1. provide a framework by which students from diverse backgrounds  and their educational experience enhanced through practical work assignments

2. expose them to an international environment;

3. expose them to work of the Organization with the objective of deepening their knowledge and understanding of UNDP’s goals, principles and activities; and

4. provide the Office with the assistance of qualified students specialized in various professional fields.

2. Typical Task:
The typical tasks to be performed by the students include:  

1. conducting research

2. writing documents

3. cataloguing information

4. assisting in the organisation of conferences, workshops or  UNDP/UN events

5. publishing knowledge stories/best practices

3. Locations:
The interns may be located in the UNDP office or at project site

4. Eligibility:
 UNDP may accept interns providing the following conditions are met:
a)    Applicants - Internationals

1. are enrolled in a degree programme in a graduate school (second university degree or higher) at the time of application and during the internship; [1] or

2. if pursuing their studies in countries where higher education is not divided into undergraduate and graduate stages, have completed at least four years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of a degree.

b) Applicants - Malawians

1. Malawians are enrolled in a degree programme in a graduate school (second university degree or higher) at the time of application and during the internship;
2. pursuing a degree programme after having completed a higher diploma programme

undergraduates who have completed two years of full time studies at a local university or equivalent institutions and who are required to do a graduation exercise for the completion of a degree.

Applicants:

1. are proficient in English
2.  are computer literate in standard software applications;
3.  have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the UN, and of UNDP in particular, and have a personal commitment to UNDP's Statement of Purpose  and to the ideals of the UN Charter; and
4. have a demonstrated the 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

Conditions:

Duration of Internship Assignments  

1. Assignments vary according to the  availability and academic requirements of the intern, as well as the needs of the Office. However, it will be no less than six weeks and no more than six months.[2]
2. Available on a part-time and full-time basis throughout the year, depending on the  availability of meaningful assignments and the needs and capacity of the office  to  receive and supervise interns.

Status

1. Interns are considered gratis personnel. They are not staff members.

2. Interns may not be sought or accepted as substitutes for staff to be recruited against authorized posts.

3. Interns may not represent UNDP in any official capacity

Responsibilities and Obligations
1.  UNDP

1. shall  ensure that the intern’s assignment is related to his/her field of study, meaningful to both office and intern

2. prepare  the terms of reference describing the tasks to be performed

3. prepare a written evaluation of the intern’s performance at the end of the assignment and organize a meeting  to provide constructive feedback

2. Interns

1. observe all applicable rules, regulations, instructions, procedures and  directives of the Organization;

2. provide the office with a copy of all materials prepared by them during internship.

3. unless otherwise authorized may not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, government or any other external source any information which has become known to them by reason of their association with UNDP or the receiving office, that they know or ought to have known has not been made public. They may not use any such information without the written authorization of the appropriate official, and such information may never be used for personal gain. These obligations also apply after the end of the internship with UNDP; and

4. refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNDP or office and will not engage in any activity which is incompatible with the aims and objectives of UNDP.

Interns expenses

1. Interns are not financially remunerated by the UNDP.

2. All costs connected with an intern's participation in the Programme must be borne by the nominating institution, related institution or government, which may provide the required financial assistance to its students; or by the student, who will have to obtain financing for subsistence and make his/her own arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation, etc.

3. Costs incurred by an intern in the discharge of his/her functions shall be reimbursed by UNDP under the same rules as costs reimbursed to staff members. Costs incurred by an intern undertaking official travel at the request of UNDP in the discharge of his/her functions shall be paid  on the same basis as costs incurred by staff members, including payment of DSA, as applicable.  

Working Conditions  
During the internship session, interns will be provided with a desk, phone and computer access.

Procedure
1. The Intern Focal point shall be the Human Resource Associate, whose responsibilties are:  

1. to ensure colleagues are aware of the policy and procedures when recruiting interns

2. to review applications received

3. to provide list of potential candidates to the requesting officer/ Programme Managers  for selection

4. to send an offer letter to the selected candidate once a decision has been made

1. a duly completed UNDP internship application form

2. a copy of his/her most recent resume or curriculum vitae;

3. a letter from his/her university confirming current enrollment and graduation date;

4. a copy of his/her school transcript;  

5. a letter of endorsement from a senior faculty member who has directly supervised the student in the recent past and who is fully acquainted with the student's performance; and

6. a brief paper setting out the reasons why he/she is seeking an internship with UNDP and what is expected from the experience.

Selection
1. Candidates for the Internship Programme are selected on a competitive basis.
2. Review Criteria. Besides meeting the minimum eligibility requirements, the main criteria for the review of candidates for selection as interns are his/her:

1. ability to fulfill the requirements of the terms of reference; and

2. academic qualifications and experience, if any.

2. Assessment, Recommendation and Decision: The Internship Focal Point (HR Associate) will review the candidates, shortlist further through interviews, if required, and provide the final list of candidates to the supervisor of the internship assignment.
3. The supervisor will review the final shortlist of candidates and make a decision.
4. Once a decision an offer letter is sent to the selected candidate.  The offer of an internship assignment is subject to:

Offer
1. Once a decision has been taken and the student is informed by phone, the office will send him/her a letter (with a copy to the staff member with whom the intern will work):

1. confirming the offer to the intern, attaching a copy of the TOR and stipulating the starting and ending dates;

2. asking the student to provide, prior to commencing work, the following documentation:

i)   signed UNDP Internship Agreement; [3]
ii)    a Medical Certificate of Good Health;

  c.     providing the student with details on where and to whom, he/she will report on his/her first day.

2. The above letter is usually sufficient if the candidate needs to apply for a visa.

Supervision, Orientation, Training and Evaluation:

Context  
UNDP makes every effort to maintain the highest standards with regards to the supervision, orientation and training of interns, in order to make their time at UNDP a valuable experience

Supervision
The office will be responsible to provide the candidates with appropriate supervision and guidance.

Evaluation
supervisors are responsible for the content of the assignment of the intern, which should be explained fully to the intern prior to the commencement of the internship.