Project Assistant - Internship (Six Months)

Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP:  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
UNDP Jordan Country Program aims to support the national efforts in reaching a solution pathway that boosts the resilience and inclusion of the nation through its five programmatic pillars and can efficiently address the development challenges it is faced with. Among these pillars is Green Pathways and Inclusive Growth that assists the country to integrate the environmental concerns, climate adaptation plans, and Disaster Risks Reduction in the national and sectoral strategies, secure resources, and foster sustainable development through advocacy, program implementation, and coordination. 
The Pillar of Green Pathways and Inclusive Growth supports for nationally owned sustainable development pathways that include the following areas: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services; Sustainable Land Management and Desertification; Water and Marine Governance; Climate Change and Drought; Energy; Waste Management; Green Economy; and Disaster Risks Reduction. Driving towards these goals, UNDP Jordan CO supported Jordan to release its National Climate Change Policy (CCP) for 2022-2050 and the Natural Disaster Risk Reduction National Strategy 2023-2030. 
Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world with less than 61 m3/capita/year (2021); demographic changes, rapid population growth, chronic overuse of groundwater, reliance on transboundary water, and climate change impacts are major challenges that drive an urgent need to increase available water supplies, and better manage the available water sources. Building resilience to cope with climate change in Jordan through improving water use efficiency in the agriculture sector is a seven-year project that will be implemented in the Dead Sea Basin in Karak, Madaba, Talifah, and Maan Governorates, and executed jointly by FAO, UNDP, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Water and Irrigation. 
The project has three interrelated areas which will work synergistically and are designed to address water security through climate resilient water systems; livelihoods and food security; and integration of climate change into national policies and across actors. The areas are grouped into three components as follows: 
Component 1: Climate Resilient Water Systems for enhanced water security. 
Component 2: Climate Change resilience for Enhanced Livelihoods and Food Security. 
Component 3: Scaling-up climate adaptation into policy and across actors (institutions, private sector, civil society).
Under component 1, UNDP Jordan will hire local service providers to install the proposed rainwater harvesting units (RHW) along with orientation sessions to the beneficiaries on the best practices in maintaining the RHWs and managing water consumption wisely. Adding to this, UNDP Jordan will develop a Landscape Resilience Investment Plan for the Dead Sea Basin to assess the climate related risks on the landscape level and identify feasible adaptation interventions to address these risks. 
Against this background, UNDP Jordan seeks to engage a Project Assistant on an internship basis to support the team in the selection of rainwater harvesting units eligible families, site verifications, data processing and management, community engagement, and reporting.
Setting and Reporting 
The Project Assistant intern will work under the overall supervision of the Project Manager of climate resilience to improve water efficiency in the Dead Sea basin in collaboration with the Environment Program Analyst, Livelihood Programmes Analyst, and project team. 
 

Description of Responsibilities 

Duties of Intern  

Beneficiaries Selection:

1. Assist in the communications and reach out to the eligible families for the rainwater harvesting units.
2. Support the project team in the data collection, processing, and management.
3. Assist in the complaints mechanism and hotline including data management and related reporting.
4. Assist in data analysis, tabulations, and preparations of summaries.
5. Collaborate with the project team members on the community engagement activities.
6. Assist the team in site visits and technical verifications on the selected households.
7. Support administrative tasks related to project management and coordination of rainwater harvesting activities.

 Admin and finance

1. Support procurement tasks related to the project and coordinate/follow up with UNDP procurement team.
2. Create and maintain all the project records and documentation including letters, minutes of meetings.
3. Track and oversee financial expenditures.
4. Support other/ad hoc activities as seen relevant and needed.

  Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration

Functional Competencies:

• Knowledge and a proficient user of Microsoft Office productivity tools.
• Online navigation.
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in Arabic and English are required; ability to write clearly and concisely.

Qualifications

Education:

Applicants to the internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements under Public Administration or other relevant subjects is required.

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

(a) Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (such as a master’s programme, or higher);

(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);

© 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;

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

Language requirements:

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English and Arabic are required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage.
   

Duration of Internship Programme and Working Hours

• Internship assignments vary in length according to the academic requirements of the intern, as well as the needs of UNDP. Assignments normally last a minimum of six weeks and a maximum of Six months. An internship may last up to nine months if the intern can demonstrate that it will award them an educational credit for a course.
• Internship assignments completed as part of national service obligations, or a postgraduate professional traineeship program may last up to 12 months.
• This Internship is available on full-time basis, five days a week from Sunday to Thursday.

Stipend

• Where an intern is engaged in-person and 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 an in-person internship, such as meals and transportation at the duty station, must be paid by the receiving office.
• Where an intern is engaged remotely and is not financially supported by any institution or programme, such as a university, Government, foundation or scholarship programme, a remote stipend intended to help cover expenses related to the internship, such as internet connections or other means to remain in contact with the receiving office, must be paid by the receiving office.
• The amount of the stipend for in-person and remote internships will be set for each duty station. The monthly stipend rates of both remote and in-person internships will be published annually by the Bureau for Management Services’ Office of Human Resources (BMS/OHR). The stipend will be paid on a monthly basis and will be pro-rated for part-time internship arrangements.
• 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, or advance on the stipend due, will be made to an intern by the receiving office in connection with an internship agreement, except for any reimbursements made to an intern under paragraph 33 of the present policy.
• Interns will accrue combined sick and annual leave at the rate of 1 ½ days per month, which will be prorated to the nearest half day for part-time internships. Any accrued leave days not used by the end of the internship will be forfeited. Any unjustified absences during the internship period exceeding a total of nine days or as prorated for part-time internships, will be deducted from the monthly stipend.

Disclaimer
Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders) 
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.  
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status. 

Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.