United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Hiring for Intern for Plastic Waste Management Unit at Howrah Full Time

Intern for Plastic Waste Management Unit

Background

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.

With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

UNDP India’s current Country Programme, 2018-2022, is in its final year of implementation. Our new Country Programme (2023-2027), which comes into effect in 2023, builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:

• Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs
• Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized
• Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability

South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.

You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.

Background and scope of portfolio

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) India in partnership with Private Sector has designed Plastic Waste Management Project to minimize negative impacts and risks to environment and to human health in India, by enhancing sustainable Plastic Waste Management practices, through a socio-technical model (collection/segregation/recycling) while ensuring compliance with regulations, to improve use of resources and mainstream safai sathis (waste pickers) into waste management systems in line with Swachh Bharat Mission in India. To achieve the project objective and outcomes, the project is structured in 4 components: Component 1: Aims to develop support and implement an economically sustainable model (ESM) for packaging plastic waste management.; Component 2: focuses on design and implementation of MRFs in City Units (Swachhta Kendras) for improved plastic waste management, in the administrative wards of selected cities; Component 3 is directed mainly to design, sustain and provide elements to institutionalize Swachhta Kendra in governance bodies and to obtain improved socio economic conditions for waste pickers.; Component 4 is aimed to develope a knowledge management, monitoring and communication mechanisms, which will be based in a in-built adoptive feedback system from project results at various stages along the entire duration.

Duties and Responsibilities

UNDP India is seeking a Intern for a period of 06 months (Plastic Waste Management & Social Inclusion) with relevant education background related to or having an understanding related to environment studies/social work studies/waste management studies/management studies.

The assignment is required to focus on the following areas under the guidance of the Project manager and working in consultation with other team members.

Implementation:

• Understanding the project and the on-ground implementation, during the execution of the projects in coordination with Service provider (SP).
• Participate in day-to-day operations to learn how a Material Recovery Facility works.
• Learning how to conduct periodic monitoring and evaluation on the project activities & deliverables agreed with service provider, with the support of PWM Team.
• Develop an understanding of various social inclusion and social protection activities organized with safai sathis in the city / area by the Service Provider.

Documentation:

• Learning to develop the documentation of various project activities, like waste collection and processing data, safaii sathi onboarding & social inclusion data in coordination with SP.
• Learning to document the IEC activities, its impact and related reporting to as required time to time by different stakeholders.
• Learn how to draft various technical & non-technical reports under the supervision of the Project Manager.
• Learn how to provide regular update to the Project management Team on project implementation status, documentations at the MRF and on the social inclusion work.

Trainings:

• Participating & supporting the local Service provider in conducting required trainings & other capacity building activities for Safai Sathis.
• Participate in any other learning opportunities as applicable

Competencies

• Excellent communications and writing skills in English, both spoken and written
• Good interpersonal skills
• Computer literacy in standard software applications like MS Office(word, excel, ppt).
• Team player: works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals.
• Is willing to learn from others, places team agenda before personal agenda.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

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

(c) 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.

Skills:

• Ability to draft report writing and documentation.

Language:

• Fluency in English and working language of the duty station.

Application procedure:

The application should contain:

• The completed “Application Form” provided in the link, which requires names of 3 referees.
• Current and complete CV in English

Please group all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Candidates who are selected must submit the following documents, upon selection

• Official letter from the University confirming enrollment in their undergraduate or graduate-level degree programme
• Proof of medical and life/accident insurance valid for the location in which the internship will be carried out.

Selected intern must have medical and life insurance.

Kindly note, UNDP only accepts interns for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 6 months.

IMPORTANT:

Family relationships are required to be disclosed in order to avoid real or perceived family influence or conflict of interest, within UNDP. If the candidate/ hiring manager has not disclosed that he/she was related to an individual employed by UNDP in whatever contractual modality and irrespective of the nature of the family relationship, this may constitute a basis for withdrawing the offer of internship or, if the internship has started, to terminate it without notice or indemnity.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination.

All selected candidates will be required to undergo rigorous reference and background checks.