Internship – UN Innovation Network Intern

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status, physical or mental disability.

Internship – UN Innovation Network Intern

Innovation and Knowledge Management Division, Geneva, Switzerland or Remote

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. We are currently seeking to fill an Innovation Network intern position in the United Nations Innovation Network in the Innovation and Knowledge Management Division, based in Geneva, Switzerland, or Remote.

Brief description of the UN Innovation Network, Innovation and Knowledge Management Division:

About the UN Innovation Network

The UN Innovation Network is an informal, collaborative community of UN innovators interested in sharing their expertise and experiences to promote and advance innovation across the UN System. The network is open to representatives from all UN Entities and seeks to encourage the exchange of knowledge, tools and approaches, strengthen collaboration and leverage partnerships.

Since the beginning of 2018, membership in the UN Innovation Network has grown from around 100 to over 4,000 members from over 70 UN Entities and Departments. External (i.e. non-UN) members of the Network include Governments, other INGO’s, academic institutions and private sector companies.

The Innovation Network has members in over 150 countries and regularly engages these through knowledge sharing sessions to introduce innovation trends and how they can contribute to achieving the SDGs. It also helps UN Entities share tools and resources, as well as best practices for overcoming challenges for driving innovation within the UN. UNIN also engages with senior leaders and advises them on how to build structures to promote innovation, activate innovation partnerships and create a culture of innovation in their organisations.

Since the beginning of his term, the Secretary-General has highlighted the need for the UN to embrace innovation and new technologies to help achieve the SDGs. Recognising this need, the Secretary-General recently launched an internal “Strategy on New Technologies” calling on the UN system to further engage with new technologies and its actors, increase its understanding of the impact of new technologies and how they can be used to enable mandate delivery. The Secretary-General also called attention to the importance of fostering innovation in the UN System during the regular sessions of the CEB in 2018. Building an architecture to promote innovation, activating innovation partnerships and creating a culture of innovation were identified as three core elements for this.

One of the outcomes of this session was a call to action from the Secretary-General to share leading practices and establish guidance on how to foster and scale innovation across the UN System. The UN Innovation Network, as informal network of innovators, was asked to facilitate this work.

UNIN was jointly founded, financed and co-chaired by UNICEF and WFP since 2015. As of January 2020 UNDP, joined the financing and governance of the Network. The Innovation Network Intern reports to the UNIN Innovation Network Officer.

About the innovation and Knowledge Management Division

WFP’s Innovation and Knowledge Management Division combines management consulting, start-up lean thinking with non-profit projects to reduce food insecurity and malnutrition. The division seeks to create value through prioritising and better harnessing innovative ideas, as well as scaling up transformative projects to a global level. WFP has established an Innovation Accelerator, which has been named one of the top 10 innovative companies by FastCompany for operating a real start-up accelerator to disrupt global hunger at the WFP. Recognising WFP’s leadership in innovation for the SDGs, WFP was invited to jointly lead the UN Innovation Network (UNIN) with UNICEF in 2015.

General Information

• Title of Post: Internship

• Supervisor: Innovation Network Officer

• Unit: Innovation and Knowledge Management Division

• Country: Switzerland (or Remote)

• Duty Station: Geneva (or Remote)

• Duration of internship: 6 months

• Expected Start Date: ASAP

Duties and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Innovation Network Officer, the candidate will perform the following duties:

Support for developing a UN Innovation Fellowship

• Support the development and launch of a UN-wide Innovation Fellowship to support capacity strengthening of UN system colleagues, including

• • Designing Fellowship content (including by reviewing the content of other innovation learning programmes within and outside of the UN),

  • Supporting a smooth application process and supporting management of this process,

  • Planning for delivery of the Fellowship, and

  • Designing a post-Fellowship engagement plan / alumni network

• Support the development and dissemination of background and communications material related to the Fellowship

Support for activities of the UN Innovation Network

• Support the convening of UN Groups to connect innovators working on emerging topics of interest

• Support the hosting of the UN Changemakers Bookclub, including by suggesting suitable content, connecting with potential guest speakers, setting up and running book club sessions

• Support knowledge management and content development for new knowledge products to benefit the UN community (e.g. briefs, guiding notes, reports)

• Support effective managing community outreach, communications, and administration of the Network

• Support the preparation for UN-internal and external meetings, events and workshops

• Support community managers in the UN system to convene and learn from each other

Qualifications and experience

• Currently enrolled with at least two years undergraduate studies completed, or recently graduated (within the past six months). A degree in international relations; social and/or political sciences; public administration or business; community management, change, network or innovation management is preferred.
• University course attendance in the past 12 months;
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook)
• Work Experience: Experience working in innovation management, network weaving, community building and/or running innovation-related projects and training is desirable; as is experience in project management and organising complex initiatives.
• Mobility: Willing to travel as needed.

Required soft skills/WFP Competencies:

• Self-motivated and able to work with a high degree of autonomy

• Strong conceptual thinking to develop new strategies and innovative projects

• Collaborative spirit able to liaise with a wide range of people at all levels and across different cultures

• Strong time management and organisational skills with an ability to plan, anticipate requirements, problems and obstacles, and an ability to juggle competing priorities successfully, and to work to tight deadlines

• Strong focus on result and the ability to achieve targets within given and at times short time frames

• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to produce high-quality materials, including blog posts, websites, videos and graphically-based presentations

• Fully committed and motivated to achieve the aims of the United Nations, including through leveraging data and innovation

Working Languages

Working knowledge of English (proficiency/level C) is required.

Working knowledge of a second UN language would be an asset.

Supervision (Level/Methods of Supervision)

Under the direct supervision of the Innovation Network Officer, the incumbent will be provided with close mentoring, guidance and technical supervision. Performance planning and reviews as well as learning and development discussions will be elemental part of the supervision. The UNIN Manager will be the second-level supervisor. With the support of a comprehensive induction package and assignment of a buddy/mentor, the intern will rapidly become a productive member of the team.

Training components

Throughout their assignment WFP interns have access to an industry leading learning platform, weLearn. Depending on opportunities and availability of funds, he/she may participate in WFP workshops or seminars, as appropriate.

Learning Elements

At the end of the assignment, the Intern should:

• Have strengthened their understanding of mindsets, tools and approaches related to innovation, new ways of working and community building.

• Supported the development of a unique learning opportunity – the Innovation Fellowship – in the UN system

• Have a broad understanding of the UN system and innovation needs and opportunities

Information on the Country of Assignment

• Other relevant information

The supervisor of this position is located in Geneva, Switzerland. This position can be performed from Geneva, Switzerland, or remotely.

VA Reference no: 827798

Closing Date: 29 June 2023 at 23:59 Rome time

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Interns receive a monthly stipend from WFP up to the maximum amount of US$1000 per month depending on the duty station of assignment.

• WFP is not responsible for living expenses, arrangements for accommodation, necessary visas and related costs.

• WFP will reimburse travel ticket for candidates who are nationals of developing countries and are pursuing their studies in their home country.

• WFP will recognize candidates’ educational credentials from recognised institutions that have been certified by competent international or national authorities such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) or Ministries of Education.

• Candidates who bear any of the following relations to WFP staff members are not eligible to apply: sons, daughters, brothers or sisters.

WFP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK

These are the common standards of behaviour that guide HOW we work together to accomplish our mission.

Different expectations of behaviour are defined depending on your grade and role/responsibilities within WFP.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications.  WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

Saving Lives

Changing Lives

Apply For Job