Partnership Development Intern

Background Information - UNOPS

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian, and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management, and human resources.

Working With Us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage the recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work Life Harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types

Background Information – ESAMCO

Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the East & Southern Africa Multi-Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements. The ESAMCO sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya, which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and South Africa. This includes transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi-based UN Agencies, UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple ‘operational’ projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, and Malawi.

Background Information - Job-specific

The Partnerships Development Office (PDO) is responsible for developing strategic partnerships with key partners in the countries covered by the Multi-Country Office, and defines needs and matching partnering opportunities within the mandate of UNOPS.

The Partnerships Development  intern will play a pivotal role in supporting the PDO team, assisting with various tasks. Through hands-on experience, the intern will develop practical skills that will enhance their future career prospects. The intern will have access to the UNOPS Learning Zone Platform for skill development and will also have the opportunity to contribute innovative solutions to partnership development, leveraging their academic background. 

• Conduct analysis and mapping of donor priorities, areas of focus, and geographical priorities, as well as national country strategies 
• Prepare business/market analysis reports for major donors and countries in the region to support the development of new engagement opportunities 
• Research events, publications, and announcements, to track and screen opportunities for possible UNOPS interventions and identify trends that will drive partnership opportunities 

• Support the Hub’s efforts in liaising with potential donors, funding partners, agencies, and institutions 
• Participate in meetings with potential partners and ensure their systematic and timely follow-up 
• Support in the development of project-related documents, including project descriptions, concept notes, proposals, budgets, legal agreements, risk register, and gender action plans 
• Liaise with AFR Regional Office and Headquarters as needed to assure clearances are obtained to finalize engagements and move to the implementation of projects 
• Perform other related duties as required.

• Ensure that organizational systems are updated and populated frequently and as needed, including the internal Partnerships Unit Google Drive, business acquisition tracking tools, and databases
• When needed, provide regular reports on the business acquisition pipeline to the Partnerships Team

• To be eligible for this particular internship with UNOPS, the candidate must be enrolled in a University Degree Programme preferably in economics, management, international affairs, political science, development studies or other relevant disciplines from an accredited university.

• Applicants who have graduated from such studies within the recent three years will also be considered eligible for the position.

• 1 year experience in government, diplomatic, non-governmental or international civil service  in the field of partnerships, development, or communications is desirable.

• A good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite Applications is desirable

• Full working knowledge of English is required.

• Knowledge of a second UN or regional working language is an asset.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience requirements outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to considering all candidates in a fair and transparent manner, and we value diverse perspectives and experiences, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.



• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Kenya

The UNOPS Kenya office manages more than 60 projects in around 10 countries of eastern and southern Africa. UNOPS in Kenya helps partners achieve their project goals in sectors including: governance, education, health, the environment, grant management and rural development.