Research and Administrative Support Intern

Job Posting Organization:
The Joint Programme is a collaborative initiative implemented by UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) aimed at enhancing social cohesion, resilience, and sustainable peace in Moldova, particularly on both banks of the Nistru River. The programme focuses on empowering various community groups, including older people, youth, women, under-represented groups, and refugees, to engage in constructive dialogue, mitigate social tensions, and foster inclusive community initiatives. The organization operates in multiple communities across Moldova, specifically targeting 10 communities on the right bank and 3 on the left bank of the Nistru River. The mission of the organization is to build a more cohesive and resilient society through capacity-building, intergenerational dialogue platforms, and innovative tools like the Social Tension Monitoring Mechanism (STMM).

Job Overview:
The Research and Administrative Support Intern will play a crucial role in supporting the activities of the Joint Programme aimed at promoting social cohesion, community engagement, and the inclusion of marginalized groups. The intern will assist in various tasks that contribute to the overall goal of building a more cohesive society. This includes supporting research and knowledge generation related to the Social Tension Monitoring Mechanism (STMM), assisting in communication and outreach efforts, providing administrative and logistical support, and contributing to monitoring and evaluation activities. The intern will also coordinate aspects of community-based e-monitoring, ensuring that data collected by local monitors and NGO partners is properly stored and accessible for project reporting needs. This position offers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a dynamic environment while contributing to meaningful social initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support research and knowledge generation: Assist with brief research notes, press clippings, and background materials related to the Social Tension Monitoring Mechanism (STMM). Compile and organize data relevant to outreach and online engagement.
• Assist communication and outreach efforts: Support the preparation, translation, and formatting of communication materials in Romanian, Russian, and English. Help collect basic analytics from social media and website posts to inform engagement strategies.
• Provide administrative and logistical support: Schedule meetings, prepare agendas, distribute minutes, and send calendar invites. Maintain contact databases, organize programme/project files, and support travel logistics and inventory tracking.
• Support monitoring and evaluation activities: Help collect and organize post-training data (e.g., attendance sheets, feedback forms) across project activities. Assist in maintaining traceability of participant engagement in initiatives led by responsible parties and grantees.
• Coordinate aspects of community-based e-monitoring: Provide basic coordination support to local monitors and NGO partners involved in data collection. Ensure submitted monitoring data is properly stored and accessible for project reporting needs.

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must meet one of the following eligibility 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. Additionally, candidates should possess basic proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with social media platforms for communication purposes. A strong interest in social cohesion, community engagement, or human rights is essential, along with good organizational and time-management skills to handle multiple tasks in a dynamic environment.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes enrollment in a postgraduate degree programme or being in the final year of a first university degree programme. Candidates who have recently graduated with a relevant university degree are also eligible to apply, provided they can start the internship within one year of graduation. This ensures that the intern has a solid academic foundation to support their work in research and administrative tasks.

Experience:
The level of experience needed for this position is relatively flexible, as it is primarily an internship role. However, candidates should demonstrate a strong interest in social cohesion, community engagement, or human rights, and a willingness to learn about dialogue facilitation and inclusion strategies. Previous experience in research, communication, or administrative support, even at an academic level, would be beneficial but is not strictly required.

Languages:
The mandatory language requirements for this position include the ability to communicate effectively in Romanian or Russian, as well as proficiency in English at least at a B1 level. This multilingual capability is essential for assisting in communication and outreach efforts, as well as for engaging with diverse community members and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The internship position is designed to target individuals from marginalized groups who are underrepresented in the national labor market, including women and men with diverse gender identities, persons with disabilities, people living with HIV, LGBTIQ individuals, and other ethno-linguistic, cultural, and religious minorities. Interns are expected to work remotely on an intermittent basis, meaning that no permanent workplace will be assigned. Upon completion of the internship, the intern will receive a certificate from UNDP. It is important to note that interns are responsible for securing adequate medical insurance for the duration of their internship and must provide self-certification of good health prior to starting. UNDP will not reimburse medical insurance costs, and any expenses arising from accidents or illness during the internship will be the intern's responsibility. Additionally, UNDP is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and values diversity, ensuring that all personnel can contribute to the organization's mission.