Programme Management Intern

UNOPS South East Asia Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO)

The South East Asia and Pacific Multi Country Office (EAPMCO) supports, develops and oversees the UNOPS portfolio of projects in South East Asia and the Pacific. EAPMCO was established in January 2023 following the merger of the Thailand Multi-Country Office, which covered 20 countries across  North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific, and the Cambodia Multi-Country Office, which covered 4 countries South East Asia - 3 countries in the Mekong Sub-region (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) and the Philippines.  EAPMCO currently covers 24 countries across North East Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. With its head office in Bangkok, the Multi-Country Office comprises nine business units: SEMCO Thailand, EAPMCO Indonesia,  EAPMCO Pacific Operations Cluster, EAPMCO Papua New Guinea, EAPMCO China, EAPMCO Vietnam, EAPMCO Lao PDR, EAPMCO Philippines and EAPMCO Cambodia.

In 2023, the UNOPS EAPMCO implemented projects worth more than USD 75 million, in the areas of Energy Transition, Digital Transformations, Sustainable Environmental Management, Climate Change, Waste Management, Rule of Law and Access to Justice, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Post Conflict Reintegration, Emergency Relief, Post COVID19 Economic Transformations, and Health, through HR, procurement, construction, contract management, fund and program management services.  

The Multi Country Office head office in Bangkok provides strategic direction, operational support, delivery oversight and assurance of the excellence of business processes and quality standards across all of the entire Multi Country Office locations. It is also responsible for developing, delivering and managing the portfolio of engagements in the country of the MCO location itself.

Background Information – Job specific

The Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) brings together governments and philanthropies to work with partner countries in the region. We support the transition towards modern energy systems that can simultaneously ensure economic growth, energy security, and environmental sustainability. Enabling the transition toward greener energy systems will greatly contribute to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement objectives.

​​​​​​ETP is initially focusing on Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, which are the countries in the region with the highest energy demand, a substantial pipeline for fossil fuel-based projects, and a significant and cost-effective potential for renewable energy and energy efficiency. ETP provides High Level Technical Advisory Support, Holistic Support to Governments on financing and technical needs, capacity and skill development and facilitation of dialogues in all related areas. 

​​​​​​A Secretariat incorporated into UNOPS supports the Steering Committee (SC) and facilitates the implementation of SC’s decisions. The Secretariat operates as per defined Terms of Reference approved by the SC. The Secretariat will undertake day-to-day management and operation of the ETP: (1) it launches Calls for Proposal and carries out proposal assessments; (2) it provides assistance and support to projects; (3) facilitates the design, development and implementation of an overall M&E strategy; (4) monitors progress made by each project during the implementation phase. 

The Secretariat works in close cooperation with the SC, the Advisory Committee, as well as UNOPS Services. The members of the secretariat are selected following UNOPS rules and regulations.

Within the framework of the delegated authority, the incumbent will be assigned all or part of the following duties which will be performed according to organizational needs and structure:

At UNOPS, interns join our teams as equal members and are offered a good mix of support work and independent assignments with substantial responsibility. 

Under the direct supervision of the ETP Country Coordinator, the intern’s role is to support the activities aimed at increasing project management capacity. Among the tasks assigned to the intern: 

• Researching and analyzing information on developments in the energy sector, with a particular focus on energy transition issues in the country of assignment, and providing periodic updates and issue-based summaries and reports.

• Researching and analyzing information on projects and partners, assisting the Country Coordinator with project implementation, preparing project management documents and communication materials. 

• Supporting the Country Coordinator with activities with particular focus on implementing the project and  procurement plans, coordinating the quarterly and monthly assurance tasks, as well as improving the Project Management compliance. 

• Supporting the Country Coordinator in providing routine oversight and analysis of projects’ financial and procurement data within the available dashboards and internal monitoring tools. 

• Collecting and processing data for inclusion in ETP reports, particularly in coordination with the M&E Specialist and/or others as needed.

• Supporting the preparation and logistics for the monthly check-ins with funders’ in-country staff.

• Providing support in the preparation of analysis reports by the Country Coordinator.

• Providing help in the daily communication with projects’ stakeholders and all parties involved.

• Drafting of high quality communication and documentation to provide guidance on UNOPS Process and Quality Management System and other applicable UNOPS policy/guidelines/regulations (eg Presentations, Standard Operating Procedures). 

• Performing secretarial duties by taking meeting minutes during project management meetings. 

• Supporting the preparation of briefing materials ahead of meetings between UNOPS and partners.

• Providing administrative support to the Country Coordinator or the ETP Secretariat when required.

• Performing other duties when required.

Education: 

• Minimum first-level university degree (Bachelor’s or equivalent) in International Affairs, Social Sciences, Human Resources, Business Administration, Project management, Engineering Background, or other relevant field is required. 

• Must be enrolled in a university programme such as Bachelor’s or Master's or Ph.D. (or the equivalent) or have graduated from such studies within three (3) years prior to the application date of the internship.

• Prior project management certification is highly desirable.

Experience:

• Some professional experience in the field of International development, Project Management, Administration, Engineering or any other relevant field is desirable.

• Experience in research, analysis, and report writing is desirable.

• Strong computer literacy in google suite applications or equivalent MS Office standard programs, in particular proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel is required.

• Experience in Google Data Studio is desirable but not required.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and attention to details.

• Must be tactful, discreet, diplomatic and possess the ability to communicate with individuals at all levels of an organization.

• Flexibility and adaptability to work under pressure and able to manage multiple priorities.

• Ability to work in an international/ multicultural environment.

Language:

• Fluency in both written and oral English is required. 

• 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. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority 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. 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.