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Unit descriptions

Background

The mission of the Human Development Report Office (HDRO) is to advance human development. The goal is to contribute towards the expansion of opportunities, choice and freedom. HDRO works towards this goal by promoting innovative new ideas, advocating practical policy changes, and constructively challenging policies and approaches that constrain human development. HDRO works with others to achieve change through writing and research, data analysis and presentation, support to national and regional analysis and outreach and advocacy work.

Research Team

HDRO produces a global Human Development Report each year devoted to a specific key topic in human development which changes each year. The team’s work focuses on: conducting background research; coordinating the consultation process of the report with external and internal experts; drafting discussion notes and documents for the report; writing the final draft of the Report; overseeing the production -including editing, layout, proofreading and printing- and providing material for outreach and advocacy purposes. Research interns may be asked to:

• Conduct background research on specific topics and prepare background notes and materials
• Provide coordination support to the production process
• Participate in various brainstorming meetings and discussions, and
• Support other activities as requested

Statistics Unit

The global HDR contains an extensive statistical annex and technical notes aimed at covering a wide range of human development issues. In addition, the global report contains both statistical analyses in the main body of the report and a short section on the State of Human Development based on the data in the annexes. Statistical interns may be asked to participate in the following activities:

• Analysis of complex datasets relevant to the topic of the forthcoming global report including the testing of hypotheses, the development and testing of various models and writing up of the results of the analysis
• The design, compilation and checking of tables in the Statistical Annex including discussions and negotiations with various UN or other international organizations which are responsible for different data sets
• Research and development of new or improved techniques or indicators to be included in future reports including the drafting of associated technical notes or guidelines
• Draft briefing materials based on the statistics to be presented for use by HDRO staff members, UNDP Country Offices and others to explain the provenance of data presented and to respond to queries or complaints about them
• Support the team in providing guidance to country teams producing national and regional HDRs on the use of statistics and indicators, possible sources of data, the development of new or modified composite indices to complement those in the global reports
• Support other activities as requested

Outreach and Advocacy Unit

HDRO engages with policy makers, promotes an informed public debate on human development, and works to achieve change based on the ideas and analysis set out in the Human Development Reports. The team develops relations with the media, organizes events, identifies opportunities to influence debates, manages marketing and public information of HDR, and implements innovative knowledge management systems. More specifically, the intern will be involved in one or more of the following tasks:

• Contribute to the promotion, distribution and launch of the global HDR
• Assist in background research for specific issues related to the HDRs
• Research and write press releases, and contribute to the production of concept notes and other materials to promote the main messages of the HDRs, either in response to external events such as intergovernmental summits and expert meetings or as part of the outreach and advocacy strategy
• Provide support in the updating and development of content for the HDRO Website, such as the online research of news and events related to the HDRs, and the adaptation of existing HDRO literature for use within our web pages
• Contribute to the analysis of the impact of the launch and promotion of previous global reports, and the implementation of “lessons learned” for an effective outreach and dissemination of forthcoming Reports
• Support other activities as requested

NHDR Unit

HDRO supports teams around the world to produce better quality regional, national and sub-national Human Development Reports. Each year on average 20-30 reports are under production. The office’s work falls under the following areas: developing / improving standards, engaging in capacity building, creating and sharing knowledge, and increasing the visibility of HDRs. In undertaking this type of assignment interns will be involved in one or more of the following tasks:

• Support the preparation of tools and guidelines designed to improve the quality of reports
• Support the organisation of events and various global, regional and national capacity building activities
• Conduct background research in response to queries on statistics and HD analysis shared by a global network of HD professionals
• Provide content for the NHDR Workspace web pages
• Participate in various brainstorming meetings and discussions
• Support other activities as requested

Operations Unit

The Operations unit's work focuses on budgetary decisions and work planning. It also ensures that HDRO functions within a streamlined and cost effective management process geared towards a clearer understanding by staff of their responsibilities and expectations. Duties and responsibilities of operations staff include:

• Provide strategic leadership in resource management and operations, including financial and human resources management, procurement and logistical services and information and communications technology
• Provide guidance in formulation of trust fund agreements and the management of third party cost-sharing contributions
• Prepare periodical financial reports to donors on the use of resources
• Ensure consistency and compliance with UNDP rules and regulations as well as efficient and effective operational services to HDRO management and staff