Duties and Responsibilities
Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships: This internship is located in the Housing and Land Management Unit of the Forests, Land and Housing Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) based in Geneva. The UNECE Housing and Land Management Unit works to promote compact, inclusive, resilient, smart and sustainable cities; energy efficient and affordable adequate housing, including for those with special needs and vulnerable population groups; transparent and efficient land use, and property registration. The Unit serves as a secretariat to two UN intergovernmental bodies: Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management and its Working Party on Land Administration; and two teams of specialists – the Forum of Mayors and the Real Estate Market Advisory Board (REM). The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Secretary of the Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management. The intern will support staff in their objective to provide effective secretariat support for the work of the UNECE Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management, its Working Party and the teams of specialists. The intern will be especially focusing on assisting the organization and follow up of the 85th session of the Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management and the Fourth Forum of Mayors. Other tasks include preparation of official documents and analyses, and support to communication activities. Within delegated authority, the duties of an intern are likely to fall mainly into one of the three functional areas below. Intergovernmental support: • Drafts and prepares inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies. • Follows intergovernmental meetings and prepares summary reports and similar material. • Prepares inputs to statements by members of the Bureau and secretariat staff to such meetings. • Assists in the organization of panels, round tables etc. on housing, urban development and land management issues for inter-governmental processes. Economic and/or sector analysis: • Collects, evaluates, interprets, analyses specified statistics and qualitative socio-economic information obtained from a variety of sources and pertaining to particular sectors, countries, regions or development topics with a focus on urban development, smart sustainable cities, housing and land management. • Maintains databases and programmes for database management and organizes non-quantitative information. • Prepares briefing notes, inputs to speeches and similar material on urban development, housing and land management issues in a form that is meaningful to non-specialists; • Prepares first drafts of sector, country or regional components of analytical studies on urban development, housing issues and policies. • Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on development issues. Technical cooperation: • Compiles and analyses the data and other information necessary for the preparation of technical cooperation project proposals in the area of urban development and housing. • Prepares documentation for technical cooperation programmes and projects. • Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sector technical cooperation projects. • Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects. General: • Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s services; • Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally. Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Staff within work unit/section and peers in department/regional commission; staff of other international organizations working on related issues; academics and representatives of civil society, both NGOs and the business community.
Qualifications/special skills
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: – be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); – be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent); or – have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one year period of graduation. Applicants should also: Be computer literate in standard software applications; Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations; Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. Field of study in sustainable development is desirable. Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme. In addition, experience and interest in sustainable housing, urban development, land management is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Intern Specific text
Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.