Org. Setting and Reporting

This internship is located in the Department of Global Communications (DGC) assisting the Gender Focal Points.

The internship is for a minimum of two (2) months and may be extended for a period of up to a maximum of six (6) months. The internship is UNPAID and is designed to be in person and full-time at the duty station. Depending on the situation of the successful candidates, the internship may also be conducted remotely and/or in part-time. Interns work up to five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the office to which they are assigned.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Gender Focal Points for the Department of Global Communications, the intern will assist the efforts to improve gender parity and create enabling environments within the United Nations’ System.

Internship activities will include:

Updating and creating content for the Gender Focal Point website;
Assisting in planning Gender Brown Bag Information Sessions and other events;
Drafting updates to the System-Wide Action Plan (SWAP) platform for Gender;
Working within the Gender database and portal to report on gender statistics;
Researching of innovative approaches for creating enabling environments;
Attending gender-related trainings and reporting and summarizing content;
Supporting the UN system-wide implementation;
Providing support to the Gender Focal Point Network, such as organizing capacity-building sessions, Brown Bag information sessions and other meetings and events;
Assisting in responding to questions and comments submitted to the Gender Focal Point intranet site;
Taking minutes and notes, and assisting in drafting and editing reports and advocacy materials.

The internship will provide excellent learning opportunities through participating in engagements with various stakeholders, both internal and external to the UN.

Competencies

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

Please note that to qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, applicants must meet one
of the following requirements:

a. Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
or,
b. Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).

Applicants must also:
– Be computer literate in standard software applications;
– Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter;
– 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.

Work Experience

No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge in another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

Potential candidates will be contacted by hiring manager directly for further consideration.

Special Notice

A completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note must include:
-Degree Programme (What are you currently studying?);
-Graduation Date (When will you graduate or when did you graduate from the programme?);
-List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in;
-List your top three areas of interest;
-Explain why you are the most suitable candidate for this specific internship;
-Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme (How will this internship support your educational/professional goals and objectives?).

In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, language and IT-skills, and three references. Please note that due to the high volume of applications received, we are unfortunately not in a position to reply or give feedback to each application. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for further consideration.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.

Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.