Org. Setting and Reporting
The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.
This internship advertisement is to fill an internship position located in the OCHA Operations and Advocacy Division/ Policy Advice and Planning Section in New York. The intern reports to the Section Chief. The selected intern(s) will be expected to serve for a period of 2 to 6 months, depending on the needs of the Policy Advice and Planning Section and the availability of the selected candidate(s).
Responsibilities
In consultation with the Section Chief, the intern’s daily responsibilities will consist of supporting the general work of the Policy Advice and Planning Section:
• Assists in the design and preparation of studies on humanitarian, disaster, emergency relief, international law, humanitarian access, the protection of civilians and related issues and in various follow-up activities.
• Assists in drafting and preparing official documents pertaining to humanitarian access, the protection of civilians, international humanitarian and human rights law and related issues.
• Researches, analyses and presents information gathered from diverse sources on assigned topics/issues.
• Contributes to the preparation of various written documents, e.g. draft sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines and other documents.
• Develops and maintains reference/resource information on specific topics or policy-related issues; responds to various inquiries and information requests internally and externally.
• Assists in the organization of meetings, seminars, conferences and workshops with other agencies and partners to facilitate exchanges of professional expertise and views on specific humanitarian-related subjects/issues; serves as reporter to such events.
• Maintains awareness of current humanitarian affairs and related issues, to include relevant political, policy, gender considerations or other developments with a specific focus on protection of civilians, humanitarian access and negotiations, and international law.
• Supports the monitoring, analysis and reporting on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations.
• Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
•Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work.
•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.
Education
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) in international relations, law, political science, social science, public administration, economics, statistics, data engineering, etc.
•Be computer literate in standard software applications;
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. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is desirable. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
Assessment
We may invite selected applicants to take a written test and/or participate in an interview.
Special Notice
The internship within the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in line with the United Nations (UN) Internship Programme, aims to provide a framework by which students and recent graduates from diverse academic backgrounds gain exposure to the United Nations through assignment to offices within the Secretariat in order to enhance their educational experience and gain experience in the work of the United Nations. Additionally, it provides the United Nations offices with the assistance of qualified interns specialized in various professional fields.
Interns shall not represent the United Nations in any official capacity. For additional information on the Programme, please visit: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=ip
The internship is unpaid and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours). The general working hours at United Nations Headquarters New York are 40 hours per week, from 9:00 to 5:00 pm with one hour for a lunch break. The intern should adhere to the established official weekly working hours of respective duty station if the internship is based in a field-office location.
A person who is the child or sibling of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations. For purposes of this internship , “child” means (i) the child of a staff member; (ii) the child of the spouse of a staff member (stepchild); and (iii) the spouse of a child of a staff member or a staff member’s spouse (son- or daughter-in-law). “Sibling” includes the child of both or either parent of a staff member and the child of the spouse of a parent of a staff member including half and step siblings.
There is no expectation of employment by the United Nations upon completion of the internship.
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to UN premises. Applicants must be willing and prepared to undertake the internship remotely for part or the entirety of the internship. Interns will need to provide all necessary hardware (computer),software and internet connection to perform the internship remotely.
Please note that the UN New York offices are partially physically closed due to COVID-19 pandemic. Please do NOT plan or initiate any travel or report to UNHQ unless you are asked to report in writing.
Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. All costs associated to the internship are to be borne by the intern, specifically: travel, visas, accommodation/ living expenses and medical insurance for the entire duration of the internship. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance of the intern or costs arising from injury, illness or death that may occur during an internship.
For internships in the United States of America, interns who are not United States citizens, permanent residents or not currently in the United States on a non immigrant visa status will be required to obtain a G-4 visa. If already in the United States of America on another non-immigrant visa status other than G-4, interns will be responsible for ensuring that they have a valid visa, and if required, employment authorization, allowing them to undertake the internship.
To apply to this job opening please go to: https://inspira.un.org or https://careers.un.org. A completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Cover Note must include:
•Your availability (dates) for the internship.
•Your motivation to take up this internship.
•Your Degree Programme (What are you currently studying or have recently graduated from?)
•Your Graduation Date (When will you graduate or when did you graduate from the programme and field of study?)
•The IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in.
In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences and three references.
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.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.