Intern(s) – Humanitarian Affairs At UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Work Location

Geneva (in-person, remotely or hybrid)

Expected duration

January – June 2025

Duties and Responsibilities

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is the part of the UN Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. 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. The Assessment, Planning and Monitoring Branch (APMB) helps OCHA and partners deliver more effective joint responses using innovative, state of the art coordination tools and services. The work of the Branch focuses on the key activities which enable effective coordination: needs assessment and analysis, humanitarian response planning and continuous monitoring. APMB aims to ensure OCHA and partner staff have the skills, tools and technical support needed to meet the needs of people affected by crises through a well-coordinated collective response effort, within the framework of a rigorous Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC). The Needs and Response Analysis Section (NARAS), as part of APMB, is responsible to provide normative guidance and policy development for analysis, including risk and readiness. It provides technical field support and capacity-building on analysis and planning. Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background and duties may include but are not limited to providing assistance with the design and preparation of studies on humanitarian response, emergency relief and other related issues and in various follow-up activities; researching, analyzing and presenting information gathered from diverse sources on assigned topics/ issues; assisting with the preparation of various written documents, e.g. drafts sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents etc.; assisting in the maintenance of reference/ resource information on specific topics or policy-related issues; providing support with the organization of meetings, seminars, conferences, work-shops, etc., and serving as note-taker to such events; maintains awareness of current humanitarian affairs and related issues, to include relevant political, policy, gender considerations or other developments in specific subject area and/or country or region concerned and; performs other tasks requested by supervisor, as appropriate. In addition to the general responsibilities outlined above, and under the general guidance of a primary supervisor, the intern shall be given specific tasks related to one of these projects within the Needs and Response Analysis Section (NARAS): Project no. 1 – Collective Learning (Knowledge Management): This role will support efforts to create a more collaborative peer-to-peer environment with dynamic and engaging learning experiences within NARAS and across the Assessment, Planning and Monitoring Branch. The intern must demonstrate an extremely high ability to be well-organized and collaborative. Potential workstreams will include: tracking and monitoring opportunities for APMB engagement; developing templates and other collective learning resources; organizing and cleaning of shared resources; supporting efforts to enhance training skills amongst staff; and developing a training support package. Other tasks will be assigned as the collective learning portfolio develops within APMB. Strong writing skills in English is desirable for this position. Project no. 2 – Humanitarian Action Platform: Humanitarian Action provides a comprehensive overview of the humanitarian landscape by providing both an annual snapshot complemented by analysis, and live data on on humanitarian crises and response. Humanitarian Action also serves as the publication platform for planning, monitoring and financial tracking data. It allows users to benefit from dynamic data that is updated throughout the year, as country teams update their needs analysis and response plans. The intern working on this project will provide support to country teams digitalizing their humanitarian needs and response plans by creating training material and providing training to country teams, being a support desk, assisting with data entry, data analysis, and participating in meetings, among other tasks. For this project, knowledge on information management, data analysis, and attention to detail are essential. Strong knowledge of French is very desirable. Project no. 3 – Costing: Costing methodologies are methods that can be used to calculate the financial requirements to fulfil the objectives of an annual Humanitarian Need and Response Plan (HNRPs), or a flash appeal. The intern will support the development of the “standard model” and training material for costing, project registration, financial tracking and monitoring. The selected intern will be required to have skills in information management, data analysis/data visualization and design. Being a strong drafter, interest in the subject, common sense and attention to detail are part of the requirements. Project no. 4 – Support to technical advancement of JIAF 2: The Joint Intersectoral Analysis Framework (JIAF) is an IASC endorsed methodology used for the estimation and analysis of humanitarian needs and protection risks that inform the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC). It uses quantitative and qualitative methods to generate the evidence base that underpins the needs analysis presented in the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRPs). OCHA NARAS leads the technical development of JIAF. Over the course of Q1 2025 OCHA NARAS will lead the refinement of JIAF to develop and incorporate a method to better analyze the severity of humanitarian needs. The inter will a) Support the secretariat function of OCHA for the governance mechanisms of the JIAF Technical Methodology Working Group (TMWG), including drafting communications, organizing meetings and workshops and note taking, etc. and b) Support the updating, editing and visualization of updates to the JIAF technical guidance material and capacity strengthening packages. The intern would also be involved in activities related to Rapid Needs Assessments (RNA). RNAs are undertaken at the aftermath of an emergency to define the impact of the crisis. The intern would support the revision of RNA tools, the organization of a toolbox and the development of guidance related to RNAs. Among of types of activities to be performed are the research and collection of RNA practices; support drafting of tools and procedures (including design of presentations and other communications material). The selected intern(s) shall be assigned to one of these projects based based on their background, expertise and area(s) of interest/preference. This internship shall be based in Geneva (Switzerland) with different working modalities, either in-person, remotely or hybrid. The internship is being offered for a minimum period of four (4) months, with a possibility of extension up to a maximum period of six (6) months, beginning at a mutually agreed time.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: – Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); – Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent), Preferably in areas related to political science, social science, humanitarian affairs, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, information management, earth sciences or in a related field. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship. Applicants must meet be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent),Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PHD Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate or proof of university enrollment at a later stage, if selected. Excellent writing and communication skills are required. Skills in information management, coordination, administration, translation are assets.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.