Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the UN agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The Urban Economy Branch of UN-Habitat has the mandate to promote local capabilities of local go...

Responsibilities or duties

• The intern will contribute to ongoing work supporting the development, implementation and monitoring of programmes and projects addressing urban crisis preparedness, response, recovery and reconstruction, including in contexts of urban displacement and humanitarian emergencies.
• This will involve contributing to analytical work and desk-based reviews of UN-Habitat’s portfolio in crisis-affected countries, with the objective of identifying good practices, lessons learned and opportunities to strengthen and scale interventions across regions and country programmes.
• The intern will also support the preparation of substantive outputs related to the Section’s work, including drafting internal working documents, knowledge products, briefing notes, reports, correspondence and concept notes, as well as undertaking background research related to urban crises, urban migration and displacement.
• Through this work, the intern will contribute to the documentation and dissemination of lessons and innovations emerging from country-level operations, helping to inform programme development, strategic discussions and institutional learning.
• In addition, the intern will support coordination and communication activities related to UN-Habitat’s engagement on urban crisis response and humanitarian affairs. This includes assisting in the preparation of communication and outreach materials aimed at internal and external audiences, as well as supporting the organization and follow-up of internal and external meetings. Such support may include preparation of background materials and agendas, note-taking, reporting and tracking follow-up actions.
• The intern will also provide ad hoc organizational and operational support to the Section’s work, including in relation to flagship events and inter-agency coordination processes, as required.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Applicants must at the time of application, 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 program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent),
• Have graduated with Bachelor's degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent.
• Be computer literate in standard software applications (Microsoft Office Suite).
• Have demonstrated a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.
• Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes a willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Preferred areas of study:

Applicants should be studying, or have studied, a discipline relevant to the internship, such as urban studies, humanitarian or development studies, social or political sciences, international relations, public information, business administration, or a related field.

Experience needed

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.

• Contribute to ongoing work supporting the development, implementation and monitoring of programmes and projects addressing urban crisis preparedness, response, recovery and reconstruction, including in contexts of urban displacement and humanitarian emergencies.
• Contribute to analytical work and desk-based reviews of UN-Habitat’s portfolio in crisis-affected countries, with the objective of identifying good practices, lessons learned and opportunities to strengthen and scale interventions across regions and country programmes.
• Support the preparation of substantive outputs related to the Section’s work, including drafting internal working documents, knowledge products, briefing notes, reports, correspondence and concept notes, as well as undertaking background research related to urban crises, urban migration and displacement.
• Contribute to the documentation and dissemination of lessons and innovations emerging from country-level operations, helping to inform programme development, strategic discussions and institutional learning.
• Support coordination and communication activities related to UN-Habitat’s engagement on urban crisis response and humanitarian affairs.
• Assist in the preparation of communication and outreach materials aimed at internal and external audiences.
• Support the organization and follow-up of internal and external meetings. Such support may include preparation of background materials and agendas, note-taking, reporting and tracking follow-up actions.
• Provide ad hoc organizational and operational support to the Section’s work, including in relation to flagship events and inter-agency coordination processes, as required.

• Computer literacy in standard software applications (Microsoft Office Suite).
• Keen interest in the work of the United Nations.
• Personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.
• Ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs.
• Willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

• Currently enrolled in a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher), OR
• Currently enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent), OR
• Graduated with a Bachelor's degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent.
• Studying, or have studied, a discipline relevant to the internship, such as urban studies, humanitarian or development studies, social or political sciences, international relations, public information, business administration, or a related field.