Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. It works towards the long-term goal of ensuring sustainable cities and communities as mandated by the Sustainable Development Goals framework (SDG 11). As such, there are targets and indicators developed to this effect as short term guidance to enable monitoring of progress towards the attainment of SDG11, while linking and contributing to other SDG goals such as Affordable and clean energy Poverty Eradication SDG 7 with custodian mandate for access to basic services (SDG indicator 1.4.1) and land tenure security (SDG indicator 1.4.2) among others. Lack of access to adequate, affordable, reliable, safe and environmentally sound energy is a severe constraint on sustainable development. Currently, 780 million people lack access to modern energy (electricity) to meet their basic needs. 2.4 billion people are without access to clean cooking fuels. Access to reliable energy improves productivity and wealth, as energy services are needed to pump water, to provide adequate sanitation, to improve basis infrastructure and services. UN-Habitat’s Multifunctional Clean Energy Centres (MCECs) concept represents a comprehensive approach to tackling the multifaceted issues associated with inadequate access to water, sanitation, and modern energy in slums and informal settlements. These centers are designed to serve as integrated hubs for clean energy generation, distribution, and service delivery within urban communities, particularly those in low-income and informal settlements. They combine several urban basic services in one roof namely: Biogas and sanitation system connected to public toilets, washroom facilities, water kiosks and other basic services for the urban and peri-urban poor. The assignment aims to provide technical support in the development of designs and drawings and implementation of the MCECs. This position is located at the UN-Habitat Headquarter in Nairobi, Kenya under the Global Solutions Division, Urban Practices Branch, Urban Basic Service Section (UBSS), and Urban Energy Solutions. UBSS is responsible for proposing urban basic service solutions (water, sanitation, energy, mobility, waste management, drainage services etc.) including normative, advocacy and operational activities. The intern will be supervised by the Lead of the Urban Energy Solution Team. The Internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning, designing and producing architectural design and drawings and master plan for energy and resource efficient mass housing, neighborhood development, mass housing, material recovery facilities (MRF), Multi-functional Energy Centre (MCEC), bus transit stations, etc.
• Assist in mainstreaming Urban Energy and Low-carbon Interventions into housing design and human settlement development and interventions;
• Provide support in mainstreaming urban energy and low carbon interventions into UN-Habitat programmes, projects, and activities by assisting in providing inputs on technical and policy issues related to urban energy solutions.
• Assist in documenting case studies on mass housing, energy-related practices and preparing publications and outreach material (including posters and exhibitions material), in support of ongoing training, leadership and policy development activities and assisting the team with external communication and social media activities.
• Assist in developing typologies and standards for energy efficient mass housing based on UN-Habitat’s 5 principles of sustainable urban development planning;
• Draft project proposals and formulation of concept notes to be submitted to donors for consideration, respond to calls for submissions on energy and climate-related topics.
• Support stakeholder engagement to explore potential partners to identify synergies, explore available investment opportunities with partner organizations, donors, financing institutions, private sector, and development partners.
• Conduct research and analysis to support the team's efforts in improving and expanding the MCEC, MRF projects and enable development of appropriate business models applicable in different settings. This will involve gathering data, developing business – models- cases, studying best practices, and identifying innovative solutions in the field of clean energy, urban development, and sustainable neighborhood development.
• Generate periodic progress reports specifically for Mass housing, MRF and MCEC projects highlighting key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Undertake any other duties and responsibilities consistent with the incumbent’s expertise and that she/he can be reasonably expected to undertake.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements: a. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher), b. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent), c. 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: Architecture, Engineering, Urban and Regional Planning, Urban Development or related field.

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. Experience in research, technical writing, knowledge management and project development is desirable. Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in AutoCAD, 3D modeling software, and Adobe Suite (Illustrator and Photoshop) is desirable. 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 inter

• Assist in planning, designing and producing architectural design and drawings and master plan for energy and resource efficient mass housing, neighborhood development, mass housing, material recovery facilities (MRF), Multi-functional Energy Centre (MCEC), bus transit stations, etc.
• Assist in mainstreaming Urban Energy and Low-carbon Interventions into housing design and human settlement development and interventions;
• Provide support in mainstreaming urban energy and low carbon interventions into UN-Habitat programmes, projects, and activities by assisting in providing inputs on technical and policy issues related to urban energy solutions.
• Assist in documenting case studies on mass housing, energy-related practices and preparing publications and outreach material (including posters and exhibitions material), in support of ongoing training, leadership and policy development activities and assisting the team with external communication and social media activities.
• Assist in developing typologies and standards for energy efficient mass housing based on UN-Habitat’s 5 principles of sustainable urban development planning;
• Draft project proposals and formulation of concept notes to be submitted to donors for consideration, respond to calls for submissions on energy and climate-related topics.
• Support stakeholder engagement to explore potential partners to identify synergies, explore available investment opportunities with partner organizations, donors, financing institutions, private sector, and development partners.
• Conduct research and analysis to support the team's efforts in improving and expanding the MCEC, MRF projects and enable development of appropriate business models applicable in different settings. This will involve gathering data, developing business – models- cases, studying best practices, and identifying innovative solutions in the field of clean energy, urban development, and sustainable neighborhood development.
• Generate periodic progress reports specifically for Mass housing, MRF and MCEC projects highlighting key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Undertake any other duties and responsibilities consistent with the incumbent’s expertise and that she/he can be reasonably expected to undertake.

• Proficiency in AutoCAD
• Proficiency in 3D modeling software
• Proficiency in Adobe Suite (Illustrator and Photoshop)
• Research skills
• Technical writing skills
• Knowledge management skills
• Project development skills

• Enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) OR enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent) OR graduated with Bachelor's degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent.
• Computer literate in standard software applications (Microsoft Office Suite).
• Demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs.
• Preferred areas of study: Architecture, Engineering, Urban and Regional Planning, Urban Development or related field.