Org. Setting and Reporting

This internship is located in the Strategic Planning and Inter-Agency Affairs Unit (SPIA), Public Affairs and Policy Support Branch (PAB), Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs (DPA), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Vienna (Austria).

The internship is for four (4) months (with the possibility of an extension up to a maximum of 6 months subject to the needs of the office and availability of the intern) with a desired starting date of 1 February 2024. The internship may take place in-person or virtually depending on the needs of the individual.

This position is UNPAID and full-time, i.e. five days (40 hours) per week under the supervision of a staff member in the receiving department or office.

The Strategic Planning and Inter-Agency Affairs Unit is responsible for two main policy and operational responses to be delivered under the DPA/PAB thematic programme objectives, namely:

• Development of strategic planning and results-based management frameworks, standards and procedures for programming purposes; and

• Enhancing cooperation and coordination with United Nations agencies, other multilateral organizations and new stakeholders on issues related to UNODC’s mandate on drugs, crime and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

For information on the work of UNODC and SPIA kindly visit www.unodc.org

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Unit and the Programme Management Officer, the intern will:

• Conduct research related to and support the work of the Unit on issues of relevance, in particular in relation to the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, youth policy, urban safety and good governance, as well as UNODC’s role in the context of UN development system reform;

• Support the Unit with research and coordination in various cross-cutting areas pertaining to consolidating UNODC’s contributions to Secretary-General’s reports, reports to the Human Rights Council and other reports for system-wide requests for information and emerging issues;

• Support the work of the Unit related to Results-Based Management (RBM);

• Support the implementation of the Youth Empowerment Accelerator (YEA!) Framework and other youth mainstreaming-related tasks;

• Assist in the drafting, editing and consolidating of the annual programme plan and the UNODC Strategy 2021-2025 reports;

• Contribute to the drafting and preparation of UNODC publications, briefing notes, background notes, reports, evaluations, and other internal documents, presentations, correspondences with Member State governments, talking points and speeches;

• Support the design and layout of infographics, web pages, social media and presentations on various topics related to the work of the unit, including SharePoint pages, iSeek and website pages, and

• Assist with the technical / ICT arrangements for webinars or hybrid events.

The Intern will further support the work of the Unit by performing other tasks as necessary.

Competencies

The intern should also:
• Have excellent English drafting and report-writing experience
• Be computer literate in standard software applications. Knowledge of graphic design software (like Canva) and the facilitation of online meetings is desirable. Interest in social media is also desirable.
• Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and
• 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.

Education

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met: Applicants must 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 programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent); or
(c) have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation

(OFFICIAL PROOF FROM THE UNIVERSITY IN SUPPORT OF ONE OF THE ABOVE OPTIONS HAS TO BE ATTACHED TO THE INSPIRA APPLICATION)

• 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 Charter; and

• 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. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language would be an asset.

Assessment

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

Due to the high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted. Should you not be contacted within two months (2) after the end of the posting period, please consider your application unsuccessful.

Special Notice

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.

A completed online application (Cover Note, Personal History Profile as well as proof of enrolment and/or graduation) 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 best candidate for this specific internship.
• Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme in general and this assignment in particular.

In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references. Do not forget to attach your proof of enrolment or graduation.

Due to the high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

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.

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.