Org. Setting and Reporting

This internship is located within the Disaster Risk Reduction Section (DRS) of the Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division of ESCAP.

The internship is UNPAID and full-time for a period of two to six months, depending on the needs of the division or office. Qualified applicants who can commit to a longer internship duration will be preferred. Interns work five days per week (35 hours) in-person under the supervision of the Programme Management Officer, Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness. Applicants who wish to do their internship remotely will be considered on a case- by-case basis.

ESCAP, through the Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness supports member states to address unmet needs in multi-hazard early warning systems and promote social and economic resilience. Enhanced disaster and climate risk management is achieved through regional cooperation and mainstreaming of science, technology and innovation.

The ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness was established in 2005, originally to support tsunami early warning through a multi-hazard approach. This followed the destructive Indian Ocean Tsunami that occurred in December 2004, which stressed the need for an effective regional disaster preparedness mechanism in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia. In 2010, the Trust Fund was broadened to encompass disaster and climate preparedness, and in 2015, it expanded its geographic scope to include SIDS in the Southwest Pacific.

For more information on the work of the section, please refer to:
https://www.unescap.org/our-work/ict-disaster-risk-reduction and
https://www.unescap.org/disaster-preparedness-fund

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of Programme Management Officer, Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness, the intern will support the Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting under the Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness.

The intern will be working in a dynamic team. Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
i) Assist in the evaluative review of the Trust Fund strategic note 2021-2024, interviews with stakeholders, research and reporting
ii) Support in the planning and running of high-level events and consultations on disaster risk reduction with Trust Fund partners and member states
iii) Provide research assistance on unmet needs in early warning systems in Asia and the Pacific, contributing to regional publications
iv) Assist in reviewing progress/terminal reports and evaluations of Trust Fund projects, and summarize main findings
v) Support the Disaster Risk Reduction Section in day-to-day project activities and tasks

Competencies

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.

Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to the client.

Education

The applicants to the programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

(a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or,
(b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).

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 an asset. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are Official Language of the United Nations Secretariat.

Assessment

Potential candidates will be contacted by hiring manager directly for further consideration.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis from 20 August 2023.

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 and Candidate Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note should include:
• Degree Programme (What are you currently studying or what have you studied)
• Graduation date (When will you graduate or when did you graduate from the programme)
• List of the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in
• List of your top three areas of interest
• Explanation of why you are the most suitable candidate for this specific internship
• Explanation of your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme

In your online Candidate Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences (if any), IT skills, and three references.

Please note that due to the large number of applicants, divisions are not in a position to reply to each application and that only short-listed applicants will be contacted for further consideration.

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.

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.