Org. Setting and Reporting

The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the most inclusive intergovernmental platform in the Asia-Pacific region. The Commission promotes cooperation among its 53 member States and 9 associate members in pursuit of solutions to sustainable development challenges. ESCAP is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations.

The ESCAP secretariat supports inclusive, resilient and sustainable development in the region by generating action-oriented knowledge, and by providing technical assistance and capacity-building services in support of national development objectives, regional agreements and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. ESCAP also provides support to partners at the national level. ESCAP’s national offer is rooted in and linked with the implementation of global and regional intergovernmental frameworks, agreements, and other instruments.

This position is located in the Communications and Knowledge Management Section (CKMS), in the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support (ODESPS).

The intern works under the supervision of the Chief of CKMS, the Public Information Officer and the Librarian. The internship is UNPAID and full-time for the duration of 3-6 months. Interns work five days per week (37.5 hours).

Interns will gain first-hand experience with regard to the activities of ESCAP in strategic communications, public information, digital outreach, website and knowledge management. They will also gain a greater understanding of how ESCAP works and its range of activities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Responsibilities

The internship is centred on assisting the Communications and Knowledge Management Section (CKMS) in discharging a range of tasks related to strategic communications, public information, digital outreach, website and knowledge management to raise the organization’s visibility. This internship position is to provide assistance on improving ESCAP’s audiovisual library and archives by carrying out the following responsibilities:
• Assisting in the curation, digitization, indexing and archiving of multimedia materials
• Adding and improving metadata and metadata schemes for audio-visual records and files
• Assisting in ongoing improvements to, and maintenance of, content management systems, databases, spreadsheets and other organizational tools for improved searching of audio-visual materials
• Processing and/or cataloguing archival collections
• Researching people or events covered by a collection
• Initiating and carrying out other assigned tasks/special projects.

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 client

Planning & Organizing:
-Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies
-Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required
-Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work
-Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning
-Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary
-Uses time efficiently

Optional Competencies
Technological awareness:
– Keeps abreast of available technology
– Understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office
– Actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks.
– Shows willingness to learn new technology

Education

1. To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, 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).
2. Be computer literate in standard word processing and spreadsheets software applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel or similar.
3. Experience working in Microsoft Sharepoint and multimedia software is desirable.
4. Knowledge of or experience working with online repositories, integrated library systems, digital asset management systems or similar tools is desirable.
5. 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 English (both oral and written) is required for the internship programme. Knowledge of an additional ESCAP working language (Chinese, French, and Russian) is an asset.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

A complete online application (Cover Note and Candidate Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note must include:
– Title of degree you are currently pursuing
– Graduation Date (when will you be graduating from the programme)
– List of the IT skills and library or digital asset management software and systems that you are proficient in (e.g. Web/intranet content management, SharePoint, MS Teams, communities of practice, ILS, MAMS, DAMS, etc.)
— Explanation of why you are the best candidate for an internship with CKMS (include qualifications/competencies)
– Explanation of your interest in the United Nations internship programme

In your Candidate Profile, be sure to include all past work experience, IT skills, and three references.

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

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.

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.