Org. Setting and Reporting

This internship within the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) is offered for a period of six months based on the needs and requirements of the Department. The internship does not carry any payment or retribution expectation. Interns work five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the office to which they are assigned.

The advertised internship is located in Security Council Practices and Charter Research Branch of the Security Council Affairs Division (SCAD) in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). The Security Council Practices and Charter Research Branch is the advisory and research arm of SCAD. Its core functions are to prepare the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council, mandated by General Assembly resolution 686 (VII) of 5 December 1952; to provide guidance and information on Council practice/procedure to Member States, the Secretariat, NGOs and academics; to provide substantive servicing to the Security Council Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions; to provide assistance for the familiarization of new Council members on the evolving practice and working methods of the Council and to deliver the functions of the UN Secretariat’s focal point on issues related to Security Council reform.

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Security Council Practices and Charter Research Branch, the incumbent may undertake a range of activities, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Conduct research on events relating to political issues, in general, and in particular as they relate to the countries and thematic mandates on the agenda of the Security Council;

• Assist the Branch with documentation and cataloguing information related to the evolution of the practices and working methods of the Council and/or its subsidiary bodies;

• Conduct research, analysis and drafting of studies for the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council;

• Assist the Branch in its outreach efforts, including through the preparation of social media content;

• Assist in the further development of the Division’s computerized databases capturing the con practice of the Security Council and its subsidiary bodies; and participate in the updating of the Division’s computerized databases;

• Performing other duties as required.

Competencies

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.

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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

Education

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:

1. Applicants at the time of application must 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. The field of study must be closely related to the type of internship you are applying for.

3. Be proficient in standard word processing and software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint or similar, and standard office automation equipment, scanner, printer, etc.; Knowledge or prior experience with producing social media content and engaging in social media monitoring (primarily Twitter) is an advantage. Knowledge of visualization tools such as Power BI and Canva is an additional asset.

4. Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter.

5. 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. For this internship, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat).

Assessment

Potential candidates will be contacted by the Hiring Manager directly for further consideration.

Special Notice

While the start and end dates may be flexible, please note that the successful candidates are expected to start their internship on or after 1 September 2023 but no later than 15 September 2023. In your cover note, please indicate your availability.

A completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note must also include:

• Title of degree you are currently pursuing.

• Graduation Date (When will you be/are graduating/have graduated from the programme?)

• List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in, including your knowledge and any experience with social media

• List your top three areas of interest and please explain how your interests, skills and knowledge match either the strategic support or the analytics track.

• Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship

• Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme

In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work and/or internship experiences, IT skills, and three references.

Due to the high volume of applications received, we can ONLY contact successful candidates.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

The internship is UNPAID and may be either full-time or part-time. It should be noted that full-time internship working hours are 35 hours per week, while part-time internship working hours are 20 hours per week. The internship will be undertaken either remotely outside the duty station or in a hybrid working arrangement at the UN Premise, New York, United States.

The United Nations does not financially remunerate interns. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. For internships in the United States of America, interns who are not United States citizens, permanent residents, or not currently in the United States on a non-immigrant visa status will be required to obtain a G-4 visa. If already in the United States of America on another non-immigrant visa status other than G4, interns will be responsible for ensuring that they have a valid visa and, if required, employment authorization, allowing them to undertake the internship. For internships outside the United States, interns who are not citizens of the country, permanent residents, or not currently in the country’s nonimmigrant visa status will be required to obtain a valid visa and work permit, allowing them to undertake the internship.

Applicants who are children or siblings (including stepchildren, half-siblings, or stepsiblings) of a staff member and sons or daughters-in-law may not be engaged as an intern.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.

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.