Org. Setting and Reporting

The post is located at the Office of the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) with the Political Affairs and Partnerships Section.

The internship is for a minimum duration of three (3) months and can be extended up to six (6) months.
The internship will start from July 2023.

The internship is UNPAID and fulltime, and interns work five (5) days per week (40 hours) under the supervision of the Officer-in-charge of internship under the supervision of the Head of the Political Affairs and Partnerships Section, based in the Office of the Director General at the Palais des Nations.

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of Section and under the daily guidance of the Professional Officer in the Section, the incumbent will be asked to:
– Assist staff in research for and drafting of speeches;
– Monitor and carry out research on topical issues in international affairs and to prepare background papers and analysis for the Section;
– Monitor and carry out research on developments within the United Nations funds, programmes and specialized agencies and other international organizations, in particular the Geneva-based entities, and to prepare background notes for the attention of the Chief of Section; upon request, to attend meetings of United Nations entities; to prepare summaries and analysis of the discussions;
– Monitor and carry out research on academic and research institutions, think tanks and foundations and prepare background notes for the attention of the Chief of Section; upon request, to attend meetings and prepare summaries;
– Research, draft and update country profiles and other background in preparation for the presentation of credentials to the Director-General or other meetings with high-level dignitaries;
– Participate in the planning and organization of seminars, workshops and other events with external partners, including, inter alia, undertaking background research; identifying speakers and invitees; preparing invitations; liaising with speakers; responding to queries and providing relevant information to invitees; and assisting in the general administration of the individual event;
– Draft and prepare routine correspondence for the Section;
– Assist in the administration of the institutional memory of the Section, including updating databases of country profiles and other material, as necessary;
– Carries out any other ad hoc tasks, as may be required by the Chief of Section and /or the Professional Officers in the Section.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM
– Conceptual skills and ability to conduct independent research, identify issues and summarize diverse information.
– Shows pride in work and in achievements. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
– Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges.
– Remains calm in stressful situations. Good understanding of the UN’s mission and organizational setup.

COMMUNICATION
– Speaks and writes clearly and effectively.
– Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately.
– Asks questions to clarify, and shows 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.

TEAM WORK
– Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; ability to place the team agenda before a personal one.

Education

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations, applicants 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);
(b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).

Interested candidates must be pursuing or pursued their degree in areas related to this Job Opening.

In addition, interested candidates must:
– Be computer literate in standard software applications including MS Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point);
– 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. For this position fluency in English or French (ability to speak, read and draft) is required. Knowledge of the other language would be an advantage.

Assessment

Potential candidates may be contacted by the hiring team directly if further information is needed during the review of their application.
Due to the high volume of applications received, ONLY candidates who have been short-listed (identified as potential candidates) will be contacted.

Special Notice

Completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
The cover note must include:
– Date of availability.
– Title of degree you are currently pursuing.
– Graduation date (when will you be/have graduating/graduated from the programme?).
– IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in.
– 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 your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references.
There should be no expectation of employment by the United Nations upon completion of the internship.
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.
Interns are responsible for all internship-related expenses that they incur. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during an internship. Therefore, upon award of an internship, interns are responsible for securing adequate insurance coverage and are required to sign and return a statement confirming their understanding and acceptance of these conditions of service.
A person who is the child or sibling of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations. An applicant who bears to a staff member any other family relationship may be engaged as an intern, provided that he or she shall not be assigned to the same work unit of the staff member nor placed under the direct or indirect supervision of the staff member. For purposes of this instruction, “child” means (i) the child of a staff member; (ii) the child of the spouse of a staff member (stepchild); and (iii) the spouse of a child of a staff member or a staff member’s spouse (son- or daughter-in-law). “Sibling” includes the child of both or either parent of a staff member and the child of the spouse of a parent of a staff member (that is, also half- and step-sibling).
Candidates of certain nationalities must obtain a visa authorizing their stay in Switzerland before they depart for Geneva to begin their internship. While this is the overall responsibility of the selected candidate, we will provide information and supporting documents in this regard.

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.