Org. Setting and Reporting

The internship is for an initial period of three months, with an opportunity for extension up to a total period of six months. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours). This position is located in the Office of Political Affairs, United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). The intern will work under the supervision of the Chief of the Political Affairs Office.

Responsibilities

Under the guidance of Chief OPA, the Political Affairs intern will be responsible for the following duties:
• Conduct research and analysis of information contained in communications and publications received from different sources, including the press and on social media.
• Assist OPA officials with drafting analytical research papers, background papers, and other products in the area of responsibility.
• Prepares summaries of articles, readouts of interviews and reports from a wide variety of sources.
• Assists senior official with briefing notes, background papers and talking points.
• Monitors political, socio-economic, and other politically relevant developments in assigned area.
• Monitors and manages information systems and databases.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Ability to identify and analyze political, ethnic, racial, social and economic trends that may cause political and/ or social tensions in a country or geographic area. Ability to develop sources for data collection. Shows pride in work and in achievements; incorporates a gender perspective in all work; conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.

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.

Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from different national and cultural backgrounds to achieve organizational goals.

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: (1) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or, (2) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).
Be computer literate in standard software applications;
Applicants should be able to demonstrate a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter. In addition, candidates should 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 the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

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. Interns will be responsible for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during the internship and must show proof of valid medical insurance coverage. Potential candidates will be contacted by the Hiring Manager directly for further consideration. A completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Due to a high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

The Cover Note must include:
• the title of degree you are currently pursuing;
• the graduation date from your current program;
• a list of IT skills and programmes you are proficient in (knowledge in data collection, management, and visualization would be desirable);
• an explanation why you are the best candidate;
• an explanation of your interest in the UN Internship Programme and working for the Office of Political Affairs/Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General at UNMIK.

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

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.

By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.

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.