Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. For close to forty years, UN-Habitat has been working in human settlements throughout the world, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. The position is in the Land, Housing and Shelter Section, Urban Practices Branch/ Global Solutions Division, Nairobi, Kenya.

UN-Habitat works towards the long-term goal of ensuring sustainable cities and communities as mandated by the Sustainable Development Goals framework (SDG 11). As such, there are targets and indicators developed to this effect as short term guidance to enable monitoring of progress towards the attainment of SDG11, while linking and contributing to other SDG goals such as Poverty Eradication SDG1 with custodian mandate for access to basic services (SDG indicator 1.4.1) and land tenure security (SDG indicator 1.4.2) among others.This internship position will support Land, Housing and Shelter Section (LHSS) in the Urban Practices Branch within the Global Solutions Division of UN-Habitat. LHSS provides support to the development of norms and standards in conventions, declarations, regulatory frameworks, agreements, guidelines, codes of practice, and other standard-setting instruments, at global, regional, national and sub-national level in support of:
a) The equitable supply of serviced land at scale.
b) Efficient and effective land management systems.
c) Freedom from arbitrary or forced eviction and the protection of the security of tenure for all.
d) The progressive achievement of universal access to housing meeting the requirements for an adequate standard of living.
e) Participatory urban regeneration and slum upgrading.

The Land, Housing and Shelter Section (LHSS) hosts the secretariat of the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN). GLTN, established in 2006, is a network of over eighty international partners. The Network promotes secure land and property rights for all, through the development of pro-poor, fit-for-purpose, and gender-responsive land tools and approaches for responsible land governance with a focus on tenure security. It has a particular emphasis on vulnerable groups in urban and rural areas including women and youth. GLTN’s work also promotes many of the components in both the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. GLTN works towards improved tenure security within the global frameworks (SDGs, NUA, VGGTs, F&G-AU) with a new strategy (2018-2030) aiming at scaling up land tools, and data protocols and to provide a solid monitoring approach to support evidence-based policy decisions at all levels.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat),Programme Management (Land Administration) internship is for six (6) months.

The Internship is UNPAID and full-time.

Interns work five days per week under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.

Responsibilities

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background, the intern’s assigned office as well as the internship period.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer, the intern will:
– Provide support in knowledge management including the documentation of lessons and experiences of the section’s land tenure interventions on country-level work, tools development, and partnership building.
– Provide technical and coordination support in developing and testing land tools in collaboration with partners.
– Assist substantive and technical staff in organizing and documenting land-related events, training and meetings.
– Provide coordination support with partners concerning project monitoring, capacity development, and partnership-strengthening processes.
– Provide research and technical support to resource mobilization activities, including developing concept notes and proposals.
– Support the overall research and documentation of GLTN-related work on land tenure and administration.
– Contribute to various GLTN-related communication and advocacy activities and initiatives.
– Keep track of relevant national/regional/international meetings and events in the thematic area of land and cross cutting issues on human rights, climate change, gender, etc.
– Support coordination of GLTN events and meetings.
– Perform other related tasks as assigned.

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.

Education

Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
a. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher).
b. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent).
c. Have graduated with Bachelor’s degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent.

Be computer literate in standard software applications (Microsoft Office).

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

Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes a willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Preferred areas of studies:
Land Administration, Land Management, Land Governance, International Development, Political Science, Public Administration, Urban Planning, Urban Studies, Urban and Rural Development, Environment and Natural Resources Management, Land Surveying, GIS and Remote Sensing or any other related fields of study.

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.

Knowledge of urban development, land management and information systems is required. Please explain how you meet this criterion using examples.

Experience in project planning, monitoring and management is desirable. Please explain how you meet this criterion using examples.

Experience in research and knowledge management is desirable. Please explain how you meet this criterion using examples.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of Spanish language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Your application for this internship must include:
1. A completed application (Personal History Profile) and Cover Note, through the UN careers Portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note must include:

– Title of the degree you are currently pursuing
– Graduation Date
– IT skills and programmes you are proficient in
– Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship
– Portfolio of work (please add a link)

Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme, ensure to include all past work experience (if any).

2. Proof of enrollment from current University (if not graduated).

3. A copy of degree certificate (if you have already graduated).

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

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.