Org. Setting and Reporting

The internship position is located in the General Assembly and ECOSOC Affairs Division (GAEAD) of the United Nations Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) in New York. GAEAD provides procedural and technical support to the General Assembly Plenary, four of its Main Committees (I-IV), and a number of its subsidiary bodies, dealing with the full spectrum of issues considered in and by the Assembly. GAEAD also services the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), as well as a number of its subsidiary bodies.

The internship is for three (3) months, with possibility of extension, subject to the needs of the Department. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours).

Interns work directly with and for the member(s) of the Division to which they are assigned.

Responsibilities

Interns’ responsibilities will depend upon the nature of the project(s) undertaken, the background of the intern, and the duration of the internship. Daily responsibilities might include, but are not necessarily limited to:
• assisting in the preparation of procedural notes for intergovernmental meetings, and other preparatory tasks;
• attending and summarizing intergovernmental meetings;
• assisting with logistics during meetings, including interactive presentations, virtual connections and assisting with the list of speakers;
• undertaking historical research and examination of procedural precedents;
• undertaking media-based analysis and research;
• compiling statistics, as well as design and tabulation of charts, tables, and graphs;
• contributing to the drafting/preparation of notes, talking points, and other papers and briefing materials; • updating/redesigning websites and links;
• performing other tasks as necessary.

Competencies

Professionalism:
Ability to demonstrate a high level of concentration. Ability to work under stress. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence; 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; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. Interns must 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.

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

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

1. Applicants must 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, 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 software applications;
3. Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and
4. 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 internship position advertised, fluency in English is required.
Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.

Assessment

Candidates will be assessed based on their Candidate Profile. Individual interviews and/or tests may be conducted for further assessment.

Special Notice

A completed online application (motivational statement and Candidate Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The motivational statement must:
(i) include the name of your degree programme (What are you currently studying?) and your graduation date (When will you graduate or when did you graduate from the programme?);
(ii) list the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in;
(iii) explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme and why you are the best candidate for this specific internship; and
(iv) include your availability to undertake the internship.

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

Due to the 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. 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 G-4, interns will be responsible for ensuring that they have a valid visa, and if required, employment authorization, allowing them to undertake the internship.

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.