Work Location

Vienna, Austria

Expected duration

6 months (07 October 2024 – 04 April 2025)

Duties and Responsibilities

Envisaged starting date: 07 October 2024. The duration is 6 months. The internship is UNPAID and interns work five days per week (full time – 40 hours). About 90% of the world’s cargo is transported in maritime containers, but only less than 2% is physically inspected by customs authorities. This fact provides ample opportunities for illicit activities, such as avoiding customs duties, circumventing quotas, or smuggling protected timber and wildlife, nuclear materials, weapons and drugs. Further, aircraft have provided another method for organized criminal groups to transport illicit goods. As the global number of air passengers is expected to double in the coming 20 years, the growing connectivity offered by airlines is prone to exploitation by high-risk passengers. Today, it is widely believed that the only viable way to control containerized cargo and high-risk passengers is through information-based risk analysis followed by detection technologies. In this way, it becomes possible to target high-risk consignments and passengers and proceed with physical examinations only when needed. In 2023, the Passenger and Cargo Border Team (PCBT) was born from the merging of the UNODC-World Customs Organization (WCO) Container Control Programme (CCP) and the INTERPOL-WCO Airport Communication Programme (AIRCOP). PCBT targets illegal containerized shipments by building risk assessment and inspection capacity in specialized Port Control Units (PCUs) and Air Cargo Control Units (ACCUs) made up of officers from customs, national police, and other relevant law enforcement agencies. It also aims to strengthen the capacities of international airports to target and intercept high-risk passengers, cargo and mail via establishment of Joint Airport Interdiction Task Forces (JAITFs). The PCBT implements activities in multiple phases, ranging from technical needs assessments to establishment of units and training of the officials. A key focus is strengthening inter-agency cooperation and communication internationally and globally. For more information about UNODC please visit https://www.unodc.org/ The internship is located in the Passenger and Cargo Border Team (PCBT) in the Border Management Branch (BMB), Division for Operations (DO), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Vienna (Austria). The intern reports to the Deputy Head of the Passenger and Cargo Border Team. The intern shall undertake the following duties which may include, but are not limited to: • Undertake research work, using electronic sources, in the field of transnational organized crime with particular emphasis on illicit trafficking as well as other relevant topics as required; • Assist in the drafting of concept notes and background documents taking stock of existing knowledge on a specific issue in order to suggest operational ways forwards for the Programme; • Assist the PCBT team in desk work, with fact-checking, editing and proof-reading; • Prepare training material for technical assistance activities such as training workshops; • Assist in the preparation of ad hoc events such as side events for CND/CCPCJ; • Assist in the preparation of promotional materials, social media tweets and website updates; • Ensure the efficient and accurate collection and organization of data through such tasks as establishing and maintaining files using accepted organizational methods; • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/special skills

• Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in, or have recently completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). • Be computer literate in standard software applications; • 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.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Additional Information

Not available.

Intern Specific text

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 who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

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.