Org. Setting and Reporting

This profile is for the sole purpose of the Internship Programme of the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development in New York (UNCTAD NYO). There should be no expectation of employment within the United Nations after an internship. Interns shall not be eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, positions at the professional level and above carrying international recruitment status in the Secretariat for a period of six months following the end of their internship.

The positions are located in the Office of the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development in New York. The Internship Programme is unpaid and full-time, i.e. an intern is expected to work five days per week (9:00 am to 5:00 pm New York time). Given the current modalities of work at the United Nations Offices around the world (work online and from home), Interns will be expected to physically come to the UNCTAD NYO office on a weekly rotational basis, following established COVID-19 precaution guidelines upon request and approval of the Internship Coordinator. Interns are expected to have the necessary IT equipment and connection to attend online meetings from home. A computer will be provided for in office use, along with necessary software to conduct work.

To work remotely, the applicant shall have full access to a computer and internet with a modern browser in which to run the latest version of Office 365 applications that will allow him/her to perform the tasks within the scope of the internship. The computer must have basic IT security best practices implemented. At a minimum, the applicant should have:
• Installed in his/her computer the latest version of the Microsoft Windows operating system, software and security updates as soon as they are issued;
• Enabled the built-in software firewall that comes with the operating software of the computer;
• Be able to use the password manager enabling the creation of strong passwords and to secure access to all UNCTAD/UN/related resources.

The period of these four internship positions will be of minimum four months with starting date as soon as possible for 1 position and on 2 January 2024 for 3 positions. Please note that flexibility is available with regard to prospective start dates. You must indicate your preferred internship start date and length in your cover letter.

Responsibilities

Carrying out his/her tasks under the supervision of a senior staff member, the intern will perform the following functions:

– Assist in monitoring and providing summaries of relevant meetings of the UN General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and dialogues with other UN entities (inter-agency meetings). Contribute to activities being carried out with UN system entities among others: ECOSOC Secretariat, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Office of the High Representative for Least developed countries, Landlocked developing countries and Small island developing states;
– Assist in the preparation of UNCTAD’s briefings and meetings. Provide support to UNCTAD staff on mission to New York by assisting the organization of meetings with representatives of Member States, UN agencies and departments and other stakeholders as necessary;
– Update and improving information contained in the NYO databases and performing Internet-based research and information cataloguing related to the work of UNCTAD;
– Assist with the maintenance of NYO’s electronic communications dispatched regularly to all stakeholders, including UNCTAD communications and outreach products;
– Assist in the preparation of inputs for staff members of the NYO participating in intergovernmental processes;
– Help in contributing to implementing the social media outreach strategy;
– Undertake other tasks as necessary.

More generally, interns shall:

1. Observe all applicable rules, regulations, instructions, procedures and directives of the Organization notwithstanding their status as described in section 4 of the UN Internship Programme Administrative Instructions ST/AI/2000/9 & ST/AI/2005/11;
2. Provide the receiving departments/offices with a copy of all materials prepared by them during the internship. The UN shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights, and trademarks, regarding material which bears a direct relation to or is made in consequence of, the services provided under the internship. At the request of the UN, the interns shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to the UN in compliance with the requirements of the applicable law;
3. Respect the impartiality and independence required of the UN and of the receiving department/office and shall not seek or accept instructions regarding the services performed under the internship agreement from any government or from any authority external to the UN;
4. Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the receiving department/office, they may not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, government, or any other external source any information which has become known to them by reason of their association with the UN or the receiving department/office, that they know or ought to have known has not been made public. They may not use any such information without the written authorization of the appropriate official, and such information may never be used for personal gain. These obligations also apply after the end of the internship with the UN;
5. Refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on the UN or on the receiving department/office and will not engage in any activity which is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the UN.

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

The United Nations Internship programme is intended to expose students or recent graduates to the United Nations in order to enhance their educational experience and to help them to gain experience in the work of the Organization. Therefore, applicants to the programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

– Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or
– Be enrolled, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent).

Additionally applicants should:
– 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;
– Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes willingness to 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

Fluency in English is required for this Internship Programme.
Knowledge of French or Spanish is an asset.

Assessment

Candidates will be assessed based on their Personal History Profile (PHP). Individual interviews may be conducted by the Hiring Manager directly for further consideration. A complete online application with cover note and Personal History profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The cover note must include:
– Title of degree you are currently pursuing;
– Graduation date (when will you be graduating from the programme);
– List the skills and programmes that you are proficient in;
– Explain why you are the best candidate for the internship position.

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

Special Notice

Applicants are encouraged to apply for internships which relate directly to their studies and/or skills and expertise. Applicants are asked to please indicate preferences which best match his/her suitability and do so carefully in order to enhance the value of the internship for both the intern and the receiving UN department.

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).

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations and are responsible for all internship-related expenses that they can 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 and acceptance of these conditions of service.

Interns may not apply for or be appointed to any position in the Professional or above categories and for positions at the FS-6 and FS-7 levels in the Field Service category during the period of their internship and for the six months immediately following the expiration date thereof.

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.