Intern
Assist in various tasks related to firearms issues and support technical activities.
Overview
Assist in various tasks related to firearms issues and support technical activities.
You have:
- Be enrolled in, or have recently completed, a graduate school programme or a first university degree programme.
- Good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams.
- Fluency in spoken and written English and French is required.
- Ability to draft news articles and/or social media posts is desirable.
- Willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.
Contract
This is a I-1 contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about I-1 contracts.
Work Location
Dakar
Expected duration
01.06.-30.11.2025
Duties and Responsibilities
The internship is located with the Regional Office for West and Central Africa, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Dakar (Senegal). The internship is for the period of six months with a desired starting date in June 2025, is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (40 hours) under the supervision of professional staff of the office to which they are assigned. The intern shall undertake the following duties which may include, but are not limited to: • Support the work and activities of the Global Firearms Programme, including its normative and intergovernmental work, technical assistance activities, and tools development work; • Assist in the preparation of technical assistance workshops, meetings, high-level events and conferences and support related follow up actions; • Conduct research on both legal documents, official and open sources on various aspects related to firearms issues and contribute to the preparation of technical documents, background papers, country profiles, news events, presentations, reports, summaries, talking points and speeches; • Conduct legal research and analysis of legislation; • Support the work of the GFP Community of Practitioners against Firearms Trafficking; • Conduct regular media reviews on firearms related incidents and events and disseminate weekly briefs among the GFP team, and support related follow up actions, including research, tweets etc.; • Draft ordinary correspondence and communications, attend and take notes at meetings; • Perform other tasks as necessary.
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. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Applicants must have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams. Ability to draft news articles and/or social media posts in desirable. Ability to design surveys and polls is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English and French 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.
Potential interview questions
| Describe a situation where you had to interact with someone from a different cultural background. How did you handle it? | The interviewer wants to assess your interpersonal and cultural sensitivity skills. | Provide a specific example and highlight your approach to understanding different perspectives. |
| What interests you about the work of the United Nations, particularly in relation to firearms? | This question seeks to understand your motivation and alignment with UN values. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you give an example of a research project you have worked on? What was your role? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How comfortable are you using software applications like MS Word and MS PowerPoint? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What strategies would you use to draft effective communications such as news articles or social media posts? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe a time you had to conduct legal research. What approach did you use? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you prioritize tasks when you have multiple deadlines to meet? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Why do you think understanding firearms trafficking is important for global peace and security? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |