INTERN - POLITICAL AFFAIRS

Contract

This is a I-1 contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about I-1 contracts.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the Decolonization Unit (DECOL) of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. DECOL provides substantive support related to the Non-Self-Governing Territories, to DPPA, the Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24), Fourth Committee as well as the General Assembly. The Intern reports to the Political Affairs Officer.

The internship is UNPAID. Interns may work either part-time [3 days per week for 20 hours] or full-time [five days per week, for 35 hours]. This internship may be carried out remotely, in-person, or hybrid at the UN Premises in New York, United States.

This internship is for an initial period of two months and may be extended up to six months depending on the needs of the Unit.

Responsibilities Under the overall supervision of the Political Affairs Officer, the Intern will perform the following duties and assist the Unit with special projects that may include, but are not limited to: - Support update and creation of content for the “UN and Decolonization” website - Support DECOL’s external communications work with a focus on creating and posting content on social media - Support initiatives on data visualization, disability inclusion, multilingualism, e-analytics and other initiatives - Monitor activities in Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs) - Conduct research on decolonization issues, both historical and current - Assist in preparing a variety of reports, presentations, tables, lists, charts, data sets, and/or diagrams in order to facilitate in-depth analysis by supervisors - Attend a variety of meetings and draft meeting notes, etc. - Perform other related duties as required.

Our interns work as members of the Decolonization Unit team.

Competencies Professionalism - Knowledge of international affairs, including current political developments; - Familiarity with the work of the United Nations in the area of peace and security; - Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; - Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; and - 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.

Technological Awareness - Actively seeks to apply emerging technology across tasks; - Keeps abreast of available technology; and - Understands applicability and opportunities of technology for the organization.

Teamwork: - Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; - Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; - 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; and - Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

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

1. Applicants at the time of application must meet one of the following requirements: a. Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or b. Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent) 2. Field of study to be preferably in political science, history, international relations, law or a related field; 3. Proficient in standard word processing and software applications (such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint or similar) and website creation/management softwares; and proficient in standard office automation equipment, scanner, printer, etc.) 4. Have demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter. 5. 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.

A field of study that in political science, history, international relations, law or closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required.

Publications in the field of international politcal affairs is desirable.

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 UN language is an asset. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Assessment Potential candidates may be contacted by the hiring manager directly for further consideration. Applicants are also requested to submit a copy/copies of written work on a subject related to international political affairs.

Special Notice At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

The United Nations does not financially remunerate interns. 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. For internships outside the United States, interns who are not citizens of the country, permanent residents, or not currently in the country's non-immigrant visa status will be required to obtain a valid visa and work permit, allowing them to undertake the internship.

Applicants who are children or siblings (including stepchildren, half-siblings, or stepsiblings) of a staff member and sons or daughters-in-law may not be engaged as an intern.

We recruit interns throughout the year for assignments of at least 2 months. In your cover note, please indicate when you would like to start your internship. Please note that start and end dates are flexible. A completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note must also include:

• Title of degree you are currently pursuing
• Graduation Date (When will you be/are graduating/have graduated from the programme?)
• List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in
• List your top three areas of interest and please explain how your interests, skills and knowledge match either the strategic support or the analytics track
• Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship
• Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme

In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references.

Due to the 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.

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.