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 The Intern will support the work of the Democratic Republic of Congo Integrated Operational Team (DRC IOT), which covers the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). The DRC IOT is located within the Central and Southern Africa Division, in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs-Department of Peace Operations. The duration of the internship is for two (2) months with a possibility of extension up to six (6) months. The DRC IOT is looking for candidates interested in filling vacancies available between January 2022 and December 2022. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the office to which they are assigned.

Responsibilities Within the delegated authority the Political Affairs Intern will perform the following duties: - Monitor and analyze key political and security developments, including as they relate to the implementation of mandate of MONUSCO; - Based on situation reports, press clippings, and media reports from the mission area, provide a daily news feed for principals; - Monitor general issues and summarize key public and academic articles, correspondences relating to peacekeeping; - Draft weekly reports on the political and security situation for the Security Council; - Assist in the preparation of communication materials, including presentations; - Participate in meetings and draft minutes/meeting summaries; - Carry out individual research assignments, support data-driven approaches, and contribute to briefing materials on political economy in the respective area of responsibility, cross-cutting peacekeeping related issues, and other topics relevant to the team’s work; - Perform any other duties as requested.

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 Applicants must be enrolled in a degree programme in a graduate school (second-level university or higher); be enrolled in the final academic year of a first level university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent); or have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation. 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 demonstrated the 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.

Have you had exposure to African related issues and/ or peacekeeping?

For this position, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required and knowledge of French is required. Do you have experience in drafting documents or discussing academic or professional issues in French?

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the internship position fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is required.

Assessment Potential candidates will be contacted by hiring manager directly for further consideration.

Special Notice 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. Remote internships continue as an option if presence is not required at the duty station.

For internship in the United States of America, interns who are not United States citizens, permanent residents or currently enrolled students on an F1 visa will be required to obtain a G-4 visa. Interns will be responsible for ensuring that they have a valid visa to undertake an internship.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to UN premises. Applicants must be willing and prepared to undertake the internship remotely for a part or the entirety of 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.

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.