INTERN -Programme Management and Development Unit

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 work at the Programme Management and Development Unit (PDMU), within the Research and Analysis Branch (RAB), in the Division of Policy Analysis and Public Affairs (DPA). The intern is expected to work under the supervision of a Research Officer in Alternative Development.

Alternative development provides viable legal economic options to impoverished households living in conflicted regions, as incentive to prevent, reduce, or cease the cultivation of illicit-drug crops (e.g., opium poppy and coca). Conflicted regions include areas currently affected by illicit-drug crop cultivation, and areas under risk of illicit-drug crop cultivation, including areas previously subject of forced or voluntarily eradication. Under alternative development research, PDMU collects extensive field socio-economic and satellite remote sensing data. Using these data, PDMU builds (statistical, econometric, and machine learning) models to get insights about the needs, motivations, and behavioral patterns of households living in conflicted regions. PDMU uses these insights to assist the international community and Member States in improving, re-designing, and better targeting alternative development projects and programs worldwide. PDMU also conducts rigorous impact assessments of alternative development projects using a combination of field socio-economic and satellite remote sensing data (with before and after data and treatment and control groups).

Intern Objective:

To gain substantive knowledge in analysing field socio-economic and satellite remote sensing data for obtaining descriptive statistics and building different type of models with a view of getting insights for improving alternative development projects and programs. In general, the intern will gain experience in the analysis of alternative development issues, the use of socio-economic statistics at the international level, and the functioning of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

This internship position is for a period of 12 weeks (3 months), starting on 1 February 2022

This internship is UNPAID and full-time. The intern will work five days per week (40 hours).

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.

For more information on UNODC, please visit the following website: www.unodc.org

Responsibilities The intern will provide support to the daily work of the PDMU team by:

• Conducting the data cleaning of the socio-economic databases and satellite remote sensing data that are delivered by the survey teams;
• Obtaining descriptive statistics of these data, and presenting descriptive statistics in graphs, tables and maps;
• Assisting in the building of statistical/economic and machine learning models for inference in general, causality (if appropriate), and potential predictions;

• Carrying out other tasks related to the implementation of PDMU research activities, as requested.

  Competencies - Professionalism: Sound knowledge and practical application of statistical theories and concepts in rural development; strong quantitative research skills and analytical capacity.

• Technology Awareness: Proficient computer skills and use of relevant statistical and programming software (python and/or R).
• Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from different national cultural backgrounds to achieve organizational goals.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be ‘clients’ and seeks to see things from clients’s point of view.

  Education - Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

(a) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent); or (c) Have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one year period of graduation (OFFICIAL PROOF FROM THE UNIVERSITY IN SUPPORT OF ONE OF THE ABOVE OPTIONS HAS TO BE ATTACHED TO THE INSPIRA APPLICATION);

For this particular internship, enrolment in or graduation from an academic degree programme in the fields of statistics, computer science, economics, sociology, social sciences or related as well as good knowledge of statistical theory and analytical skills are required. Familiarity with statistical and programming software (python and/or R) is desired.

• 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.

  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 English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English, with excellent drafting and communication skills, is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

  Assessment Potential candidates will be contacted by the hiring manager 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.

A completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. In your Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references.

The Cover Note must include: - Name of university and title of degree you are currently pursuing - Graduation date (when you expect to graduate from the programme) - A listing of IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in. - An explanation why you are the best candidate for an internship with the Crime Research Section, focusing on trafficking in persons. - An explanation of your interest in the work of UNODC.

Applicants must attach to their application documentary evidence of continuing matriculation to a university degree programme in a graduate/post-graduate school during the planned period of internship (i.e. an official letter of confirmation from a university).

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.