INTERN - PUBLIC SPACE IMPROVEMENT AND REGENERATION
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 United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all (www.unhabitat.org).
UN-Habitat is the coordination center for all questions about urbanization and human settlements within the UN system. For the last 40 years, UN-Habitat has focused on building a better future for rural communities, towns, and cities of all sizes. It has its global headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and its regional office for Latin America and the Caribbean in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It also has a country workshop in Mexico City. As part of the work of UN-Habitat, it highlights the elaboration of the report on the state of the cities of the world, the organization of each year of the World Urban Forum, an event in which institutions, organizations, and experts on territorial and urban issues participate, and generation of multiple specific programs, such as: Participatory Program for the Improvement of Communities Precarious (PPMBP), National Urban Policy, Planned City Extensions, Urban Prosperity Initiative, Low Emission Urban Development Strategies (Urban-LEDS), Academy of Cities and Climate Change, Urban Energy Program, Laboratory of Urban Planning and Design, Global Urban Observatory, Best Practices Database, Resilient City Profiles Program (CRPP), Cities and Climate Change (ICCC) Initiative, Global Public Space Program, and Urban Youth Fund. The intern will be under the supervision of the UN-Habitat, Head of the Mexico Office and under the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist/Analyst assigned.
The focus areas of this internship are: - Urban planning and development at the neighborhood scale. - Public space and soft mobility. - Tactical Urbanism and placemaking. - Participatory planning and capacity-building. - Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Mexico City internship is for six (6) months.
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. The work hours during the internship shall be determined based on individual discussion between the intern and the supervisor(s) taking into consideration the minimum requirements of the Organization and the time difference between the hosting office and the location of the intern.
The Internship is UNPAID and full-time.
Interns work five days per week under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.
Responsibilities Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual's background; the intern's assigned office as well as the internship period.
Under the direct supervision of the Office Coordinator: - The intern will be responsible for supporting UN-Habitat´s projects in Mexico and Central America, which includes assisting with policy analysis and design of strategic interventions at the national, local and neighborhood levels, with territorial, gender, interculturality, life cycle, and human rights crosscutting approaches. - The intern will support project coordinators at the national office. - The intern will be responsible for scheduling activities and reports. - The intern will work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals and support the achievement of project expected results. The intern will be responsible for making records and memories of the events organized by UN-Habitat. - The intern must tailor language, tone, and style to assist in establishing connections between UN-Habitat’s counterparts for negotiation purposes. - The intern will also be involved in inter-agency initiatives in national areas in which UN-Habitat actively participates, incorporating the UN-Habitat’s mandates and principles and developing technical inputs as needed. - The intern will work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary team. - The intern will support the office in the elaboration of technical inputs for ongoing projects. Some of these activities include: - Assist in the preparation of concept papers, background documents, research proposals, and reports related to the projects assigned, in the topics specified by these Terms of Reference. - Conduct research, analyze literature and write relevant technical content related to urban design, public space regeneration, soft mobility, participatory planning, and tactical urbanism/placemaking. - Participate in the conceptual participatory design of projects for the improvement of public spaces, and impulse of the soft mobility and tactical urbanism/placemaking interventions. - Collaborate in the definition of workplans and identification of technical requirements for the implementation of tactical urbanism/placemaking interventions with the participation of local communities and volunteers. - Develop and maintain databases to support the implementation, evaluation, and monitoring of the projects. - Assist in the analysis of statistics and geographic information. - Assist in the production of graphic material and others (diagrams, maps, plans, photographs, renders, collages, etc.). - Participate in activities related to organization, facilitation, and systematization of participatory and capacity-building processes. - Participate in work meetings with the team and the counterparts (when required) and contribute to the follow-up of the agreements made. - Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
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 at the time of application 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 program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent); c. Have graduated with Bachelor's degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent
Be computer literate in standard software applications.
Have 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 include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.
Preferred areas of studies: Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent) in Urban Development, Urban Design or Urban Regeneration, and/or related areas, or be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (Bachelor´s or equivalent) in Architecture, Engineering, Urbanism, and/or related areas.
No previous experience is necessary. However, experience and postgraduate studies in the abovementioned areas will be positively valued.
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.
Understanding of project planning is required. Are you familiar with project planning?
Ability to meet tight deadlines and multitask is required. Are you able to work under tight deadlines and multitask?
Understanding of public space improvement and regeneration is required. Is your field of study closely related to this internship you are applying for?
Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in oral and written English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.
Assessment Potential candidates will be contacted by hiring manager directly for further consideration.
Special Notice Your application for this internship must include: 1. A completed application (Personal History Profile) and Cover Note, through the UN careers Portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
The Cover Note must include:
- Title of the degree you are currently pursuing - Graduation Date - IT skills and programmes you are proficient in - Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship
Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme, ensure to include all past work experience (if any).
2. Proof of enrollment from current University (if not graduated).
3. A copy of degree certificate (if you have already graduated).
Experience in the elaboration of inputs for diagnosis, territorial and urban analysis, design of public spaces, participatory processes, tactical urbanism/placemaking interventions, knowledge of design software (AutoCAD, Sketchup, Photoshop, Illustrator) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) will be positively considered.
Previous experience with the United Nations or other International Cooperation Organizations is desirable.
Due to a high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.
“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.