Intern - Urban Research & Innovation Intern

Contract

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

Work Location

In-Person, Nairobi, Kenya

Expected duration

6-months

Duties and Responsibilities

Org. Setting and Reporting The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations 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. The position is located in the Knowledge and Innovation Branch, located within the External Relations, Strategy, Knowledge and Innovation Division (ERSKID) of UN-Habitat at its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. ERSKID is responsible for strategic planning, programmatic direction and operationalization of UN-Habitat's focal point role for the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goal 11 in the UN system. The Knowledge and Innovation Branch (KIB) is responsible for leading the development of UN-Habitat’s flagship reports, the gathering and reporting on urban data, and the production of cutting-edge knowledge and innovation on cities and urban development. Responsibilities Under the supervision of the Chief of the Knowledge and Innovation Branch, the intern will: - Conduct research on key trends in sustainable urban development and innovation across the globe, including in the realm of smart cities. - Produce written inputs and support drafting of key UN-Habitat reports, strategies, concept notes, and technical papers. - Participate in the development of strategic frameworks on urban data and analytics, internal knowledge management and university engagement. - Support activities related to the development and implementation of an index measuring global performance on sustainable urban development. - Support the execution and development of new innovation projects, partnerships and initiatives, including on smart cities and the adoption of frontier technologies in urban areas - Assist in the planning and organization of conferences and substantive presentations - Perform any other related tasks as may be assigned by the team Required Skills & Competencies - Superb writing skills - Strong interest in and knowledge of urban issues, including the use of digital technologies in cities. - Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially in producing well-formatted, high-quality PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, and Excel workbooks. - Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, including layout and design in InDesign and Illustrator (or similar software) is not required, but desirable. - Ability and willingness to learn new skills and absorb information quickly. - Ability to meet deadlines and produce high-quality work in a fast-paced environment, through strong time management, organizational skills and attention to detail. - Demonstrated interest in the work of the United Nations and a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter Due to volume of applications only short-listed applicants will be contacted by the Hiring Manager.

Qualifications/special skills

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 (Microsoft Office Suite). Have demonstrated a 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 includes a willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. Preferred areas of study: Studies in: Urban planning, architecture, smart cities, data science, digital policy and governance, international relations, political science, economics, or related areas. 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 be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of other UN Language is desirable.

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.