Partnerships and Interagency Engagement Intern

Internship Finance & Economy Programme & Policy

Overview

Support interagency collaboration on disaster risk reduction.

You have:

• Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (university degree or equivalent, or higher).
• Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).
• Pursuing or pursued a degree in areas related to this Job Opening.
• Good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, Power Point and MS Teams.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs.
• Fluency in Spanish is required for this internship.

Contract

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

Work Location

Panama

Expected duration

The internship is for a duration of 6 months, in person and full time. The desirable start date is September 1, 2025.

Duties and Responsibilities

Backgroud Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 150 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyses action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with U.N. Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. The UNDRR Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean (ROAC) plays a central role in strengthening interagency and partnership engagement across key strategic platforms. This includes coordination within the Peer Support Group, the Regional Collaborative Platform (RCP LAC), and Issue-Based Coalitions (IBCs), as well as collaboration with the Capacity for Disaster Reduction Initiative (CADRI), parliamentary actors, and other UN agencies. The office also contributes to global policy and capacity-building initiatives such as the Voluntary Commitments mechanism and the Global Education and Training Institute (GETI), positioning disaster risk reduction as a cross-cutting priority in sustainable development efforts. Duties and Responsibilities The internship is for a duration of six (6) months. The internship is UNPAID and designed to be full-time and in person. This internship is located in the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean. Under the supervision of the Deputy Chief of UNDRR ROAC, the intern will: • Support coordination and follow-up of interagency collaboration within the Regional Collaborative Platform LAC and the Issue based coalition on Climate Change and Resilience. • Provide support to the engagements at national and regional level with the United Nation System. • Assist in preparing agendas, background materials, research and summaries for the Peer Support Group and other engagements. • Support the collection and systematization of Voluntary Commitments made to UNDRR by partners and stakeholders. • Assist in organizing joint events and advocacy sessions with UN agencies and parliamentary networks. • Contribute to the documentation of good practices and lessons learned from regional interagency collaboration. • Support the development of partnership databases, contact lists, and mapping exercises. • Draft notes for the record, concept notes, presentations, and policy briefs as needed. Competencies COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to the others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having a two-way communication. TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing other's ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently.

Qualifications/special skills

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations, applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent). Interested candidates must be pursuing or pursued their degree in areas related to this Job Opening. Applicants must have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, Power Point and MS Teams. Applicants must 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. 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. Fluency in Spanish is required for this internship.

Additional Information

Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted. FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. UNDRR values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women, men, and people with disabilities.

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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 days ago - Updated 4 hours ago - Source: careers.un.org