The United Nations Office for Partnerships (UN Partnerships) serves as a global gateway for public-private partnerships to advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
The Intern supports the UN Partnerships team, including the Executive Director and the Senior Sustainable Development Officer in several activities of the programmatic work of UN Partnerships, and specifically the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Strategy Hub.
With direct oversight of the Deputy Secretary-General, the SDG Strategy Hub (Hub) serves as a one-stop shop to proactively engage, connect, convene and leverage critical actors and existing platforms seeking to educate, empower and mobilize civil society, private sector, and other stakeholders to act in support of the SDGs.
The full-time internship in the United Nations Office for Partnerships, UNHQ, New York, is for six months with a desired start date of 1 April 2023 and end date of 30 September 2023. Interns work either part time (4 days/week - 20h/week) or full time (5 days/week - 35h/week) under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.
The Intern supports the SDG Strategy Hub team, including the Senior Sustainable Development Officer and others, in several of their programmatic activities. This may include but is not limited to:
- Execute project plan for the UN SDG Action Zone and other SDG activations during the UN General Assembly;
- Conduct research on issues related to partnerships, policy, advocacy, and the SDGs agenda;
- Support the operations of the SDG Strategy Hub;
- Draft various written materials related to the Decade of Action and the SDGs, including for the Deputy Secretary-General;
- Contribute to various reports and documents prepared by the Office;
- Prepare research on advocacy and communications efforts. Assist in communicating with existing and potential partner organizations;
- Assist with the social media efforts of the Hub;
- Assist and contribute to the preparation and production of high-level partnership events and Hub meetings;
- Attend and take notes at various UN conferences and meetings.
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.
Planning & Organizing:
-Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies-Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required-Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work-Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary
To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
(a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or
(b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent)
Applicants must also:
- 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 UN 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.
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.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Potential candidates will be contacted by the hiring manager directly for further consideration.
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. For internships in the United States of America, interns who are not United States citizens, permanent residents or not currently in the United States on a non-immigrant visa status will be required to obtain a G-4 visa. If already in the United States of America on another non-immigrant visa status other than G-4, interns will be responsible for ensuring that they have a valid visa, and if required, employment authorization, allowing them to undertake the internship.
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.
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.