Org. Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system.
UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. This internship is located in the Human Rights and Social Inclusion Unit of UN-Habitat.
The Human Rights and Social Inclusion Unit is responsible for providing technical inputs and support to ensure human rights and social inclusion is an integral part of every aspect of UN-Habitat’s work. The Unit ensures the cross cutting issues and theme are considered in all projects and programmes derived from the four domains of change of UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan, through the development of normative tools, guidelines and through the HRSI Community of Practice.
The intern will report to the Associate Human Rights and Social Inclusion Officer.
Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Associate Human Rights and Social Inclusion Officer the intern will:
- Support the development of internal human rights, gender and social inclusion capacity-building materials, which may require supporting and organizing meetings and webinars, carrying out background research, drafting surveys and communication materials, and other, similar such tasks as required.
- Support the development of human rights materials such as reports, publications, concept notes etc, including by carrying out background research, attending and supporting relevant meetings and events, as well as any other relevant tasks.
- Support the development of gender mainstreaming materials such as reports, publications, concept notes etc, including by carrying out background research, attending relevant meetings and events, summarizing reports and documents, etc.
- Support internal reporting, for example by gathering feedback from other teams.
- Support relevant internal and external meetings / events with a focus on human rights and gender mainstreaming. This may include providing logistical support, meeting coordination, taking minutes of meetings during meetings, preparing support materials, drafting talking points, liaison with internal / external stakeholders, preparing summary reports, etc.
- Support the preparation of human rights and gender events at the World Urban Forum.
- Support the Associate Human Rights and Social Inclusion Officer as otherwise required.
- Carry out any other tasks requested to support the Human Rights and Social Inclusion Unit (this will include administrative tasks such as taking minutes of meetings).
This internship may be carried out remotely or in-person, based on the availability and needs of the selected intern (if remote internship, time zone differences will be taken into consideration but the intern must be available for a minimum of agreed meetings during EAT work hours to ensure a regular communication flow). Part-time internships are possible.
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: LLB or LLM in law or human rights law . An MSc degree in human rights or gender would also be acceptable
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.
Do you have experience in human rights capacity building? Please explain.
Do you have experience applying a human rights-based approach to sustainable development? Please explain. Do you have experience in gender-mainstreaming in development work? Please explain.
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 another UN language is desirable.
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.
