Children and Youth Development Internship

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. It works with organisations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society and the private sector, to help build, manage, plan and finance safe, inclusive and sustainable urban development, and ensure that no one is left behind.

The Human Rights and Social Inclusion Unit (HRSIU) ensures that cross-cutting human rights and inclusion principles are mainstreamed across all UN-Habitat programming and normative work. The Unit supports the meaningful participation of marginalized and underrepresented populations, including young people and children, in shaping cities that are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UN-Habitat Focal Point for Children and Youth, the intern will:

• Assist in conducting desk reviews and facilitate stakeholder mapping related to youth and children in urban settings, and contribute to the preparation of knowledge products, background papers, briefing notes, and reports.
• Support the design, planning, implementation, and documentation of child- and youth-focused projects or initiatives and contribute to logistical and administrative preparations for meetings, workshops, and events.
• Support outreach activities to promote youth participation in urban policy dialogues and community-led planning processes and assist in engagement and liaison with youth-led organizations, child rights networks, and urban governance institutions.
• Assist in drafting communications materials, including social media posts, blogs, and newsletters that amplify children and youth voices in urban development.
• Support in tracking progress on youth- and child-specific components of HRSIU’s projects and initiatives and contribute to the preparation of periodic internal and donor reports.
• Perform other related duties as required.

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: Undergraduate degree in human rights, gender, urban planning, sustainable development or equivalent
A postgraduate degree would also be acceptable
A graduate-level intern would be preferred

Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply

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.

Proficiency in supporting or leading youth or child engagement activities is required.

Experience in working with youth- or child-focused networks is desirable.

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 another UN language is desirable.

Additional Information
Do you have any previous UN internship experience? If yes, please indicate the UN entity and the specific dates.

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.