Public Information Internship

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 catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

This internship is located in the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Regional Office for Africa. The Intern reports to the External Relations Officer. The internship is UNPAID, in person and fulltime. Interns work five days per week under the supervision of the External Relations Officer- UNDRR ROA.

Duties and Responsibilities

Tasks will include:

• Assist in drafting and preparing background documents, concept notes, reports, and presentations.
• Assist in the organization of, and participates in events, workshops, webinars, and training.
• Collect disaggregated data on training participants
• Assist in organizing advocacy events
• Asist in drafting web articles
• Assist in preparing social media content by drafting texts and short video scripts and designing cards
• Support other information management related tasks

Qualifications/special skills

• (a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second 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 degree or equivalent)
• 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.
• Applicants must have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Forms, and Teams.
• Experience in Canva, Adobe InDesign, Mailchimp, Basic Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator is desirable.
• Experience with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation is desirable.
• Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

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.

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.