Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Secretariat is seeking motivated interns to support the work of the Development Coordination Office (DCO). DCO is the secretariat to the UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) and manages the Resident Coordinator (RC) system. Resident Coordinators are the highest-ranking representatives of the United Nations development system (UNDS) at the country level and are the designated representative of – and report to – the UN Secretary-General. RCs have responsibility to lead United Nations Country Teams, ensure system-wide accountability on the ground for the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (Cooperation Framework), and coordinate UN support to countries in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

DCO interns may be selected for assignments within any Section of the Policy and Programming Branch of DCO, including (1) Policy and Financing; (2) Inter-agency Programme Facilitation, (3) Strategic Partnerships, (4) Universal Values Team (human rights, gender equality, youth, disability inclusion) and (5) the Cross-Pillar (peace, humanitarian, development) Team. Interns may also work on cross-branch projects within DCO (with the Front Office, Communications and Results Reporting Branch, RC system Leadership Branch, and Business Management Branch). Interns work full-time, five days per week (40 hours), report to full-time professional staff in our teams, and focus on one of the two tracks set out below under Responsibilities.

The internship is for a minimum period of three months full-time up to a maximum of six months. In their motivation statement, interested candidates should indicate their exact availability, i.e. the period (DDMMYY – DDMMYY) within which your start and end date must fall (e.g. “I am available for any 4.5 month period between May 2023 – December 2023”).

Internships can be in-person, fully remote, or hybrid, and can therefore take place from any timezone. Successful applicants may include management from regional offices. All modalities provide for a safe, professional, inclusive and respectful environment for the colleagues we work with.

The internship runs on a 12-month planning horizon, meaning the internship can begin no sooner than 2-months from your application and within 12-months of the application. Typically, two larger cohorts of interns are onboarded in the following periods

- December - May

- June - November

Internships can

In the motivation statement, candidate should also indicate the track they are interested in:

- Track 1: STRATEGIC PLANNING, DATA & ANALYTICS

- Track 2: POLICY ANALYSIS & PROGRAMME FACILITATION

The United Nations internship programme does not provide remuneration. All internship related expenses – travel, insurance, living, etc. – are the responsibility of the intern, sponsoring Government or institution; The UN accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents, illness or death during the internship.

Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in the UN during the period of the internship or for six months immediately following the end of the internship. The intern must provide proof of enrolment in a health insurance plan. Interns are not staff members and may not represent the UN in any official capacity. Due to the high volume of applications received, we can only contact successful candidates.

Applicants from developing countries are encouraged to apply.

The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, and religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply, in line with the Secretary-General’s Disability Inclusion Strategy. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided with support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

Responsibilities

TRACK 1 AND 2: COORDINATION AND EXECUTIVE SUPPORT

？Help collate guidance materials on knowledge capture and sharing

？Assist collection and sharing of emerging good practice and lessons for DCO and UNSDG members

？Help facilitate various online communities of practice

？Support the preparation of senior-level management meetings (including UNSDG and other inter-agency meetings), conferences and retreats

？Support the preparation of country-level meetings organized from the global level

？Support the preparation of slide decks, background and option papers for meetings

？Support the tracking and analysis of UNSDG decisions and their implementation

？Help ensure consistent visual concepts and language are used

？Assist in the preparation of speeches and talking points

TRACK 1: STRATEGIC PLANNING, DATA & ANALYTICS

？Support analytics on issues relating to the DCO/UNSDG, including cross-cutting needs, priorities, resources, risks and performance

？Support the team to design and wireframe dashboards and visualizations for UNSDG members, and DCO senior managers, and provide user support

？Support the analytics teams in maintaining key data sets, data models, indices and reports

？Support data mining, process optimization, metrics development and forecasting

？Support the preparation of analytical slide decks for policymakers

Support the team in various aspects of knowledge management, including community facilitation, good practice capture, knowledge dissemination, and platform management

TRACK 2: POLICY ANALYSIS & PROGRAMME FACILITATION

？Help monitor, identify and analyze geographic, political and thematic global trends (across all units of the Policy and Programme branch (eg. human rights, gender equality, climate and environment, inter-agency programming, partnerships)

？Support the preparation of analytical reports, papers, talking points and correspondences

？Assist in coordinating the formulation of strategies, programmes and policies

？Support all areas of the policy process: identification and agenda building, policy development, formulation and adoptions, implementation, and evaluation

？Support the knowledge management of policy and programme data/information including community facilitation, good practice capture, knowledge dissemination, and platform management

？Support the preparation of analytical reports, papers, talking points and correspondences

？Assist in coordinating the formulation of strategies, programmes and policies

？Support all areas of the policy process: identification and agenda building, policy development, formulation and adoptions, implementation, and evaluation

？Support the knowledge management of policy and programme data/information

？Support market intelligence around knowledge management and organizational learning

？Support the preparation of meetings, events, talks and visits

Competencies

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

Planning and 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

Technological awareness

？Actively seeks to apply emerging technology across tasks

？Keeps abreast of available technology

？Understands applicability and opportunities of technology for the organization

Education

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); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent). OFFICIAL WRITTEN PROOF FROM THE UNIVERSITY SUPPORTING ONE OF THE ABOVE POSSIBILITIES MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE INSPIRA APPLICATION);

- 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 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.

Work Experience

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.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Considered candidates will be contacted by the hiring manager for further assessment.

Special Notice

A completed online application (Cover Note, Personal History Profile as well as proof of enrolment and/or graduation) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Cover Note must include:

- Availability (period when a start and end date must fall)

- Indication of interest for track 1, or 3

- Degree Programme (What are you currently studying?)

- Graduation Date (When will you graduate or when did you graduate from the programme?)

- List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in.

- Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship.

- Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme in general and this assignment in particular.

In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references. Do not forget to attach your proof of enrolment or graduation.

Due to the high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

Remote Internships (COVID-19).

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to UN premises. Applicants must be willing and prepared to undertake the internship remotely for a part or the entirety of the internship.