Work Location

In-person, Nairobi, Kenya

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Org. Setting and Reporting The United Nations Human Settlements programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. It works towards the long-term goal of ensuring sustainable cities and communities as mandated by the Sustainable Development Goals framework (SDG 11). The Land, Housing and Shelter (LHS) Section is located in the Urban Practices Branch within the Global Solutions Division of UN-Habitat. LHS aims to develop, document, pilot/test and disseminate norms, standards, tools, methodologies, regulatory frameworks, operating procedures and practices at global, regional, national and sub-national levels in support of a) the equitable supply of serviced land at scale; b) efficient and effective land management systems; c) freedom from arbitrary or forced eviction and the protection of security of tenure for all; d) the progressive achievement of universal access to housing meeting the requirements for an adequate standard of living; e) participatory urban regeneration and slum upgrading. UN-Habitat hosts the secretariat of the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) – a network of over seventy international partners established in 2006. The Network promotes secure land and property rights for all, through the development of pro-poor, fit for purpose and gender appropriate land tools and approaches for responsible land governance with a focus on tenure security. It has a particular emphasis on vulnerable groups in urban and rural areas including women and youth. GLTN’s work also promotes many of the components in both the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. GLTN works towards improved tenure security within the global frameworks (SDGs, NUA, VGGTs, F&G-AU) with a new strategy (2018-30) aiming at scaling up land tools, data protocols and to provide a solid monitoring approach to support evidence-based policy decisions at all levels. Under the auspices of GLTN, the Global Land Indicators Initiative (GLII) was established in 2012 by UN-Habitat, the World Bank and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). The platform is hosted and facilitated by GLTN and is a collaborative and inclusive process for development of globally comparable and nationally applicable land indicators, with the overarching goal of making global-scale monitoring of land governance a reality. GLII’s work is founded on the need for evidence-based land governance monitoring for planning and policy decisions linking local, national, regional and global efforts through comparable land indicators for comparable data. The initiative has now grown to over 50 platform members including CSOs, INGOs, NGOs, research and academia, private sector, grassroots organizations, National Statistical Organisations and UN agencies. GLTN is seeking interns to support its workstream on land governance monitoring, research, data analytics and knowledge management efforts spearheaded by GLII. The interns will report to the Global Land Indicators Initiative Project Manager. Responsibilities • Support in the compilation and analysis of Results Frameworks and land indicators for existing GLTN projects. • Assist in the preparation of tools and templates for effective project reporting. • Update and maintain the database of GLTN project information. • Compile existing project baselines from ongoing GLTN projects. • Support in the management of data information systems. • Prepare data dashboards and visualizations based on GLTN project information and land indicators. • Undertake desk research on global land monitoring initiatives and monitoring frameworks, including the UNFCCC, UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and the Global Biodiversity Framework, with a focus on land management and tenure. • Keep track of relevant national/regional/international meetings and events in the thematic area of data and SDGs monitoring. • Assist in regular communication and knowledge management within the LHS section. • Support in the development, compilation, synthesis, and management of knowledge materials developed by the GLII initiative. This includes concept notes, thematic fact sheets, quick guides, and regular updates related to land governance monitoring for internal and external dissemination. • Assist in the production of advocacy and outreach material related to land governance monitoring. • Provide support for administrative tasks, including organizing internal and external events, meetings, preparation of meeting minutes, project reporting, and related activities.

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: The preferred subject areas are Economics, Statistics, Data Science, Geography, Land Administration, Land Management, International Development, Urban Planning or related field, preferably at Master’s level and above. 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. Demonstrated interest in sustainable development, land governance, and data for development-related issues using evidence-based insights? can you explain with an example? Knowledge in urban development, land management and housing policy is required. Please explain how you meet this criteria using examples? Experience in research and technical writing is desirable .Can you talk of past academic or professional experience applying any of these tools?

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

Not available.

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.