Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Org. Setting and Reporting 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 catalyses action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with U.N. Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. Responsibilities Responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background, the intern’s assigned office as well as the internship period. Duties may include, but are not limited to: – Assist in drafting and preparing background documents, reports, issue briefs, talking points, articles, presentations, meeting minutes, etc. – Support organization of meetings and workshops, side events, and assist in strengthening strategic engagement with UN system partners and interagency partnerships. – Provide logistical and administrative support during meetings and conferences in virtual and hybrid modalities. – Assist in collecting and systematizing information on disaster risk reduction practices and sustainable development issues, and in preparing briefing notes based on data analysis. – Support outreach and research activities related to disaster risk reduction related topics including nature-based solutions, humanitarian-development-peace nexus and others. – Provide support to policy development and preparing written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analytical notes, sections of reports, talking points and speeches. – Assist in maintaining databases, content of UNDRR partner workspaces, websites and mailing lists. This internship is located in the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Interagency Cooperation Unit of the Inter-governmental processes, Interagency cooperation and Partnerships Branch. The Intern reports to the Programme Management Officer. This internship is for a duration of six months and designed to be remote and full-time.

Qualifications/special skills

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations, applicants must meet one of the following requirements: – be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); – be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent). Interested candidates must be pursuing or pursued their degree in areas related to this Job Opening. In addition, interested candidates must: – Be computer literate in standard software applications including MS Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point); – Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and, – 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. 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. 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. Good knowledge of standard software applications, specifically MS Excel and PowerPoint is desirable. Interest in the work of the UN is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English is required for this internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an asset. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Additional Information

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

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.