Work Location

1. Fukuoka – Japan; 2. Colombo – Sri Lanka; 3. Vientiane – Lao PDR, 4. Kathmandu – Nepal, 5. Bangkok – Thailand

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Org. Setting and Reporting Note: This position is open for UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) in Fukuoka, Japan, the UN-Habitat Bangkok Office (supporting regional UN coordination and regional projects in Southeast Asia) and the UN-Habitat Country Offices in Colombo (Sri Lanka), Vientiane (Lao PDR) and Kathmandu (Nepal). The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. For over forty-five years UN-Habitat has been working in human settlements throughout the world, focusing on building a brighter future for cities and towns of all sizes. UN-Habitat collaborates with national governments and other partners, including local authorities, private and non-governmental organizations, it supports the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 11 of “Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. It is a focal point for the monitoring, evaluation and implementation of the “New Urban Agenda”. UN-Habitat’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific was established in 1997 in Fukuoka, Japan. ROAP oversees 15 country offices and engages in 42 countries in the region. Countries with UN-Habitat Offices include: Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, India, Iran, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Internships are deployed in the Regional Office and the majority of the offices in countries, subject to demand and security. UN-Habitat’s Strategic Plan (2020 to 2025) comprises of four Domains of Change. The Regional Office supports country offices in the implementation of the strategic plan. • Reduced spatial inequality and poverty in communities across the urban-rural continuum. • Enhanced shared prosperity of cities and regions • Strengthened Climate Action and Improved Urban Environment • Effective urban crisis prevention and response The Internship is UNPAID and a full-time assignment. Interns will also be personally responsible for obtaining necessary visas, insurance and arranging their own travel to and from the duty station where the internship will be performed. Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, positions at the professional level and above carrying international recruitment status during the period of the internship or for the six months immediately following the expiration date of the internship. Responsibilities Interns work five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision of a UN-Habitat staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned. The internship offers an exciting and vibrant learning environment for the intern due to the close linkage between local and country level technical assistance and normative work on the county and/or regional level. Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background and the needs of the unit where the intern is placed. The intern reports to one of the Substantive Officers overseeing their country and thematic areas of work. The intern will focus his/her work on one or more of the following thematic and operational areas of ROAP: • Support to country level and sub-regional programmes • Support to Project/Programme Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation • Support to Research, Publications, Communication Duties may include, but are not limited to: • Assist in planning and implementing, monitoring and reporting and evaluating of regional and country-level projects and programmes relating to the above-mentioned Subprogrammes; • Support inter-agency collaboration and collaboration between country teams, both in relation to development and humanitarian issues; • Assist in the administration, budgeting and other management aspects of new and ongoing projects; • Support tracking of and responding to funding calls and support resource mobilization; • Support information and knowledge management • Assist in the preparation of concept and position papers, background documents. project documents and publications; • Assist with communication and drafting of web stories and with the management of information and website content. • Assist in the preparation, implementation and follow-up of various meetings and workshops; • Undertake other assignments as required for the development and implementation of the work programme of ROAP

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: Architecture / Urban Design, Studies in Urban Development / Planning / Geography / Geospatial Urban Information Sciences, Migration and Displacement, Humanitarian Management and Protection, Urban Environment / Environmental Management, Waste Management, Ecology, Climate Change, DRR, Resilience, Civil / Water and Waste Engineering, Urban Economics / Finance, Land Administration, Development Studies, Smart city, Affordable housing, Environmental Science specializing in Bio-Diversity/ Conservation, Public Policy, Governance, Technology Governance and Innovation, Project Cycle Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Communications / Journalism / Publication Management, Administration / Finance / Procurement / HR Management and related. 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. Excellent communication skills are required, computer literacy in standard software applications is required. Experience in content creation and social media skills are desirable. Good research skills in the field of sustainable urban development or (the social dimension of) climate change are desirable. In the cover letter, the candidate should indicate how an internship with UN-Habitat corresponds to their academic interests or will contribute to their professional development and explain why she/he would be a strong candidate for this internship. The candidate should further explain their preferred modality (in-person, hybrid, remote), their earliest and latest start date and the number of months they can commit. Candidates should clearly identify their preferred duty station and rank them in order of preference.

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.