Work Location

Geneva, hybrid

Expected duration

October 24-March 25

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is the UN Secretariat department responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to complex emergencies and natural disasters. OCHA also ensures that there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort. This internship is with the Staff Welfare Team, withing the People and Culture Section, in the Executive Office in Geneva, Switzerland. The Staff Welfare Team provides psychological support to OCHA staff and their relatives as well as offers psycho-social support in critical incidents response and referrals to relevant stakeholders. This internship will be based in Geneva, Switzerland, and the intern/s will be under the general guidance and direct supervision of the Staff Welfare Officer / Staff Counsellor. In general, the intern will support OCHA in fulfilling its mission to coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors, advocate the rights of people in need, promote preparedness and prevention, and facilitate sustainable solutions. Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background, and responsibilities may include but are not limited to supporting the 2 Staff Welfare Officers / Staff Counsellors in research, analysis and presentation of information gathered from diverse sources on assigned topics / issues; contributing to the preparation of various written documents, e.g. assisting in the drafting of sections of studies, background papers, psychological risk assessments, presentations, etc.; developing and maintaining reference / resource information on specific topics; contributing to inputs of various inquiries and information requests internally and externally; assisting in the organization of meetings and workshops with other agencies and partners to facilitate exchanges of professional expertise and views on related subjects / issues, serving as reporter to such events; and performing tasks as requested by the supervisor as appropriate.

Qualifications/special skills

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 degree or equivalent). The University degree must be in the area of social science, psychology, counselling or in a related field. 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. Ability to draft news articles and/or social media posts in desirable. Ability to design surveys and polls is desirable. Applicants should have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, and MS Teams.

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 French 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.