Org. Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is the United Nations 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 efforts.
This internship advertisement is to fill an internship position on a rolling basis throughout 2020. The position is located in the OCHA Humanitarian Advisory Team based in Kobe, Japan. Under the general guidance of the Senior Staff Assistant, the intern reports to the Head of the Humanitarian Advisory Team. Selected interns will be expected to serve for a minimum period of three months, with a possibility for extension up to a maximum period of six months, depending on the needs of OCHA and the availability of the selected candidates. The internship is unpaid.
Responsibilities
In general, the intern will support OCHA in fulfilling its mission to coordinate the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises; and advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all. Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background and duties may include but are not limited to:
•Researching, analyzing and presenting information gathered from diverse sources on assigned topics/issues;
•Supporting various aspects of mobilizing resources for humanitarian action;
•Drafting, designing, translating or compiling information communications products for target audiences for print and web, including reports, branded promotional materials, web site and social media graphics, posters, flyers, briefings, brochures, video clips, etc.;
•Assisting in the organizations of meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops, trainings, etc., with other agencies and partners, and serving as note-taker to such events;
•Performing other tasks requested by the supervisor.
Competencies
CLIENT ORIENTATION: considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients "and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
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.
TEAMWORK: works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Education
To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
•Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or
•Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent); or
•Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation from an academic programme.
Applicants who are unable to commence the internship within one year of graduation shall not be accepted.
The University degree must be in the area of political science, social science, communication, journalism, international relations, humanitarian studies, development studies, public administration, business administration, or in a related field.
Work Experience
Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the Programme though any academic and/or practical experience in humanitarian affairs including humanitarian coordination, humanitarian financing mechanisms, humanitarian funding trends, gender equality programming, is an asset. Applicants should be computer literate in standard software applications; have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations, 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 includes willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in English and Japanese (both oral and written) is required.
Assessment
Candidates will be assessed based on their Personal History Profile. Individual interviews may be conducted by the Hiring Manager directly for further consideration. A complete online application (e.g. Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Cover Note must include:
•Title of degree you are currently pursuing
•Graduation date (when you will be graduating 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
•Dates of your availability
In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, if any, IT skills and three references. Due to the high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.
Special Notice
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.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
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.
This vacancy is archived.