Work LocationIn-person, Nairobi, Kenya Expected duration6 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesOrg. Setting and Reporting The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. Based in Nairobi (Kenya), 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. UN-Habitat is the lead agency within the UN system for coordinating activities in the field of human settlement development and the UN leading the collaboration with local and regional governments and their networks. During the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2015, 193 Member States, convened at the Global Summit on Sustainable Development to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are universal and relevant to all Member States, from both the global north and global south. As demonstrated in the past years of implementation, it is widely acknowledged that the local level and local action are critical for the overall success of the 2030 Agenda – the SDGs need to be localized. In this context, UN-Habitat has developed a comprehensive approach to support and empower local and regional governments to localize the SDGs, including: (i) Global Urban Monitoring Framework; (2) Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs); (3) SDG Cities Initiative; (4) Multilevel Governance for the SDGs; (5) Local 2030 Coalition. SDG Localization is considered one of UN-Habitat’s strategic priorities. In this sense, the SDG Localization and Local Governments Team, under the Urban Practices Branch, is mandated to coordinate the support towards local and regional governments and SDG localization within the Agency. To successfully deliver on the above-mentioned approach globally, the SDG Localization and Local Governments Team works through four workstreams: (1) Technical assistance; (2) Learning and Capacity Building; (3) Political Engagement with Local and Regional Governments; (4) Advocacy and Communication. UN-Habitat’s global portfolio on SDG localization is coordinated in HQ, but the delivery of the work is implemented in close cooperation with Regional and Country Offices, following the structure of the Agency. Collaboration with other units and teams within UN-Habitat is ensured to build on existing knowledge, practices, and experience. Relations with external partners are also paramount for an inclusive and effective implementation of programmes, projects and initiatives, including other UN entities, international organizations, local government associations, academia and civil society. Responsibilities Under the supervision of the Human Settlements Officer on SDG localization and local governments, the intern will contribute to the SDG Localization team in the following ways. Visual design and content creation: • Assist in creating high-quality visual materials such as social media graphics, flyers, posters, brochures, and presentations to effectively communicate the organization’s message. • Support the development of engaging designs for digital platforms, including websites, email templates, and online marketing campaigns, ensuring a user-friendly and visually appealing experience. • Collaborate on multimedia content production, such as simple animations, video editing, and infographics, to enhance storytelling and engagement. • Create event-specific design materials, including banners, signage, and promotional content, to support successful event execution. • Assist in creating visually compelling social media posts and templates, supporting the team in crafting a cohesive and engaging online presence. Design asset management: • Ensure all designs strictly adhere to branding guidelines, maintaining visual consistency and professionalism across all channels. • Refine and update existing design assets and templates to improve functionality, usability, and overall impact. • Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks and ensuring deadlines are met efficiently. • Organize, catalog, and maintain a well-structured library of design assets for easy access and future use. • Stay updated on design trends, tools, and industry best practices to bring innovative ideas and methods to the team. Experiment with new software, tools, and techniques to continuously improve technical and creative skills. • Resize images, prepare files for printing, and conduct thorough quality checks to ensure the final output meets the required standards. Task Opportunities: • Gain insightful experience and knowledge of the United Nations and UN-Habitat's mandates and work with respect to Member States demands and requests. • Deepen understanding of technical issues involving SDG Localization, multilevel governance, urban development, social inclusion, sustainable municipal finance, urban transformation in cities, etc. • Work in a multi-cultural environment of professionals. Qualifications/special skillsApplicants 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: We seek candidates with relevant coursework in Journalism, Communication, Graphic Design, Public Relations, Social and Political Sciences, International Relations, Urban/Public Policy, or related fields. Qualifications: • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, concise, and engaging content for various digital platforms is required. • A good grasp of typography, color theory, composition, and layout design is required. • Full proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Canva, or similar graphic design software is required. • Familiarity with Adobe After Effects and other animation tools for creating motion graphics and visual effects is desirable. • Be computer literate in standard software applications (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). • Knowledge of video production processes, including scripting, storyboarding, and basic camera operation, is beneficial. • Knowledge on website development and maintenance (Webflow, Drupal) is an asset. • Strong interests in local governance, local development and local implementation of Agenda 2030 is an asset. 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. Candidates are required to be fully proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Canva, or similar graphic design software. Please explain how you meet this criterion using examples. Candidates are required to have knowledge of design principles including, typography, color theory, composition, and layout. Please explain how you meet this criterion using examples. Familiarity with animation tools for creating for visual effects and knowledge of video production processes, such as scripting, storyboarding, and basic camera operation, is desirable. Please explain how you could meet this desired criterion using examples. LanguagesEnglish 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 InformationNot available. Intern Specific textInterns 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 FeeTHE 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.