INTERN - HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS, I (Temporary Job Opening) Job ID: 98320

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations (UN) 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.
The United Nations (UN) 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 job opening announcement broadcasts multiple internship opportunities situated within OCHA-Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC) branches. The intern, under the general guidance and supervision of a Panama-based supervisor, shall be assigned within the Operations and Advocacy Division (OAD).
This internship will be based in Panama City, Panama, and the intern will be under the general guidance and direct supervision of a Humanitarian Affairs Officer. The internship is being offered for a minimum period of three (3) months, with a possibility of extension up to a maximum period of six (6) months, starting in 1 July 2018.

Responsibilities

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. In general, the intern shall support OCHA in fulfilling mandated activities and projects in the respective area of assignment. Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual's background and duties may include but are not limited to assisting with the design and preparation of studies on humanitarian, disaster, emergency relief and other related issues and in various follow-up activities; researching, analyzing and presenting information gathered from diverse sources on assigned topics/issues; assisting with the preparation of various written documents, e.g. drafts sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, etc.; assisting with the maintenance of reference/resource information on specific topics or policy-related issues; assisting in the organization of meetings, seminars, conferences, work-shops, etc., and serves as note-taker to such events; maintains awareness of current humanitarian affairs and related issues, to include relevant political, policy, gender considerations or other developments in specific subject area and/or country or region concerned and; performs other tasks requested by supervisor, as appropriate.
In addition to the general responsibilities outlined above, the intern shall be given specific tasks related to the branch/ division of assignment. As OCHA's operational hub, the Coordination and Response Division (CRD) oversees the management of all field offices and provides operational support to Resident Coordinators/ Humanitarian Coordinators (RCs/ HCs), OCHA country and Humanitarian Country Teams (HCTs) in the Latin American region. CRD is also responsible for coordinating all country-level humanitarian strategies and emergency responses, and is the working-level inter-face with affected Member States, partner humanitarian organizations, UN Secretariat departments and donors on operational issues.
The intern shall support with the creation and/ or maintenance of databases for humanitarian field activities by conducting research through relevant websites, OCHA disaster and complex emergency files, and situation reports; assist in contacting external partners in order to update existing contact database; assist with the maintenance of the information necessary to update the Humanitarian Map for the region; assist with the preparation of briefing notes on disasters and the activities of the Section; assist with updating access and security-related information; support with copying, compiling records and filing of current emergencies records; assist in the preparation of meetings, background documentation, notes and summary record.
The intern shall participate in the organization of retreats, workshops and other learning events for RCs/HCs and inter-agency meetings on humanitarian leadership as well as assist in the drafting of documents and analysis on key leadership related matters.
In particular, the intern shall provide assistance in connection with OCHA's coordination and collaboration with humanitarian institutions in the Latin American region.

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 UN Internship programme, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (e.g. second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (e.g. minimum
Bachelor’s level or equivalent); and
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 period of graduation date shall not be accepted.
The University degree must be in the area of political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics or in a related field.

Work Experience

Applicants are not required to have professional working experience for participation in the Programme though any academic and/or practical experience in humanitarian affairs issues including humanitarian coordination, humanitarian financing mechanisms, humanitarian funding trends, gender equality programming, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development and/or human rights is desirable. 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 UN Secretariat. For this internship fluency in Spanish (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of the other is an asset. English and French in particular, would be an advantage.

Assessment

Candidates will be assessed based on their Personal History Profile (PHP). Individual interviews may be conducted by the Hiring Manager directly for further consideration. A complete online application (e.g. cover note and PHP) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The cover Note must include:
Title of degree you are currently pursuing;
Graduation date (when will you be graduating from the programme);
IT skills and programmes in which you are proficient;
Explanation why you are the best candidate for the internship position.
In your PHP, be sure to include all past work experience, if any; IT skills and three (3) references. Due to high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

Special Notice

Applicants are encouraged to apply for internships which relate directly to their studies and/or skills and expertise. Applicants are asked to please indicate preferences which best match her/his suitability and do so carefully in order to enhance the value of the internship for both the intern and the receiving United Nations (UN) Secretariat department/ office.
A person who is the child or sibling of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply for an internship at the UN Secretariat. An applicant who bears to a staff member any other family relationship may be engaged as an intern, provided that he or she shall not be assigned to the same work unit of the staff member nor placed under the direct or indirect supervision of the staff member. For purposes of this advertisement, “child” means (i) the child of a staff member; (ii) the child of the spouse of a staff member (e.g. stepchild); and (iii) the spouse of a child of a staff member or a staff member’s spouse (e.g. son- or daughter-in-law). “Sibling” includes the child of both or either parent of a staff member and the child.
In line with the UN Internship programme, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs- (OCHA) internship provides a framework by which students from diverse academic backgrounds gain exposure to the work of the UN through assignment to offices within the Secretariat. The Programme endeavors to attract qualified students, offering them an opportunity to enrich their educational experience through exposure to the work of the Organization. Equally, it provides the Office with the assistance of students specialized in various professional fields. The internship is an unpaid and full- time opportunity and the intern must adhere to the established official weekly working hours of the duty station where it is based with one hour for a lunch break.
Qualified individuals may apply directly to this and other opportunities with the UN Secretariat at https://careers.un.org
For more information on the Programme, please visit https://www.unog.ch

United Nations Considerations

Job openings posted on the Careers Portal are taken off at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
Applications are automatically pre-screened according to the published evaluation criteria of the job opening on the basis of the information provided by applicants. Applications cannot be amended following submission and incomplete applications shall not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to a reference checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” on the upper right side of the browser on Inspira.
The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

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.

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