INTERN - POLITICAL AFFAIRS [Temporary]

The Security Sector Reform (SSR) Unit is located in the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI), Department of Peace Operations. The SSR Unit brings together a small number of multi-disciplinary specialists to provide a UN headquarter focal point and technical SSR resource for the UN system, as well as national and international partners. Specifically, the SSR Unit provides field support and UN system-wide capacity building in this important area.
Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) was established in 2007 to strengthen the links and coordinate the Department's activities in the areas of police, justice and corrections, mine action and weapons/ammunition management, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants and security sector reform. (https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/department-of-peacekeeping-operations).
The internship is for a minimum of three (3) months to a maximum of six (6) months. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.

The SSR Unit is looking for three interns who will each be working on a particular issue of interest to the unit; security sector accountability; policy and guidance development related to defense sector reform; and security sector reform in West-Africa.
Within the delegated authority the interns will be responsible for the following duties:
• Assist in the team's data management efforts;
• Organize and follow up on high-level meetings with Member States and/or senior officials;
• Assist in the collection, development and management of best practices, lessons learned and other relevant documents from the UN, partners and external actors with regards to SSR and to this end gather, research, analyse and present SSR-related information from various sources;
• Assist in the drafting of various documents, e.g., minutes of meetings, briefing notes, policy documents, draft notes to file on meetings etc;
• Perform other duties as required.
Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of SSR (concepts, terminology, research and policy literature); Knowledge of concepts/policy/literature pertaining to accountability of security forces, and/or knowledge of concepts and approaches to international engagement in defense sector reform, and/or a solid understanding of West Africa; Good research and analytical skills; Ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given; ability to plan own work and manage conflicting priorities; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of your work.

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.

Applicants must be enrolled in a degree programme in a graduate school (second university of higher) or have graduated with a graduate degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one year period of graduation; if pursuing their studies in countries where higher education is not divided into undergraduate and graduate stages, have completed at least four years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of a degree. Be computer literate in standard software applications. Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals o the Charter; and Have demonstrated the ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and to be tolerant of differing opinions views.

• For the internship focused on policy and guidance development related to defense sector reform, an educational background in security and defense studies is desirable.
• For the internship focused on security sector accountability, a background in legal studies and knowledge of security sector accountability (military courts, oversight mechanisms) is desirable.
• For the post focusing on West-Africa knowledge of the political and security situation of the region is desirable.

Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the programme.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. For the internship post focused on West-Africa, fluency in French is desirable.

Potential candidates will be contacted by hiring manager directly for future consideration.

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note must include:
• Indicate your preference for one of the three internship positions;
• Title of degree you are currently pursuing;
• Graduation Date (when will you be graduating from the programme);
• List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in;
• Explain why you are the best candidate for that specific department (s);
• Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme.

In your Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references. Due to a high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

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 or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, 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.

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.

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.