Intern - Public Information [Temporary]

The Internship is located in the Division of Technology Climate Change and Natural Resources Management Division. The internship is for six (6) months with an opportunity for extension.
The intern will work for five days per week under the supervision of the Director of the Division. Due to the current situation, the intern will be working from home. 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.

To find out more about UNECA, please go to www.uneca.org


The internship is UNPAID and full-time.

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual's background. Duties may include, but are not limited to:

Contribute to draft a communication strategy for the Division

External communication
- Assistance with drafting and designing communications products, writing, editing, researching, translating.
- Assisting with maintenance of the website and social media accounts.
- Assisting with conference communications.
- Photography, Archiving and monitoring media coverage

Internal Communication:
- Enhance internal information flows, explores ways to promote a positive Office culture and ensures effective internal communications
- Assists is the day-to-day operation of the unit, including substantive and administrative activities of the unit

The United Nations Core Competencies include:

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.

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.

Creativity - Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks "outside the box"; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:

- Applicants must 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 programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent); or
(c) have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one year period of graduation;

- Educational background in communications, graphic design, journalism, development studies or international relations is an advantage.

- Applicants must be computer literate in standard software applications.

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. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of French is an asset.

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

In your Personal History Profile, please list all past work experience (if any), your IT skills, and three references.

Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted. Please note that this is an on-going advertisement until October 2020. Successful candidates may be contacted at any time during the posting period or shortly thereafter.

Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and /or illness incurred During an internship. Therefore, upon awarding an internship, candidates will be required to sign a statement confirming their understanding and acceptance of the condition of service.

A completed online application (including Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Cover Note must include

- Your Degree programme (what are you currently studying?)
- Your Graduation date (when will you or when did you graduate from the programme?);
- List your three main areas of interest
- any IT skills or software applications that you are proficient in;
- an explanation as to why you would be the best candidate for this internship;
- an explanation as to why you are interested in the United Nations Internship Programme.

In your Personal History Profile, please list all past work experience, your IT skills, and three references.

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.

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.