Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. For close to forty years, UN-Habitat has been working in human settlements throughout the world, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. The position is in the Urban Planning and Infrastructure in Migration Contexts Project Department in Amman, Jordan.

UN-Habitat partnered with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to improve access to reliable services and socio-economic opportunities for migrants and refugees in urban settlements. The Urban Planning and Infrastructure in Migration Contexts (UPIMC) programme focuses on activities that develop a common understanding of the issues affecting cities, towns and neighbourhoods, mapping provisions and gaps in public infrastructure services in coordination with humanitarian interventions.

The preparation of spatial profiles for the selected vulnerable neighbourhoods will enable the development of shared visions and prioritized interventions that improve living conditions to be identified, agreed upon and potentially funded. The programme supports municipalities hosting displaced populations in Jordan, Egypt, and Cameroon. Cities in these three countries have been selected through full consultation with both SECO and UN-Habitat country representatives. In the selected cities, the programme fosters multi-sectoral collaboration between UN-Habitat, national and local governments, humanitarian actors, development banks and local communities including displaced populations. The scope of work also ensures significant contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by supporting the selected cities and neighbourhoods to become increasingly inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. This Programme addresses the critical challenges in supporting refugees in urban areas, through integrating them into overall urban development processes, considering the Humanitarian-Development and Peace/Triple Nexus.

The Overall Programme aims include:
- Support municipalities to mainstream migration challenges into spatial urban analytics and urban infrastructure investment planning.
- Conduct activities that will go beyond a pure planning stage, by supporting the prioritization of infrastructure investments and their linkage to financing.
- Benefit migrant communities and urban dwellers in general with better quality of life and better access to economic opportunities.

The programme achieves this through 4 main components:
1. Spatial analytics and urban profiling.
2. Develop strategic vision and scenario building.
3. Define prioritized infrastructure investments and linkage to financing.
4. Knowledge exchange and capacity sharing.

The programme is divided into two phases. Phase 1 has been finalized and included Amman and Irbid Cities. Phase 2 will include replicating the programmes’ components for Mafraq City, in addition to building the capacities of Greater Amman and Irbid Municipalities’ team members enhancing their technical skills to replicate the 2nd and 3rd components of the UPIMC programme for the second most vulnerable neighbourhoods identified
in the Phase 1 Amman and Irbid spatial profiles.

The The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Urban Planner internship is for 6 months.

The Internship is UNPAID and full-time.

Interns work five days per week under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.

Responsibilities

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual's background, the interns' assigned office as well as the internship period.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Urban Programme Officer, the intern will:
- Provide technical support in developing the spatial profile for Mafraq City.
- Carry out desktop review information for spatial and city data collection for the spatial profiling activities, including infrastructure mapping and spatial data collection.
- Support the identification and mapping of stakeholders to be involved throughout the programme’s components.
- Prepare reports and minutes for dissemination of project information to the network of stakeholders involved in project-related meetings and workshops.
- Provide technical input during community events and workshops including, to prepare agenda and invitations, presentations, and workshop reports.
- Provide the needed technical support to prepare the needed capacity building training documents.

Competencies

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.

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.

Education

Applicants 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).

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 studies:
Architecture, spatial planning, or any other related field of study. An additional qualification in the field of sustainable development, civil engineering, geology would be an advantage.
• Understanding of urban data is desirable.
• Knowledge in organizing local workshops and community engagement processes is desirable.
• Knowledge in facilitating capacity building processes is desirable.
• Ability to write technical reports and project documents is required.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills are desirable.
• Sound judgment and analytical skills is desirable.
• Knowledge in Adobe Softwares.

Work Experience

No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

Experience in the Adobe Programmes, specifically in IN-Design and Illustrator and writing technical reports and project documents is required.

Knowledge and understanding of urban data, organizing local workshops, facilitating capacity building processes and community engagement processes is desirable.

Experience in Jordan’s urban context is desirable.

Experience in Jordan's urban context is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in written and oral English and Arabic is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Your application for this internship must include:
1. A completed application (Personal History Profile) and Cover Note, through the UN careers Portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note must include:

- Title of the degree you are currently pursuing.
- Graduation Date.
- IT skills and programmes you are proficient in.
- Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship.

Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme, ensure to include all past work experience (if any).

2. Proof of enrollment from current University (if not graduated).

3. A copy of degree certificate (if you have already graduated).

Due to a high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

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.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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.