UN Internship - Staff Development and Learning

Organization: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Closing date: 28 Apr 2016

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 UN department. A person who is the child or sibling of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations.

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 (stepchild); and (iii) the spouse of a child of a staff member or a staff member's spouse (son- or daughter-in-law). "Sibling" includes the child of both or either parent of a staff member and the child.

The Programme endeavours to attract qualified students, offering them an opportunity to enrich their educational experience through exposure to the work of the Organization. In line with the United Nations 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 United Nations through assignment to offices within the Secretariat.

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. For more information on the Programme, please visit: https://www.unog.ch

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 Staff Development and Learning (SDL) unit is the focal point for the implementation of the OCHA Organizational Learning Strategy and supports all aspects of OCHA staff learning and development. The SDL unit mobilizes a learning culture in OCHA and increases staff access to learning opportunities. It also develops training for staff in accordance with organizational need and monitors and evaluates learning results. The facilitation of coordination across OCHA training providers is another SDL responsibility with a focus on information exchanges, developing and implementing common systems and guidance for enhanced coherence and synergies. This internship will be based in Geneva, Switzerland, and the intern will be under the general guidance and supervision of the Staff Development and Learning Officer. The internship is being offered for a minimum period of three (3) months, with a possibility of extension up to six (6) months, starting in August 2016.

RESPONSIBILITIES: In general, the intern will support the organizational learning strategy and provide specific support in relation to the Unit' work. Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual's background and may include but are not limited to: assisting in the design and preparation of learning opportunities on humanitarian, disaster, emergency relief, and related issues; assisting in the coordination of communities of practice (CoPs); contributing to the preparation of communication material, e.g. brochures, posters and newsletters; helping to develop and maintain learning resource information on OCHA Learning Management System; responding to various inquiries and information requests internally and externally for staff learning opportunities; assisting in the organization of meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops, webex, etc. to facilitate learning; assist in establishing and maintaining platforms and systems for OCHA staff development courses and training providers; assist in tracking, monitoring and reporting on learning activities through learning management systems and other data collection methods; and performing tasks as requested by supervisor, as appropriate.

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 United Nations Internship Programme, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

Title of degree you are currently pursuing;

Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or
Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent); or
Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, much 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 of graduation shall not be accepted.

The University degree must be in the area of adult education, social sciences, international relations, management, public administration, economics, library studies, information technology, computer science 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 new learning technologies and approaches 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 United Nations Secretariat. For this internship fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

ASSESSMENT METHOD: 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 (Cover Note and Personal History profile) 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);
List the IT skills and programmes in which you are proficient;
Explain why you are the best candidate for the internship position.

In your Personal History Profile, 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.

UNITED NATIONS CONSIDERATIONS: 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.

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.

How to apply:

Persons interested in this opportunity may apply for this internship directly at: or https://careers.un.org

Prospective applicants who have not yet created a profile in Inspira may establish an account at:https://inspira.un.org