Political Affairs Intern null

Your role

About the position:

The internship position is located in the General Assembly and ECOSOC Affairs Division (GAEAD) of the United Nations Department for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) in New York. GAEAD provides procedural and technical support to the General Assembly Plenary, four of its Main Committees (I-IV), and a number of its subsidiary bodies, dealing with the full spectrum of issues considered in and by the Assembly. GAEAD also services the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), as well as a number of its subsidiary bodies.

The internship is for three (3) months, with the possibility of extension to six (6) months, subject to the needs of the Department. The internship is unpaid and full-time. Interns work five days per week (40 hours). Interns' responsibilities will depend upon the nature of the project(s) undertaken, and the background of the intern. Daily responsibilities might include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Assisting in the preparation of procedural notes for intergovernmental meetings, and other preparatory tasks.
• Attending and summarizing intergovernmental meetings.
• Assisting with logistics during meetings, including interactive presentations, and virtual connections, and assisting with the list of speakers.
• Undertaking historical research and examination of procedural precedents.
• Undertaking media-based analysis and research.
• Compiling statistics, as well as design and tabulation of charts, tables, and graphs.
• Maintaining databases of meetings based on requests and actual conduct of meetings and assisting with the collection and analysis of data.
• Contributing to the drafting/preparation of notes, talking points, and other papers and briefing materials.
• Updating/redesigning websites and links.
• Performing other tasks as necessary.

Interns work directly with and for the member(s) of the Division to which they are assigned.

Teamwork:

• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals.
• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise.
• Willing to learn from others.
• Places team agenda before personal agenda.
• Supports and acts per a 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.

Duration: Three (3) months, with the possibility of extension to six (6) months, starting 16 September 2024.

About you

Qualifications/Special Skills:

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

• Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
  • Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
  • Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent).
• 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 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.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Ability to demonstrate a high level of concentration.
• Ability to work under stress.
• Shows pride in work and achievements.
• Demonstrates professional competence.
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges.
• Remains calm in stressful situations.
• Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of 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.
• Tailor's language, tone, style and format to match the audience.
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Skills:

• Have a demonstrated 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.

Languages:

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the internship position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is an advantage.

Intern Specific text:

The United Nations does not financially remunerate interns. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

Benefits

The internship is unpaid, full-time.

If you join as a full-time employee, you will get the following benefits:

• Holidays and leave
• Health insurance
• Retirement pension
• Tax exemption
• Allowances
• Discover the invaluable experiences, skills gained, and career-boosting opportunities throughout the journey.

Training & development

Interns can gain hands-on experience in procedural and logistical support for intergovernmental meetings, media analysis, statistical compilation, and drafting of official documents. You will develop skills in communication, teamwork, and client orientation while contributing to the operational goals of the United Nations General Assembly and ECOSOC Affairs Division.

Career progression

You will be allowed to work with the United Nations people. As part of their team, working directly with outstanding and inspiring career professionals and senior management, you will be exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to analytical work and organizational policy of the United Nations. Initially, you will take on the amount of responsibility you can shoulder; the growth potential, however, is yours to develop.

How to apply

The motivational statement must:

• Include the name of your degree programme (What are you currently studying?) and your graduation date (When will you graduate or when did you graduate from the programme?).
• Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme and why you are the best candidate for this specific internship.
• Include your availability to undertake the internship.

In your Candidate Profile, be sure to include all past work experience, IT skills and three references. Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted.

Sources

The following sources were used in researching this page:

• youtube.com/unitednations
• careers.un.org/payandbenefits
• careers.un.org/job-level CP