Intern - Cultural Heritage and Urban Development

Work LocationIn-person, Prishtina, Kosovo Expected duration6 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesOrg. Setting and Reporting The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. UN-Habitat Kosovo has been active since 1999, providing support to central and local institutions in the fields of spatial planning, governance, and cultural heritage. Within the framework of the Kosovo Programme and related initiatives, UN-Habitat Kosovo is collaborating with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and municipal partners to integrate cultural heritage into urban and spatial development. This collaboration aims to promote sustainable management of cultural heritage sites, strengthen institutional capacities, and foster participatory processes that balance heritage conservation with contemporary urban needs. The intern will be based in the UN-Habitat Office in Prishtina and will report directly to the Spatial/Urban Planning Advisor, under the overall guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor. The intern will also contribute to activities jointly coordinated with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and other local and international stakeholders. Responsibilities The intern will support UN-Habitat Kosovo’s programme portfolio with a specific focus on cultural heritage and spatial/urban planning. Duties will include, but are not limited to: Research, Mapping and Technical Support • Conduct field research, site visits, and data collection related to cultural heritage and urban development. • Support the preparation of maps, technical drawings, and spatial analyses (GIS and CAD tools). • Compile data for municipal development plans, zoning maps, and heritage inventories. Programme Support and Knowledge Management • Assist in drafting policy notes, technical briefs, and knowledge products on heritage-led urban development. • Contribute to communication and outreach activities, including preparation of social media content, website news, and graphic materials. • Document lessons learned and contribute to internal knowledge-sharing platforms. Workshops, Trainings and Stakeholder Engagement • Support the organization of workshops, meetings, and trainings with MCYS, municipalities, academia, and civil society partners. • Liaise with participants, prepare agendas, and assist in facilitation and note-taking. • Assist in documenting outcomes and preparing reports of joint MCYS-UN-Habitat activities. Administrative and Logistical Assistance • Provide support in organizing events and missions, including logistics and travel arrangements when required. • Support administrative and operational tasks needed for programme implementation. Reporting and Deliverables • Contribute to drafting monthly progress reports for UN-Habitat Kosovo and inputs for official reporting to MCYS and donors. • Deliver assigned outputs in line with agreed work plans and deadlines. Qualifications/special skillsApplicants 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 Suite). 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 study: Architecture with an urban focus, Urban or Spatial Planning, Cultural Heritage Studies or Conservation, Geography or Geoinformatics, Social Sciences with relevance to urban development or governance, and Public Information or Communications. Other closely related fields may also be considered where the academic background demonstrates relevance to cultural heritage and urban development. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Ph.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage. Proficiency in computer software applications is required. Please explain how you meet this criterion, providing examples from your academic or extracurricular work. Knowledge of GIS, design, or communication tools (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS, Adobe Creative Suite) is desirable. Please describe your level of proficiency and provide examples of projects where you applied these tools. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is desirable. Additional InformationDo you have any previous UN internship experience? If yes, please indicate the UN entity and the specific dates. Intern Specific textInterns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. 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. No FeeTHE 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.