Intern - Disability Inclusion

Work LocationRemote/Hybrid, Nairobi, Kenya 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. The UN-Habitat 2026 – 2029 Strategic Plan introduces a strategic focus on access to adequate housing, land and basic services for all, including the urgent transformation of informal settlements and slums. This integrated focus is a powerful approach to achieving an impact on people’s lives, both directly and indirectly. UN-Habitat promotes disability inclusion, through the mainstreaming of normative instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy as essential to ensuring sustainable development outcomes are inclusive, equitable and sustainable. The Human Rights and Social Inclusion Unit is responsible for providing technical inputs and support to ensure human rights and social inclusion is an integral part of every aspect of UN-Habitat’s work. The Unit ensures the cross-cutting issues and themes are considered in all projects and programmes, through the development of normative tools, guidelines and other diverse initiatives. Responsibilities Under the direct supervision of the UN-Habitat Disability Inclusion Focal Point, the intern will: • Support mapping, analysis and compilation of tools, resources and promising practices on disability inclusive urban development. This may include research on disability inclusion and the development of a background paper on disability inclusion in cities and human settlements. • Support mainstreaming and reporting on disability inclusion across UN-Habitat’s programming and policies, including assisting the development of policy-focused resources, internal disability inclusion capacity-building materials, which may require supporting and organizing meetings and webinars, carrying out background research, drafting surveys and communication materials, and other, similar tasks as required. • Support with advocacy, outreach and communication to support engagement with persons with disabilities and organisations representing persons with disabilities across various channels such as networks, coalitions and alliances. • Support relevant internal and external meetings / events with a focus on disability inclusion. This may include providing logistical support, meeting coordination, taking minutes of meetings, preparing support materials, drafting talking points, liaising with internal / external stakeholders, preparing summary reports, etc. • Support with resource mobilisation efforts to support HRSI Unit’s work on disability inclusion. • Support the Disability Inclusion Focal Point, as otherwise required. • This internship may be carried out remotely or in-person, based on the availability and needs of the selected intern. If this is a remote internship, time zone differences will be taken into consideration, but the intern must be available for a minimum of agreed meetings during EAT work hours to ensure a regular communication flow. 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: Bachelor's degree or higher in disability studies, universal design, human rights, urban planning, social sciences, sustainable development or equivalent. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. 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 disability inclusion model and practices is required. Proficiency in mainstreaming disability inclusion and supporting targeted interventions in an organisation is required. 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.