Org. Setting and Reporting
The internship is located in the Visitors Services Section, Outreach Division, of the Department of Global Communications in New York City. The Visitors Services Section provides information about the work of the United Nations (UN) to the public, including specialized audiences, such as students and civil society.
The intern will assist in coordinating the 2023 Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship (RAF) Programme. RAF provides exceptional young journalists from developing countries with in-depth exposure to the work of the UN. Over the course of three weeks in September, the RAF Fellows have the opportunity to cover the opening of the UN General Assembly, meet expert speakers on a range of issues on the UNโs agenda, and learn from the best in international and local media throughout New York City, among other activities.
Please visit https://www.un.org/en/raf for more information about the Fellowship.
The internship runs from 15 June to 31 October 2023, with no possibility of extension. The intern will report to the RAF Coordinator (Associate Public Information Officer) and the Chief of Unit. The internship is full-time, in-person at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, and is unpaid.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the RAF Coordinator, the intern will be responsible for the following duties:
โข Provide coverage of RAF activities before and during the 2023 Programme through the Fellowshipโs social media sites (Facebook/Twitter), including taking/editing photos and videos
โข Assist the RAF Coordinator in building and managing the programme schedule and workflow
โข Work as a team to facilitate a positive experience for the RAF journalists before and during the programme; provide on-the-spot assistance and troubleshooting
โข Perform other duties as assigned
Competencies
Communication:
โข Speaks and writes clearly and effectively in English
โข Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others, and responds appropriately
โข Asks questions to clarify; exhibits interest in having two-way communication
โข Tailors language, tone, style, and format to match the audience
โข Demonstrates openness in sharing information and ensuring that others are well-informed
Teamwork:
โข Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals
โข Solicits input by genuinely valuing othersโ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others
โข Places team agenda before personal agenda
โข Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect oneโs own position
โข Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings
Client Orientation:
โข Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients " and seeks to understand the clients' point of view
โข Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect
โข Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions
โข Keeps clients informed of progress/setbacks in projects
โข Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to clients
Education
Please note that to qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
a. Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
or,
b. Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelorโs level or equivalent).
An academic background in Journalism, Public Relations, Communications, or International Relations is an advantage.
Applicants must also:
โข Be computer literate in standard software applications
โข Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter
โข Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes a willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views
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.
However, proficiency in social media, photo/video editing, or event organization, or familiarity with journalistic practices, is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.
Assessment
Potential candidates will be contacted by hiring manager directly for further consideration.
Special Notice
A completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required.
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
The Cover Note must include:
โข Title of Degree Programme you are currently pursuing
โข Graduation Date (When will you graduate or when did you graduate from the programme)
โข List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in
โข List your top three areas of interest
โข Dates of availability to undertake the internship
โข Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship
โข Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme
In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references. Due to the high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.
Applicants who are children or siblings of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations.
Interns will need to provide all necessary hardware (computer), software, and an internet connection to perform the internship remotely.
This job opening is generic and further notice about any non-selections will not be issued due to the nature of the advertisement.
At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.
Interns 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. For internships in the United States of America, interns who are not United States citizens, permanent residents or not currently in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa status will be required to obtain a G-4 visa. If already in the United States of America on another non-immigrant visa status other than G-4, interns will be responsible for ensuring that they have a valid visa, and if required, employment authorization, allowing them to undertake the internship.
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 โsexual exploitationโ 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 โsexual abuseโ means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term โsexual harassmentโ 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 perpetratorโs 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 โManualsโ 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 APPLICANTSโ BANK ACCOUNTS.