Posting Title:
Humanitarian Affairs-Internship, I
Job Code Title:
INTERN - HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
Department/ Office:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Duty Station:
GENEVA
Posting Period:
13 August 2014-12 October 2014
Job Opening number:
14-HRA-OCHA-36876-R-GENEVA
Special Notice
The internship within the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in line with the United Nations (UN) Internship Programme, aims to provide a framework by which students from diverse academic backgrounds gain exposure to the United Nations through assignment to offices within the Secretariat in order to enhance their educational experience and gain experience in the work of the United Nations. Additionally, it provides the United Nations offices with the assistance of qualified students specialized in various professional fields. Interns shall not represent the United Nations in any official capacity. For additional information on the Programme, please visit: https://www.unog.ch .
The Programme is unpaid and full-time. The general working hours at United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) are 40 hours per week, from 8.30 until 5.30 with one hour for a lunch break. The intern should adhere to the established official weekly working hours of respective duty station if the internship is based in a field-office location. All costs associated to the internship are to be borne by the intern, specifically: travel, visas, accommodation/living expenses and medical insurance for the entire duration of the internship. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance of the intern or costs arising from injury, illness or death that may occur during an internship. 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. To apply to this job opening please go to: https://inspira.un.org or https://careers.un.org .
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 intern may be assigned to a Section within one of the following OCHA Geneva branches: Office of the Director (OD), Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), Communications Services Branch (CSB), Emergency Services Branch (ESB), Information Services Branch (ISB), Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Branch (PRMB), Programme Support Branch (PSB and Coordination and Response Division-Geneva (CRD-Geneva).
This profile shall be used to solicit qualified applicants for internship with OCHA-Geneva.
The internship will be based in Geneva, Switzerland, and it will be offered for a minimum period of two months, with an estimated starting date as early as mid-August 2014.
Responsibilities
The intern's daily responsibilities will consist of supporting the general work of OCHA, providing specific support in relation to the Branch's work.
In consultation with the supervisor the intern’s duties may include but are not limited to: assisting in the design and preparation of studies on humanitarian, disaster, emergency relief and related issues and in various follow-up activities; researching, analyzing and presenting information gathered from diverse sources on assigned topics/ issues; assisting with the preparation of various written documents, e.g. drafts sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents etc.; assisting with the maintenance of reference/ resource information on specific topics or policy-related issues; assisting in the organization of meetings, seminars, conferences, work-shops, etc.; serving as note-taker to such events; maintaining awareness of current humanitarian affairs and related issues, to include relevant political, policy, gender considerations or other developments in specific subject area of the country or region concerned; and performing appropriate tasks as required and requested by supervisor/ head of section/ unit.
In addition to the general responsibilities outlined above, the intern may be assigned specific tasks, as follows:
For OD: supports the Office of the Director and Preparedness Analysis and Coordination Section (PACS) on ad hoc projects of short duration; researches, compiles and disseminates information on humanitarian action - including emergency preparedness, incorporating published material in the intranet and/ or website; assists in the development of a knowledge management system, in which information and knowledge on humanitarian action is systematically acquired, updated and disseminated; provides support in facilitating information exchange and partnership building by organising regular meetings and consultations; assists in developing written/ visual promotional materials, newsletters, fact sheets, publications and/ or content for online dissemination; facilitates the preparation of meetings e.g. IASC Sub-Working Group on Preparedness, preparing background documents, supporting logistical arrangements and note-taking.
For PRMB: assists in contacting external partners in order to update existing contact database; assists in the preparation of partnership related meetings in Geneva-agenda, background documentation, notes and summary records; liaises with OCHA staff at headquarters (HQ) and other relevant partners to gather and disseminates information about partnerships; assists with the preparation of inputs and ensure that they are carried out in an efficient and timely manner; assists in updating PRMB's partnership database, including on intranet and website and contact database; accompanies the supervisor to meetings with partners, UN agencies and take notes; assists in the preparation of policy guidance on OCHA's partnerships with member states, inter-governmental and regional organisations and the private sector (partners); supports OCHA's Regional and Liaison Offices in their partnership work, including strategic prioritization and cross fertilisation of best practices in partnership work; assists in research and analysis on identified priority partners; participates in other assignments as requested. PRMB consists of: Donor Relations Section (DRS), Partnerships Coordination Section (PCS), Private Sector Section (PSS), African Union (AULO), Brussels Liaison Office (BLO), and Gulf Liaison Office (GLO).
For PSB: assists in the research and development of communication materials and website presence to enhance the visibility of information relating to the humanitarian programme cycle; researches various thematic and political initiatives of relevance to the branch; supports the development and editing of humanitarian appeals, the tracking and verification of financial data regarding humanitarian appeal; assists in the organisation of programme cycle training events, humanitarian appeal launches, and other initiatives; assists and conducts research, drafting talking points and background documents on various topics, including country specific situations and in other relevant areas of work of the branch; assists in any other duties as required. PSB consists of: Coordinated Assessment Support Section (CASS), Planning and Monitoring Section (PAMS), Appeal Coordination and Analysis Section (ACAS), and Inter-Cluster Coordination Section (ICCS).
For ESB: assists in strengthening national and international disaster response and response preparedness capacities, facilitating initial disaster assessment and coordination through the timely deployment of appropriate staff resources and expertise; supports effective international response efforts through the provision of civil-military coordination, logistical support, information technology expertise and emergency relief stocks; manages rosters and networks to ensure the availability of humanitarian specialists, environmental experts, and technical modules to support field operations; supports the coordination of staff learning and development programmes, including the management of specific training cycles; and works with partners to ensure appropriate international standards for response are constantly developed and updated, including international urban search and rescue (USAR) activities, civil-military coordination, environmental emergencies response; forges, maintains and develops effective networks e.g. UNDAC, INSARAG, International Humanitarian Partnership, Surge Capacity resource providers; provides support in connection with OCHA's mandated actions in regard to natural disasters, environmental emergencies and technological accidents. ESB consists of: Civil-Military Coordination Section (CMCS), Field Coordination Support Section (FCSS), Environmental Emergencies Section (EES) and the Surge Capacity and Logistics Section.
For IASC: supports the preparations for the IASC Working Group Meetings, IASC Principals and IASC Weekly meetings, including assisting in the preparatory process for background documents, logistic arrangements and preparation of summary records; supports the liaison with UN and non UN humanitarian agencies and other relevant bodies to ensure timely information sharing and attends meeting of IASC member agencies and other relevant events; supports in monitoring the progress in IASC Subsidiary Bodies - Sub Working Groups, Task Forces, Reference Groups - by drafting notes and identifying gaps, bringing them to the attention of the Chief of the IASC Secretariat; supports the development of information management mechanisms within the IASC Secretariat and develops relevant information dissemination tools - maintenance of IASC website, promotion material, newsletters; strengthens information management through monitoring of humanitarian developments throughout the world and through careful information analysis by preparing IASC humanitarian updates; serves as primary focal point for the IASC Secretariat for specific topics or policy-related issues covered by the IASC Subsidiary Bodies or IASC Working Groups.
For CRD-Geneva: supports CRD-Geneva in the creation and/ or updating of databases for disaster-prone countries, and of countries with potential and emerging conflicts, through researching relevant websites, OCHA disaster and complex emergency files, situation reports; assists in contacting external partners in order update existing contact database; assists with the preparation of briefing notes on disasters and the activities of the Section; assists with updating access and security-related information; supports the Section with copying, compiling records and filing of current emergencies records; assists in the preparation of meetings in Geneva-agenda, background documentation, notes and summary records; accompanies the Desk Officer to meetings with donors, humanitarian partners, UN agencies and with note-taking. The Humanitarian Leadership Strengthening Unit (HLSU), within CRD-Geneva, interacts on a daily basis with Humanitarian and Resident Coordinators, who are the highest-level and most experienced UN humanitarian officials in most field locations. Reporting to the Director of CRD who is based in OCHA New York, HLSU works on behalf of the IASC to strengthen the humanitarian coordination leadership function. In this context, the intern will contribute to OCHA's leadership strengthening agenda by promoting dialogue and building consensus among humanitarian partners on key normative issues relating to humanitarian coordination leadership; supports the expansion of the pool of potential Humanitarian Coordinators through the Humanitarian Coordination Pool; helps to build a constituency of support among IASC agencies for qualified candidates for Humanitarian and Resident Coordinator positions; supports in the improvement in the leadership, coordination, and team development skills of senior humanitarian officials; and with the collective leadership of humanitarian country teams.
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 on-going 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
Applicants must be enrolled in a Bachelor's (final year), post-graduate, Master's or Ph.D. programme or equivalent, preferably in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, earth science or a related field is a requirement. Applicants that have successfully completed an academic programme in a discipline mentioned above must commence the internship within period of one-year i.e. twelve months from date of graduation.
Work Experience
Applicants are not required to have professional working experience for participation in the internship program though any academic and/ or practical experience in humanitarian affairs issues including humanitarian financing mechanisms, humanitarian funding trends, gender equality programming, emergency preparedness, crisis/ emergency relief management, rehabilitation, and/ or development 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 written and verbal skills) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Assessment Method
Potential candidates will be contacted by hiring manager directly for further consideration. Applicants are encouraged to apply for internships which relate directly to their studies and/ or skills-set, and they will be assessed based on information indicated in their Personal History Profiles (PHPs). A completed on-line application is required; the cover note must mention the title of the degree which you are currently pursuing and the scheduled date of graduation (month and year). Indicate all standard office software packages in which you are proficient, including information technology applications and/ or programs. Please specify the names of the Branches and/ or Sections whose work most interests you and clearly indicate preferences which best match your suitability in order of interest as well as your general interest in the United Nations. Please do not forget to designate three references. Due to the high volume of applications received, applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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.