United Nations (UN) announces vacancy for Intern – Political Affairs

Posting Title:INTERN – POLITICAL AFFAIRS, I (Temporary Job Opening)

Job Code Title:INTERN – POLITICAL AFFAIRS
Department/Office: Office for Disarmament Affairs
Duty Station: KATHMANDU
Posting Period: 08 June 2022 – 30 December 2022
Job Opening Number: 22-Political Affairs-ODA-182981-J- (A)
Staffing Exercise: N/A

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Org. Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD) is seeking for qualified interns for a maximum internship of six months, depending on the needs of UNRCPD and the willingness of applicant.

UNRCPD is part of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and located in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Regional Centre assists countries in Asia and the Pacific in achieving their peace, security and disarmament goals, through provision of substantive support, coordination of activities at sub-regional, regional and international levels, and information sharing on global and regional activities. According to its mandate, UNRCPD provides countries of the region, on request, aid and support for implementation of international agreements aimed preventing and combating illegal flows of conventional arms, promoting dialogue and confidence-building on global and regional issues related to arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation, addressing challenges to peace and security through engaging women and youth and promoting peace and disarmament education. To this end, the Regional Centre organizes seminars, workshops and trainings.

The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision of a professional staff member in the Centre to whom they are assigned. The incumbent reports to the Director of UNRCPD.

Responsibilities
Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background, the intern’s assigned office, as well as the internship period. Interns shall undertake the following duties which may include, but are not limited to:

• Assistance in drafting and preparing official documents
• Document, legal and internet research
• Assistance during conferences and meetings
• Working on web-presentation

Competencies
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.

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.

Education
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 Bachelor’s level or equivalent).

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.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the Internship Programme. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an asset. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Assessment
Potential candidates will be contacted by a hiring manager directly for further consideration.

Special Notice
“In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to UN premises. Applicants must be willing and prepared to undertake the internship remotely for a part or the entirety of the internship.”

A completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note must include:

• Degree Programme (What are you currently studying or what have you studied)
• Graduation date (When will you graduate or when did you graduate from the programme?)
• List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in
• Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship
• Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme and working for UNRCPD

In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills and contact details of three references.

Due to the high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

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 “sexual exploitation” 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 “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” 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 perpetrator’s 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.

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 “Manuals” 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 APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

To apply for this job please visit careers.un.org.