Political Affairs Intern

Work Location

flexible (hybrid or remote)




Expected duration

six months




Duties and Responsibilities

The duration of the internship is for six (6) months. This internship is UNPAID in person and full-time (35 hours per week), on the United Nations premise working arrangement from (New York, USA). This internship is designed to be full-time and in-person but can be adjusted based on the needs of the successful candidate to part-time (20 hours per week) and/or remote. This position is located in the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) in the Department of Peace Operations (DPO). OROLSI includes five components: Police Division; Justice and Corrections Service; Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Section; Security Sector Reform Unit; and UN Mine Action Service. Under the new peace and security architecture, OROLSI is mandated to serve as a UN system-wide service provider for mission and non-mission settings and on all issues related to rule of law and security institutions. It works closely with the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, particularly the Peacebuilding Support Office and the regional structure, including by embedding specialists, as well as with relevant offices in the Department of Peace Operations, the Department of Operational Support and other United Nations entities, including through inter-agency arrangements such as the Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law. Thematic policy issues covered by the Office include the following, as they pertain to the OROLSI mandate: Prevention of Violent Extremism & Counter-Terrorism (PVE-CT); Sustaining Peace; Conflict Prevention; Women, Peace and Security; Youth, Peace and Security; and, Communications. Under the overall supervision of the Political Affairs Officer, the Intern for Political Affairs will: •Monitor activities in relevant countries and regions identifying trends and assessing emerging political and operational issues which may affect OROLSI activities •Attend meetings and prepare concise summary notes with action points •Conduct research on thematic topics •Monitor and prepare summary reports on developments in inter-governmental fora pertaining to policy and operational priorities of the Office •Support OROLSI Front Office and Policy and Operational Support Team priorities •Support the drafting of notes, background papers, talking points, presentations and speeches for senior UN officials as they pertain to OROLSI mandated activities and priorities •Support the planning and implementation of meetings, events, policy dialogues and other activities related to rule of law and security institutions •Coordinate, collect and consolidate information/inputs from Offices on various reports and prepare submissions in accordance with standard UN practice •Performs other related duties as required.




Qualifications/special skills

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); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). 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.




Languages

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




Additional Information

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. The United Nations does not financially remunerate interns. 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. For internships outside the United States, interns who are not citizens of the country, permanent residents, or not currently in the country's nonimmigrant visa status will be required to obtain a valid visa and work permit, allowing them to undertake the internship. The United Nations must ensure all applicants for an internship, regardless of citizenship or national origin, are authorized to work from the country where the internship will be undertaken either remotely, hybrid or on the UN-premise duty station. Before resuming an internship, the applicant must submit proof of visa and/or work authorization. Applicants who have previously served six months, in total, as an intern in one or more UN Common Systems cannot be engaged as an intern. Applicants who are children, siblings, and sons or daughters-in-law (including stepchildren, half-siblings, or stepsiblings) of an active staff member in a UN Common System cannot be engaged as an intern. In your Motivational Statement, please indicate when you would like to start your internship. Please note that the start and end dates are flexible. A complete online application is required. The Motivational Statement must also include: Title of degree you are currently pursuing. Graduation Date (When will you be graduating/have graduated from the programme?) Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship 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.




Intern Specific text

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. 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 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.