Posted by The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific is one of the five regional commissions under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It was established in order to increase economic activity in Asia and the Far East, as well as to foster economic relations between the region and other areas of the world.
The commission is composed of 53 Member States and nine Associate members, mostly from the Asia and Pacific regions. In addition to countries in Asia and the Pacific, the commission’s members include France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The region covered by the commission is home to 4.1 billion people, or two-thirds of the world’s population, making ESCAP the most comprehensive of the United Nations’ five regional commissions
The Internship
Interns work five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.
The internship is UNPAID and full-time.
UNESCAP-SSWA Office
Inaugurated in December 2011, UNESCAP South and South-West Asia Office (UNESCAP-SSWA) serves 10 countries in the subregion, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.
The work program of UNESCAP-SSWA covers analytical and normative work, policy support and advocacy, technical assistance, and capacity building activities, along with five priority areas, as per the mandate received from UNESCAP member States:
- Inclusive growth, the accelerating achievement of the MDGs, structural change and job creation, women’s empowerment, social protection, the post-2015 development agenda, and sustainable development
- Strengthening connectivity, trade, and transport facilitation, and regional economic integration
- Regional cooperation for food and energy security
- Regional cooperation for disaster risk reduction
- Assisting LDCs and LLDCs in implementation of the Istanbul and Almaty Program of Action.
Learning Opportunities
UNESCAP’s South and South-West Asia Office provides interns with an opportunity to enhance their understanding of:
- Socio-economic challenges the subregion is facing in particular within the 10 countries served by UNESCAP-SSWA Office;
- The processes of regional and multilateral cooperation;
- Mandates and operations of United Nations in developing countries in its efforts to provide policy advice, capacity building, and platform for governments to create space for economic and political integration.
Responsibilities
Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background and the intern’s assigned office as well as the internship period. Duties may include, but are not limited to:
- Assistance in drafting and preparing official documents
- Attending and summarizing conferences and meetings
- The document, legal, and internet research
- Assistance during conferences
- Working on web-presentation
- Compiling statistics
- Conduct literature review/desk research to support the drafting of occasional papers/policy briefs on topics such as economic and social development, MDG achievements, and regional economic integration in the subregion and beyond, including transport connectivity, food, and energy security, and disaster risk reduction with a special focus on South Asian least developed countries.
- Assist in the implementation of projects/activities
- Assist in media analysis outreach communication activities, including preparing public information materials including web-based publications.
Eligibility
Competencies
The United Nations Core Competencies include:
- Communication: Ability to draft clearly and concisely, good written and oral language skills.
- Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from different national and cultural backgrounds to achieve organizational goals.
- Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be ‘clients’ and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view.
Education
To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
- Be enrolled in a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or
- Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent); or
- Have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation.
Work Experience
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 asset.
- Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
Procedure for application
- Click on the link given at the end of this post.
- Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button on that page.
- Sign up to get to the application portal ‘Inspira’.
- Fill out the application form thereby.
Application
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 program?)
- List of the IT skills and programs that you are proficient in
- List of your top three areas of interest
- Explanation about why you are the most suitable candidate for this specific internship
- Explanation of 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.
Please Note: Due to a large number of applicants, divisions are not in a position to reply to each application, and that only short-listed applicants will be contacted for further consideration.
Location
New Delhi
Relevant links
690
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