Strategic Communications Intern null

Your Role

The internship is unpaid and may be either full-time or part-time. It should be noted that full-time internship working hours are 35 hours per week, while part-time internship working hours are 20 hours per week. The internship will be undertaken either remotely outside the duty station or in a hybrid working arrangement at the UN Premise, New York, United States.

About the team:

Interns work under the supervision of the DPO/SCS Public Information Officer, Gender Communications. This position is located in the Strategic Communications Section of the Office of the Director for Coordination and Shared Services (ODCSS) serving the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Peace Operations (DPO).

The incumbent will report to the Digital Communications Manager, Strategic Communications Section. The Office of the Director for Coordination and Shared Services enables, directs, and coordinates departmental efforts to ensure the effective integration and management of both Departments.

Department of Peace Operations (DPO)

• Provides political and executive direction to UN peacekeeping operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates.
• The Department works to integrate the efforts of UN, governmental, and nongovernmental entities in the context of peacekeeping operations.
• DPO also provides guidance and support on military, police, mine action, and other relevant issues to other UN political and peacebuilding missions.

Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA)

• Focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships.
• The Department's mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Assist the Strategic Communications Section with strategic communication and public outreach specifically on issues related to gender including the Women, Peace and Security mandate, gender parity, and the prevention of misconduct including sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Assist in developing design, multimedia products, stories, and content for digital platforms including the UN and UN Peacekeeping websites and intranet, Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Medium, and Instagram, and assist in monitoring social media related to the issues highlighted above.
• Assist with drafting and editing UN Peacekeeping publications (e.g. fact sheets, brochures, newsletters, correspondences, pitches, and donor-related updates) for internal and external sources related to the issues highlighted above.
• Support planning and live coverage of events.
• Assist with the planning, preparation, and implementation of campaigns and public events related to gender and misconduct such as exhibitions, events, screenings, workshops, and others related to the issues highlighted above.
• Assist with monitoring social media and media to determine trends and to inform communications efforts on gender and misconduct including sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Proactively contribute ideas for projects and media stories and pitches that will help to promote communications and build a narrative on the work of UN peacekeeping in the area of gender, Women, Peace and Security, and the prevention of misconduct.
• Prepare internal summaries and reports and support external presentations.
• Perform any other duties as requested by the supervisor.

About You

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher).
• Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent).
• Applicants to the UN Internship Program 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 their first university degree (bachelor's or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Program or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PH.D. Program.
  • 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.
• Proficient in standard word processing and software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint or similar.
• Be proficient in standard office automation equipment, scanners, printers, etc.
• Have demonstrated a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the United Nations Charter.
• Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes a willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.
• The field of study must be closely related to the type of internship you are applying for.

Languages:

Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of French is strongly desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Additional Information:

• The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving a 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff.
• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
• 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.

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.

Compensation & Benefits

This internship is unpaid, full-time. If you join as a full-time employee, you will get the following benefits:

• Tax exemption
• Allowances and benefits
• Holidays and leave
• Health insurance
• Retirement pension

Training & Development

An internship at the UN could be the ideal start if you are considering a career in the Organization. It will give you exposure to high-profile conferences, political decision-making, or work on the ground, as well as the opportunity to contribute to the projects and mandates of the United Nations. You can apply for any internship around the world, regardless of nationality.

As an intern, you will:

• Enhance your educational experience through practical work assignments
• Deepen your knowledge and understanding of the Organization’s goals, principles, and activities
• Work in an international environment, and network with international civil servants, career professionals, and senior management
• Provide the UN with assistance in your area of expertise
• Participate in tasks such as drafting documents, analysis of data, research, organization of conferences or events, work on media campaigns and outreach, and much more.

Career Progress

UN internship will not automatically lead to a job with the UN, but with the experience you have acquired during your time as an intern, you might be interested in applying for General Service or consultancy positions. If you want to apply to positions at the Professional and Higher or Field Service levels, they ask you to let at least six months pass after the end of your internship before you submit your application and ensure that you fulfill not only the educational but also the work experience requirements that are outlined in each job opening.

How to apply

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 and will be reviewed.

The Motivational Statement must also include:

• Title of degree you are currently pursuing.
• Graduation Date (When will you be graduating/have graduated from the program?)
• Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship
• Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Program in your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references.

Source

The following sources were used in researching this page:

• careers.un.org/payandbenefits
• careers.un.org/job-level
• youtu.be/OUd_PeEqX_I?si=UUWPkg6N2ER_Cmm6