Work Location

In-person, Nairobi, Kenya

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Org. Setting and Reporting The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the mandated UN Agency working towards a sustainable urbanization and human settlements. UN-Habitat works in over 90 countries supporting people in cities and human settlements for a better urban future. The agency has been focusing on urban development for over 40 years. Working with governments and local partners, its high impact projects combine world-class expertise and local knowledge to deliver timely and targeted solutions. Within UN Habitat, the Urban Practices Branch supports governments and local authorities with tested approaches, guidelines, and tools to plan the growth of cities in an inclusive, sustainable, and future-proof way, in tune with social, cultural, economic, and environmental concerns and particularities. The Branch has five areas of work which are closely related: (1) Policy, Legislation and Governance, (2) Urban Basic Services, (3) Land, Housing and Shelter, (4) Planning, Finance and Economic Development, and (5) Human Rights and Social Inclusion. The work of the Policy, Legislation and Governance Section (PLGS) focuses on a broader framework through different scales (metropolitan, regional, national and trans-national). The Section plays a critical role in implementing the Agency’s Strategic Plan, flagship programmes, the relevant Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda. The Section works with and in collaboration with other parts of the agency (both at Headquarters and in the field) to support national and local governments and partners. The Section fosters high impact initiatives, programmes and projects that draw from its world-class expertise and knowledge to deliver timely, fit-for-purpose and targeted solutions. The Section serves as the Agency’s focal point and global solutions center of excellence on Urban Policy, Legislation and Governance. The Section conducts activities in knowledge management, tools and frameworks development, capacity building, policy dialogue, and advisory services. One of the ways that UN-Habitat is supporting Member states to put in place sustainable, inclusive and people-centered approaches in urban development is through National Urban Polices, regulatory frameworks and other tools development. PLGS plays a key role in supporting the delivery of the following intervention areas: 1. National Urban Policies from pre-feasibility, diagnostic, development, implementation to monitoring and tracking progress. 2. Regulatory and legislative tools and support to Member States on a range of topics relevant to UN-Habitat. 3. Metropolitan and City-region studies including in development of corridors, clusters and systems of cities and promotion of a green economy, smart city approach and urban-rural linkages. 4. Urban-Rural Linkages; developing tools and implementing territorial approaches. 5. Developing documents, pilot/test and disseminate norms, standards, tools, methodologies, regulatory frameworks, operating procedures, and inspiring practices at global, regional, national and sub-national levels. 6. Designing tailored-made solutions on policy, legislative and governance for cities, regions and metropolitan development, enhance urban-rural continuum, with the view to reduce spatial inequality and poverty and increase shared prosperity. 7. Generating and managing cutting-edge knowledge and data (including Indexes and database) on Policy, Legislation and Governance. PLGS is currently recruiting two (2) interns to assist with its portfolio in 2024 on National Urban Policy, legislation and governance, metropolitan management, urban-rural linkages and territorial approaches. This position is located in UN-Habitat Policy, Legislation and Governance Section (UN-Habitat/GSD/UPB/PLGS) in Nairobi, Kenya and under the general supervision of the Chief of the Section and under delegated supervision. The incumbent will perform the following duties summarized below. Responsibilities Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background, the intern’s assigned office, and the internship period. Under the direct supervision of the Human Settlement Officer (PLGS), the intern will: A. Communication and Information Technology • Contribute to written outputs e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies and inputs to publications. • Assist with outreach activities which include the production of awareness materials to support the rolling out of the PLGS work plan, • Assist with the production of communication materials: online versions of publications, updating the Section’s website and App Content Management System (CMS) with creating webstories, and providing improvements to the E-Learning tools available through creation of short explainer videos. • Assist in improving the National Urban Policy database. Assist in cleaning code and test various functionalities like the PDF summary generator from the database. Experience with PHP (Laravel, Drupal, WordPress) and JavaScript frameworks (Vue and React). • Assist to debug code and create wireframes using Figma, for user testing. • Assist in the development of the PLGS app. Experience in React Native. • Assist in the development of the Urban-Rural Linkages database. • Assist with Graphic design: layout of publications, reports, short articles, short meeting minutes, presentations, social media cards. Experience required in Adobe Suite tools: InDesign, Premier Pro, Illustrator and Photoshop. • Improve our online presence in terms of publication outreach through the creation of engaging short videos, and explainer videos. Assist in social media maintenance and regular posting. • Assist in creative ideas of outreach of our publications, by exploring how audio books could be made effective within the section publications catalogue. B. Administration and Finance • Assist with liaising with different offices regarding individual communications requests and provide assistance with the review and publication of communication material (including. articles, broadcasts). • Attend meetings with UN counterparts and coordinate follow-up to decisions within the section, as appropriate. • Assist in preparing presentation materials including graphs, charts, excel tables and PowerPoint slides. • Assist in organizing expert group meetings, consultative and other meetings and conferences, support outreach activities. • Assist in drafting notes, minutes, preparation of reports and background documents. • Assist in reviewing and Audit recommendations and follow up on the implementation. • Create and compile a folder in Teams with important UN Circulars, Policies, rules, and regulations. • Work closely with the PLGS Administrative Programme Management Assistants (PMAs) on administrative and financial issues/tasks. • Assist in follow-up of PLGS administrative actions and requests that require approval from our UN-Habitat Management and Compliance Service (MACS) office. • Assist in taking minutes for the PLGS Virtual/Hybrid Team meetings held regularly, when required.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements: a. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher), b. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent), c. Have graduated with Bachelor’s degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent. Be computer literate in standard software applications (Microsoft Office Suite). Have demonstrated a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the 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. Preferred areas of study: The candidate must be currently pursuing or have recently attained an advanced university degree in one of the following fields: Communications and IT, Graphic design, Application Analyst, Application developer, Data analyst or other related fields (Master or PhD candidate preferably). 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. Applicants to the UN internship programme within the Policy, Legislation and Governance Section (PLGS) of the Urban Practices Branch (UPB) are required to have experience in research and copy editing, communications, tools development and management, project development and management. Please explain and provide examples. Experience in organizing events is desirable. Do you have experience organizing events (e.g., expert group meetings, consultative and other meetings and conferences) or supporting outreach activities? Please explain. Experience in database management/data analytics and analysis of data or related areas is desirable for this internship. Please explain providing examples

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.