Policy and Youth Intership with the United Nations Volunteers Office in New York

Background

The UNV Office in New York is part of the Partnerships and Communications Division (PCD) of UNV and is the focal point for strengthening UNV’s relationship with UNDP/HQ and for partnership building with locally-based UN Agencies and Diplomatic missions.  Its focus is on maintaining and strengthening relations with UNDP headquarters, UN Secretariat headquarters and UN system agencies; representing UNV in key New York-based forums and taskforces; liaising with Bonn, Germany. The internship will require interaction with these partners primarily and others that will be identified, as part of the office’s responsibilities. The Third Committee of the General Assembly: The General Assembly allocates to its Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs Committee, commonly referred to as the "Third Committee", agenda items relating to a range of social, humanitarian affairs and human rights issues that affect people all over the world.  An important part of the work of the Committee will focus on the examination of human rights questions, including reports of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council which was established in 2006. The Committee also discusses the advancement of women, the protection of children, indigenous issues, and the treatment of refugees, the promotion of fundamental freedoms through the elimination of racism and racial discrimination, and the right to self- determination.  The Committee also addresses important social development questions such as issues related to youth, family, ageing, persons with disabilities, crime prevention, criminal justice, and international drug control., and international drug control. Youth: On 25 January 2012, the Secretary-General announced a five year action agenda that sets out a series of actions that the global community must take over the next five years. This will require mobilizing all the human, financial and political resources available to the United Nations in order to catalyze the type of global collaboration that is possible, necessary and timely. It will also require a renewed commitment to mobilize the international support measures required to address the socioeconomic development needs of countries in special situations.   The Secretary-General used this five year action agenda to emphasize the needs of the young people of the world. To help advance this agenda, the UN system will develop and implement an action plan, create a youth volunteer programme under the umbrella of the UN Volunteers and appoint a new Special Adviser for Youth. Through this, the UN can help provide programmes on employment, entrepreneurship, political inclusion, citizenship and protection of rights, and education, including on reproductive health to the largest generation of young people the world has ever known.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of the UNV Office in New York, the intern will carry out the tasks described below. Particular emphasis will be given to monitoring relevant meetings regarding the UN’s development agenda, involving youth, family, ageing, and persons with disabilities of the third committee of the General Assembly. A considerable amount of attention will be placed on the UN’s youth agenda. The intern will follow developments concerning the Secretary-Generals mandate to UNV for developing a youth volunteering modality, the UN Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development System Wide Action Plan,and any other meetings concerning Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs. The tasks are therefore as following: Assist the Chief of the UNV Office in NY (ONY) in monitoring UN policy developments at the UN and advocating for UNV’s role in the promotion of volunteerism in peace and development. Monitor policy discussions, discover any potential avenues for UNV policy engagement, and prepare reports/minutes as requested at the UN, inter-governmental task forces and inter-agency meetings concerning the UN’s youth agenda and the Third Committee of the General Assembly Liaise with UNV’s youth project team to discuss and update on UNV ONY’s participation in youth meetings in NY through weekly bi-lateral conference calls or other internal communication strategies Prepare materials about UNV’s activities, as and when required for New York based stakeholders Contribute to the organization of discussions, briefings and seminars on UNV within UNDP, the UN as well as outside the UN, with a view to raising UNV’s profile; Maintain UNV’s database of youth network contacts

Competencies

Strong interpersonal, communication/presentation and negotiation skills Highly organized and independent/motivated Research ability; strategic, analytical and drafting abilities. Knowledge of volunteering issues and their link to social development, an asset Experience with youth networks or youth agenda-setting is highly desirable volunteer experience an asset

Required Skills and Experience

Academic background: Currently enrolled or just graduated from a Master’s / postgraduate university programme in Social Sciences, Political Science, International Relations, Development Studies, or related fields. Languages: English, with working knowledge of a least one other UN language desirable Conditions: UNDP Conditions of Service for interns (http://www.undp.org/internships/) apply for interns working for UNV The Internship Programme operates on a non-remunerative basis. Costs and arrangements for travel, visa, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern.  The purpose of the Internship Programme is not to lead to further employment with UNV but to complement an intern’s studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship. UNV accepts no responsibility for the intern’s medical insurance or for costs arising from illness during the internship. Interns are required to provide proof of medical insurance coverage. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and called for a motivational interview that will take place on an ongoing basis. The description above refers to a full-time internship for 6 months commitments.  Please indicate your concrete availability

Click here for important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders).

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.