Intern - Project Implementation Coordination

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is an organization established by the UN General Assembly with the mission to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. It serves as the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat collaborates with various partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities. The organization aims to leverage urbanization as a transformative force that reduces inequality, discrimination, and poverty. UN-Habitat is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, and operates through regional offices, including the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the Mesoamerica office based in Mexico City. The organization is guided by several key principles and declarations, including the Vancouver Declaration on Human Settlements, the Istanbul Declaration, the Habitat Agenda, the Quito Declaration, and the New Urban Agenda. UN-Habitat's work focuses on mitigating the adverse effects of rapid urbanization and ensuring that the benefits of sustainable urbanization contribute to reducing urban poverty and enhancing the quality of life for populations. For more information, visit their website at https://unhabitat.org/

Job Overview:
The internship-position" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">internship position is designed for individuals who are eager to support the Project Implementation Coordination area within UN-Habitat. Interns will assist with various tasks related to portfolio management, project follow-up, and the creation of tools and documents that enhance the operational effectiveness of the office. The internship is based in the UN-Habitat Subregional Office for Mexico, Cuba, and Central America, and interns will work under the supervision of the Project Implementation Coordinator. The role is crucial for ensuring that projects are implemented effectively and that all milestones and outputs are monitored closely. Interns will gain valuable experience in project management and coordination, contributing to the overall mission of UN-Habitat to promote sustainable urban development.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Interns will be responsible for a variety of tasks that support the Project Implementation Coordination area. These include:

• Assisting in the development, updating, and maintenance of the portfolio management platform (Plataforma de Implementación Conjunta).
• Monitoring project implementation milestones, outputs, and timelines across the office’s active portfolio.
• Preparing project synthesis documents that summarize project progress and outcomes.
• Supporting the programmatic coordination of joint missions across projects, which involves preparing mission scopes, work agendas, and follow-up documentation to capture agreements and next steps.
• Assisting in the preparation and follow-up of coordination meetings to ensure effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders.
• Providing substantive knowledge and recommendations to the Project Implementation Coordinator for optimizing project implementation processes.

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must meet one of the following criteria at the time of application: a. Be enrolled in a graduate school program (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 a Bachelor's degree, Master's, PhD, or equivalent. Additionally, applicants should be computer literate in standard software applications, particularly the Microsoft Office Suite. A keen interest in the work of the United Nations and a personal commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter are essential. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to interact successfully with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and beliefs, showing a willingness to understand and tolerate differing opinions and views.

Educational Background:
The preferred areas of study for applicants include Urban Planning, International Development, Public Administration, Political Science, Project Management, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, Geography, or a related field. Applicants must have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, SharePoint, Canva, and MS Teams. Knowledge of HTML, data visualization tools, or project management software is desirable. It is important that applicants are either students in the final year of their first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), or are enrolled in a Master’s or Ph.D. program, or have completed such programs.

Experience:
While applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience, it is essential that their field of study is closely related to the internship they are applying for. This means that candidates should have a solid academic background in areas relevant to urban development, sustainable cities, housing, resilience, public space, or international development. The internship is designed to provide practical experience and exposure to the workings of the United Nations, particularly in the context of project implementation and coordination.

Languages:
For this internship position, fluency in oral and written Spanish is required. Knowledge of English is desirable, as English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Additionally, knowledge of another UN language is considered a plus, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate effectively in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations, meaning that all costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of the interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of Mexico may need to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. It is crucial for successful candidates to discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer. Furthermore, it is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. The organization also does not request information regarding applicants’ bank accounts.