Internship vacancy with UN/ISDR

The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) is a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder platform to enable societies to increase their resilience to natural, technological and environmental disasters and to reduce associated environmental, human and economic and social losses. A range of United Nations organizations and international partners participate in cooperation with Governments and civil society organizations. In adopting ISDR, the United Nations General Assembly (Res/54/219) endorsed the establishment of an institutional framework for its implementation consisting of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction (IATF/DR) and the inter-agency secretariat (UN/ISDR secretariat).

The main functions of the secretariat are policy coordination, advocacy and information management, at the international and regional levels, to ensure synergy between disaster reduction strategies and those in the socio-economic and humanitarian fields.

In January 2005, the World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR, 18-22 January 2005, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan) took place and represents a landmark in worldwide understanding and commitment to implement a disaster risk reduction agenda. This commitment was captured in the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters - adopted at the WCDR.

The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) constitutes the essential guide for implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in the coming years and it constitutes an unprecedented conceptual shift that takes account of the complexity of action in disaster risk reduction and the large variety of actors whose inputs are required in the pursuit of this objective. It provides the basic concepts and prescribes an expected outcome; details three strategic goals for disaster risk reduction and a set of five priority areas for action; and assigns tasks to stakeholders at different operational levels to reach the expected outcome.

The Hyogo Framework’s first two strategic goals call for the “development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities to build resilience to hazards” and for an “integration of disaster risk reduction into sustainable development policies and planning”. To ensure sustained commitments, the prioritization of disaster risk reduction in national policies is identified as a key step to reduce disaster losses and build resilience. The first of the Hyogo Framework’s five Priorities of Action is to “ensure that disaster risk reduction (DRR) becomes a national and local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation”. It details a set of related key activities including among others, the establishment of institutional mechanisms for Disaster Risk Reduction (National Platforms) with designated responsibilities.

A National Platform for disaster risk reduction can be defined as a nationally led forum or committee of stakeholders able to serve as an advocate of DRR at different levels of engagement. It can provide coordination, analysis and advice on priority areas requiring concerted action through participatory processes and should strive to become a coordination mechanism for mainstreaming DRR into development policies, planning and programmes. National Platforms or other similarly conceived “national coordination mechanisms” are currently evolving to meet the needs of individual countries. At present, 40 countries have informed the UN/ISDR secretariat of their National Platforms, with 20 situated in Africa. The UN/ISDR secretariat has published Guidelines for National Platforms for DRR and “Words into Action” to provide reference for National Platform’s work in implementing the HFA.

Following requests by national governments, the UN/ISDR secretariat intends to further support national authorities on strengthening existing and future National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction. A key activity is the compilation of a comprehensive hands-on, step by step manual, which will serve as a capacity development tool for existing and new National Platforms. The tool will serve as a generic training instrument and help NP in fulfilling their role. It is planned to be finalised in early 2008 for discussion at the Second Consultative meeting of National Platforms and Hyogo Framework Focal Points.

In an effort to prepare this toolkit, which is an integral part of the UN/ISDR secretariat’s contribution to National Platforms, the Advocacy and Outreach Unit will require immediate assistance in developing and managing an information database, and contributing to basic online research and analysis.

Organizational setting and reporting relationships: 

The position is located in the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) in Geneva, Switzerland under the overall guidance of the Director. The Intern will report to the Senior Coordinator of the Advocacy and Outreach Unit and work in close collaboration with the Programme Officer for National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Duties and responsibilities:

Information Management
• Develop a consistent electronic and ‘hard copy’ library system of materials susceptible to serve the National Platform Toolkit. Documents in English, French and possibly Spanish or other national languages are primarily targeted.
• Maintain and continually update the related information files/ folders, in order to compile and organize all literature, reports, analyses and other documents
• Assist in updating information on National Platforms on the UN/ISDR secretariat’s NP web space – as and when relevant.
• Assist in providing information to internal and external stakeholders on the Toolkit project.

Research and literature reviews:
• Perform internet based research for possible source material and literature relevant for major activities expected to be carried out by National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction or otherwise referred to in the Hyogo Framework for Action.
• Access UN and possibly other libraries for in depth reviews of grey literature – and other sources identified as crucial to help in implementing the Toolkit project. This activity may involve selected travel to meet with project partners.

Aob:
This may include a contribution to the documentation of National Platform good practices.


Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

Staff at all levels within UN/ISDR as well as partners in the ISDR system: Representatives of National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction and Hyogo Framework for Action Focal Points; representatives of other UN agencies and other UN specialized agencies; non-governmental organization representatives; international and regional organizations, international financial institutions, and research institutes.

Results expected:

1. Develop an easy to access library/database of information relevant to the Toolkit projects major components of work, as described above.
2. Briefing notes, PPTs, issue papers, web flyers with information on the Toolkit project that can be uploaded regularly onto the ISDR web space.
3. Annotated bibliography of literature reviewed from web and library searches
4. Analysis of collected material in terms of its usefulness for the Toolkit.


Competencies:

Professionalism – Good academic and analytical skills. Judgment - Demonstrated sound judgment in applying expertise to resolve a range of issues/problems. Communications – ability to draft clearly and concisely, very good language skills. Planning & Organizing - Ability to organize, plan and implement work assignments. Teamwork - Good interpersonal skills, works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals, ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with different national and cultural backgrounds with sensitivity with respect for diversity.


Qualifications:

Education: Applicants must be currently enrolled in post graduate studies: in Disaster Management, Environmental Science, Agriculture, Ecology, Environmental Law, Development, International Relations, Economics or a similar field.

Experience: Working knowledge and familiarity with international and national development agencies is preferred, though not mandatory. Prior knowledge or experience in operational disaster or development contexts – local, national or international is preferred.

Language: Fluency in written and spoken English and French; fluency in Spanish, Portuguese or German is another plus.

Other desirable skills: Good skills in basic computer usage, including internet searches. In particular, good working knowledge of MS Office-Word, Excel, Power Point, Intra-Internet, e-mail applications etc. Knowledge of other applications such as Front Page, Publisher and some multimedia tools would be useful though not mandatory.


General Information and Conditions Governing Ad Hoc Internships at the United Nations Office at Geneva with UN/ISDR:

1. With the exception of the 2½-week “Graduate Study Programme”1 conducted yearly in July/August by the United Nations Information Service for an international group of outstanding young graduate students, the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) undertakes no formal obligation to provide internships or training. It may occasionally arrange ad hoc internships for graduate students specializing in a field related to the work of the United Nations. These internships are intended:

a) to promote among the participants a better understanding of international problems and to provide them an insight into the work of the United Nations; and
b) to provide departments with the able assistance of outstanding young students specializing in a field related to their own work.

2. Interns are selected from among applicants strongly supported by their schools or nominated by the Permanent Missions to the United Nations and in whom a department or office has expressed interest.

3. Interns are not paid. Acquisition of necessary visas, travel costs, travel arrangements and living accommodations are the responsibility of the interns or their sponsoring institutions.

4.The United Nations accepts no responsibility for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during an internship; the intern therefore has to have health-insurance coverage (obligation to submit a certificate of insurance policy valid in Switzerland).

5.While working at UN/ISDRG, the interns are not considered in any respect as officials or staff members of the United Nations. However, they are normally expected to work full time like regular staff members and to carry out the duties assigned to them. They are bound by the same duties and obligations as regular staff members; they must, in particular, keep confidential any and all unpublished information obtained by them during the course of the internship and not publish any reports or papers on the basis of such information except with the express authorization of the United Nations.

Any work produced by interns during their internship within the framework of the duties assigned to them should be used for academic purposes exclusively. All economic and moral rights (copyright) pertaining to such work will remain the exclusive property of the United Nations.

6.Internships carry no expectancy of employment by the United Nations and the intern cannot apply for or be appointed to any position with the United Nations during the period of internship and for the six months immediately following the expiration of the internship.

7.The intern will provide notice in case of illness or other unavoidable circumstances, which might prevent him or her from completing the internship.