United States of America: Internship opportunity at UNRWA Representative Office in New York

Internship opportunity at UNRWA Representative Office in
New York
Terms of Reference
About the internship
Interns will contribute to UNRWA's inter-agency, non-governmental and donor liaison tasks, as well as public information work, and provide other support as needed.
The internship provides a valuable opportunity to familiarize yourself with substantive humanitarian and development policy issues and with the UN system. The intern will be responsible for assisting with the smooth functioning of the New York Representative Office. Task include, but are not limited to:
• Tracking international media coverage of issues related to UNRWA and the Middle East;
• Attending hearings, briefings and other special events at the UN and within the broader NGO community and drafting reports for UNRWA HQ;
• Supporting the drafting, preparation and presentation of materials required for briefings to UN, the media and other governmental and non-governmental agencies in New York;
• Supporting efforts to build and sustain partnerships with international organizations headquartered in the US, the private sector, national and local non-profit institutions, amongst others;
• Data and document management;
• Assisting in partnership and donor outreach;
• Researching general issues related to the intersection between the United Nations and UNRWA’s operation in the Middle East;
• Assisting with arranging visits to New York by senior UNRWA officials;
• Assisting with the effective administrative management of UNRWA’s Representative Office in New York.
Qualifications and experience
Preference will be given to students in graduate school, with major area of study in international relations, political science, communications, law or related field. Past experience in a professional office environment is an asset. Preference is given to students who can work full-time.
• Positive attitude and strong analytical, interpersonal and communication skills;
• Proven ability to exercise the initiative and resourcefulness necessary for simultaneously pursuing multiple tasks and achieving positive outcomes;
• Sound appreciation of regional context and strong general understanding of UN, as well as genuine commitment to advocacy for the humanitarian positions that underpin UNRWA’s mission;
• Excellent communication skills in spoken and written English, ability to draft and edit a variety of texts, and ability to articulate positions in a clear and concise manner;
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with people of diverse backgrounds, culture and nationalities;
• Sound judgment on political, media and diplomatic matters:
• Professional discretion and rigorous respect for confidentiality.
Duration
Internships last from 3 to a maximum of 6 months. Longer internships are preferred. The positions are available on full-time basis.
Expenses
UNRWA will not be responsible for costs of travel, accommodation, or any
other costs related to the placement. All costs connected with an intern’s participation
must be borne by the intern, including arrangements for travel (including to and from the office), visas, accommodation, etc.
Insurance
As part of acceptance of his/her Agreement, participants must prove to the satisfaction of the Agency that they have adequate medical and accident insurance coverage prior to commencing the placement.
Visa
Interns will be solely responsible to secure visas.
Subsequent employment
The purpose of the internship program is not to lead to
further employment with UNRWA but to complement an intern's studies.
Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship. Interns are eligible to apply as external candidates for UNRWA staff vacancies in accordance with normal selection procedures.
Application
Please send a CV and a cover letter outlining your motivation to newyorkoffice@unrwa.org.
About UNRWA
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5.5 million Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA across its five fields of operation. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. UNRWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN Member States.
For more info, visit www.unrwa.org

Application
Please send a CV and a cover letter outlining your motivation to newyorkoffice@unrwa.org.