POLITICAL AFFAIRS INTERN

Addis Ababa

6 months

Background: This position will support the Office of the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (OSE-HoA), based in Addis Ababa. The Office of the Special Envoy is mandated to promote peace and conflict prevention in the region, working closely with the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), under the UN-IGAD cooperation framework signed in Djibouti on 17 November 2015, and other regional organisations. Its core responsibilities include carrying out good offices, functions, and special assignments on behalf of the Secretary-General as required. The Office is tasked with implementing the Secretary-General's vision for prevention in the region through collaboration with UN and non-UN partners working on peace, security, governance, socio-economic development, and regional integration, and advancing action on climate, peace, and security. It also promotes a joined-up approach by facilitating coordination, information exchange, and initiatives related to Women, Peace and Security, Youth, Peace and Security, Climate, Peace and Security, and efforts to counter hate speech and disinformation. Under the direct supervision of the Principal Political Affairs Officer and with overall guidance of the Associate Political Affairs Officer, the intern will contribute to analysis, research, coordination and project management tasks related to OSE-Horn’s regional mandate on preventive diplomacy, mediation, and peacebuilding. Duties and Responsibilities: Within delegated authority, the intern will: • Monitor and analyze key political and security developments in the Horn of Africa region; •Assist in preparing background material, briefings, analytical notes, talking points and other correspondence for the Office; • Based on situation reports, press clippings, and media reports from the mission area, contribute to reporting and other products and activities of the Office; • Undertake social media monitoring on general issues and summarise key public and academic articles, correspondences relating to OSE-HoA’s files; • Assist in the preparation of communication materials, including presentations; • Participate in meetings and draft minutes/meeting summaries; • Carry out individual research assignments and contribute to briefing materials; • Perform duties related to the implementation of OSE-HoA projects and related administrative tasks. • Perform any other duties as required.

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's degree). Applicants must demonstrate: • Strong analytical and research skills, particularly in political science, international relations, environmental security, or communications; • Familiarity with the political and security landscape of the Horn of Africa; • Understanding of the relationship between climate change, conflict, and security. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; • Proficiency in standard software applications, particularly MS Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Excel. Knowledge of data visualisation tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Adobe InDesign) is an asset. No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advanced coursework, or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. The United Nations does not financially remunerate interns. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. For internships in the United States of America, interns who are not United States citizens, permanent residents, or not currently in the United States on a non-immigrant visa status will be required to obtain a G-4 visa. If already in the United States of America on another non-immigrant visa status other than G-4, interns will be responsible for ensuring that they have a valid visa and, if required, employment authorization, allowing them to undertake the internship. For internships outside the United States, interns who are not citizens of the country, permanent residents, or not currently in the country's non-immigrant visa status will be required to obtain a valid visa and work permit, allowing them to undertake the internship.

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.