Internship (Information Management). ISDR. Open until the 10th of February

Internship (Information Management)

Closing date:10 February 2010
Source:United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Secretariat (UNISDR)Location:Geneva, Switzerland

Job description


Readvertisement ISDR/I/04/2009 and extended from 9/10/2009 to 10/02/2010

Vacancy number: ISDR/I/01/2010

Background

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, economic and social risk and losses. A range of United Nations organizations and international partners participate in cooperation with Governments and civil society organizations.
The implementation of the ISDR is supported by a secretariat lead by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction. The secretariat’s main functions 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 adopted the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. The Hyogo Framework constitutes the essential guide for implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and represents the key policy framework for reducing risk and to strengthen community resilience. The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, established by the UN General Assembly in 2006, is the main global policy forum for disaster risk reduction, and is complemented by a system of regional, thematic and national platforms, which bring together all relevant stakeholders.

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 Programme Officer of the Information Management Unit and work under the guidance of the PreventionWeb Managing Editor.


Duties and responsibilities

-Enter documents in the PreventionWeb database (document identification, selection of keywords and writing of abstracts in English);
-Perform Internet-based research of disaster reduction related publication and information sources;
-Perform Internet-based research on specific countries, themes and hazards in order to update and extend the coverage of the PreventionWeb country and region, thematic and hazard background sections;
-Assist in coordinating and editing interviews with experts working in disaster risk reduction;
-Undertake quality control of information as necessary, including analysis of gaps;
-Support, and participate to, other information-related tasks.

Results expected

-Expansion of the online library of qualified disaster risk reduction related publication and information sources;
-Contribution to the ongoing development of PreventionWeb publishing policy guidelines inclusive of good practices in application of metadata and selection of content;
-Contribution to the ongoing development of a PreventionWeb style guide;
-Continuous learning and contribution on the subject of disaster risk reduction within the application of good information management practices.

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 with experience in Information Management or Communications and one of the following: Disaster Management, Environmental Science, Environmental Law, Ecology, Development, International Relations, Economics, or a similar field strongly preferred.

Experience

-Prior knowledge or experience in information management in an editorial capacity strongly preferred. Working knowledge and familiarity with international and national development agencies is preferred, though not mandatory.

Language

-Fluency in written and spoken English.
-Knowledge of other UN languages a plus.

Other desirable skills

-Strong computing skills: knowledge of basic HTML and photo, audio or video editing a plus.
-Interest in disaster risk reduction issues.




Contract type


Date of entry: 1 March 2010

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:

-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
-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/ISDR, 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.




How to apply

Please email the following documents here:
isdr.vacancies@un.org

Including

1.Cover letter, explaining why you consider yourself qualified and motivated for this particular position.
2.Completed P-11 Form.

It would be appreciated your stating your full name and the ISDR intern vacancy notice number (ISDR/I/04/2009) as the subject in your e-mail of application.