Work Location

Spain

Expected duration

6 (six) months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the agency for human settlements mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat helps the urban poor by transforming cities into safer and healthier places with better opportunities. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society and the private sector. As the main UN Agency responsible for ensuring the sustainable development of cities, towns, and other human settlements, UN-Habitat is strategically placed to coordinate the humanitarian and development efforts of multiple actors and policy makers at all levels in the common pursuit of urban resilience. UN-Habitat´s approach to strengthening urban resilience as a key determinant for ensuring the effectiveness of response interventions during times of crises, and sustainable development, is embodied in its City Resilience Global Programme (CRGP). The CRGP goes beyond conventional approaches to ´risk reduction´, delivering a forward-looking, multisectoral, multihazard, multi-stakeholder model for building resilience that recognizes the complexities and unique value of cities, and the inherent interdependencies of each part of an urban system. Fast growing cities and urban areas of the world are engines of growth and wealth accumulation. This growth can have positive social, cultural and educational impacts. On the other hand, evidence demonstrates that fast economic growth, combined with rapid sprawling population expansion in urban areas, also increases disaster vulnerability and exposure. The level of urbanization is far higher in the developed world, however, the annual ´urbanization rate´is much faster in the developing world. The primary urban agglomerations with the highest concentrations of people and economic activity mostly overlap with the areas of extreme or high risk related to disasters such as coastal areas, along rivers and in flood plains. This joint initiative with UNDRR (UN Office on Disaster Risk Reduction), UN-Habitat and the European Commission aims at improving understanding of, and capacity to, address disaster risk at the local level in crisis-prone cities. UN-Habitat will focus on supporting local capacities from crisis-prone cities, and humanitarian partners, in measuring their resilience status and have an action plan in order to build resilience. The action builds on the achievements of the Hyogo Framework for Action – Building the Resilience of Nations 2005 – 2015 and paves the way toward the implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction) 2015 – 2030 at the local level and the New Urban Agenda adopted at Habitat III in Quito, Ecuador October 2016. The Action will also contribute to the European Commission´s Action Plan for Resilience in Crisis Prone Countries 2013-2020 and the EU Approach to Resilience: Learning from Food Security Crises. The project will work with local government institutions, to plan, coordinate, implement and support the various outlined activities. The primary and most direct beneficiaries will be local stakeholders, city authorities and civil society. Women, children and other at-risk groups, often disproportionately affected by crisis situations, will be engaged and receive additional attention. MAIN OBJECTIVE The overall objective of this project is to build more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient cities, by strengthening the capacity of key public, private and civil society stakeholders to measure, make decisions, plan and develop actions for building resilience to ensure that public and private investments are risk-informed and that early interventions in crisis-prone cities are linked to longer-term development goals in line with the actions of the New Urban Agenda. This joint initiative aims at improving local government and stakeholder understanding of, and capacity for, developing and implementing resilience action plans. Under the direct supervision of the Head of the City Resilience Global Programme (CRGP) and the supporting supervision of the Partnership and Advocacy Expert, the intern will: • Assist in the management of online communication efforts including social media, campaign, website posting and advocacy work; • Assist in conceptualisation of communication products such as videos, flyers, social media posts, campaigns and targeted outreach action; • Assist in the planning of online and face-to-face events with partner cities and international partners; • Support activities that support the outreach and partnership objectives of the City Resilience Global Programme; • Undertake any other tasks for the Programme, which are in line with the experience of the intern.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree in journalism, communication, public relations or related fields. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of experience in communication will also be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. The candidate should have an interest in urban development and international relations and basic knowledge of communication activities in an international environment. Understanding of disaster risk reduction, climate action, and/or sustainable development are an asset. For this opening, we are looking for candidates fluent in English, knowledge of Spanish or any other UN languages are an asset. Work experience in communication, an interest in urban development and basic knowledge of communication activities in an international environment. Understanding of disaster risk reduction, climate action, and/or sustainable development would be an asset

Languages

Fluency in English is required for the position, good knowledge of Spanish would be an advantage

Additional Information

Not available.

Intern Specific text

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.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.