Internship (Humanitarian Affairs) at United Nations

Employer: UN Jobs
The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is the UN Secretariat department responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to complex emergencies and natural disasters. OCHA also ensures that there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.

The Partnerships and Resources Mobilization Branch (PRMB) coordinates and supports OCHA’s institutional and strategic partnerships with three sets of partners: (i) Member States, (ii) regional and inter-governmental bodies, and (iii) the private sector.

Working in close cooperation with relevant branches at Headquarters (HQ) and with OCHA field offices, PRMB ensures focus and coherence in OCHA’s existing and future partnership initiatives and is the custodian of OCHA’s corporate partnership strategies with these three sets of partners.

Located within PRMB, the Private Sector Section (PSS) develops and drives implementation of OCHA’s private sector strategy, focusing on using business innovation to improve humanitarian action and preparedness.

PSS also supports, prioritizes and coordinates private sector partnerships maintained across OCHA by: supporting OCHA’s engagement in private sector network(s), platforms and events in support of agreed goals; acting as OCHA focal point for World Economic Forum (WEF), UN Foundation (UNF), UN Global Compact (UNGC), UN Business Partnership Mechanism; interfacing with Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) on private sector Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).

OCHA’s Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) provides support and services to United Nations Country Teams (UNCT) in 15 countries: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

OCHA ROSA’s work relates to providing both humanitarian partners and the general public with accurate, relevant and current information on the humanitarian situation in the region.

This includes proving updates to partners on new and on-going emergencies, supporting UNCTs in issuing Situation Reports on various issues, and providing OCHA HQ with the latest information to inform decision making.

This internship will be located in the OCHA ROSA based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the intern will be under the general guidance of the Humanitarian Affairs Officer with a direct reporting line to PSS/ PRMB.
This internship is being offered for a combined maximum period of six months with an estimated starting date before 01 March 2015.

 

Responsibilities

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background, duties may include but are not limited to: researching private sector activities in the region as it concerns emergency preparedness and response and highlighting opportunities to increase and/ or improve humanitarian partnerships with the private sector; supporting preparations for and participating in the Regional Business Consultations in preparation for the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in 2016; proposing research related to the areas mentioned above, to be developed in consultation with supervisor during the first weeks; conducting research on how business can and should engage in humanitarian action in aim of producing advice on advocacy strategies for engagement; assisting with the identification of potential business partner champions; assisting in the drafting of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents etc.; developing and maintaining reference/ resource information on specific topics or policy related issues; contributing and responding to various inquiries and information requests internally and externally; assisting in the organization of meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops, and other fora with other agencies and partners to facilitate exchanges of professional expertise and views on related subjects/ issues, serving as reporter to such events; liaising with OCHA staff at HQ and at the field-level and other relevant partners to gather and disseminate information about private sector partnerships and the OCHA private sector partnership strategy; accompanying the supervisor to meetings with partners, UN agencies and take notes; and performing tasks as requested by supervisor, as appropriate.

 

How to Apply

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Apply before Sunday, March 8, 2015Companies may expire jobs at their own discretion.