UN-HABITAT Intern - Urban Law and Governance - Temporary Jobs in Kenya

UN-HABITAT Intern - Urban Law and Governance - Temporary Jobs in Kenya

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.

For close to forty years, UN-Habitat has been working in human settlements throughout the world, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. The position is in the Policy, Legislation and Governance Section, Urban Practices Branch, UN-Habitat, Nairobi, Kenya.

This Section works on Policies, Legislation and Governance for sustainable urban development. The Section plays a critical role in implementing the relevant UN-Habitat Assembly resolutions, the relevant Sustainable Development Goals, and the New Urban Agenda. Legislation and governance are two of the 4 drivers of change identified in the UN-Habitat Strategic Plan (2020-2023).

The drivers are required to deliver services and products that will lead to change or drive results and will ultimately result in the achievement of the objectives of the Strategic Plan. On legislation, the Plan calls for clear and transparent legal frameworks for urban development to further establish appropriate rules and regulation systems that respond to real needs, actual capacity, and available resources.

These can provide solid, forward-looking frameworks to guide urban development, based on accountability, the rule of law and clear implementation mechanisms, which can be continuously enforced as part of efforts to harness the transformative force of urbanization.

UN-Habitat will promote relevant legislation which are based on equity considerations that leave no one and no area behind as well as foster gender equality, which in turn reduces poverty and enhances shared prosperity; and appropriate building and urban regulations, designed to strengthen climate action and improved urban environment, and to address effective urban crisis prevention and response.

The Strategic Plan also recognizes the importance of effective urban governance in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. It draws attention to the need for multi-level governance; decentralization; accountability and transparency; and inclusivity, participation, and promotion of human rights in cities and human settlements.

It also highlights the role of capacity building in effective governance systems by tasking UN-Habitat with assisting local governments to effectively capture domestic revenue, improve fiscal decentralization, manage urban displacement, and utilize frontier technologies.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Urban Law and Governance internship is for six (6) months.

The Internship is UNPAID and full-time.

Interns work five days per week under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned.

Responsibilities

Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual's background, the intern's assigned office as well as the internship period.

Under the direct supervision of the Human Settlement Officer (PLGS), the intern will:

Assist in carrying out research and studies on various urban law and governance topics such as urban planning law, housing law, public participation and climate smart urban planning legislation.

Provide backstopping support to ongoing and pipeline projects such as the Urban Development and Management Law for Vietnam; Review of the Town Planning Code in Comoros, Greater Amman, Jordan Planning Law Project, etc.

Analyze and present the data gathered from diverse sources.

Contribute to written outputs and other draft background papers, reports and studies and inputs to publications such as the housing, land and property rights: urban law assessment and the land law assessment report.

Assist in the population

and maintaining of UrbanLex database.

Review and produce summaries on existing courses in urban law to support the Section’s effort to produce training packages on urban law for local authorities such as the upcoming capacity development training module on law and climate change.

Assist with the production of communication materials and updates for the Section’s websites.

Assist in organizing expert group meetings, consultative and other meetings and conferences, support outreach activities.

Any other duties as may be required.

Competencies

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position.

Client orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems.

Education

Applicants must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:

Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher).

Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent).

Have graduated with Bachelor's degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent.

Be computer literate in standard software applications (Microsoft Office).

Have demonstrated a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter.

Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes a willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

Preferred areas of studies:

Law, Governance, International Diplomacy or any other related field of study.

Work Experience

No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

Experience in carrying out research on urban law /governance related to the thematic areas of urban planning, land, climate change, housing, among others, is required.

Knowledge in reviewing and analyzing legal texts is desirable.

Experience in organizing expert group meetings, consultative and other meetings and conferences or supporting outreach activities is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; UN-HABITAT Intern - Urban Law and Governance - Temporary Jobs in Kenya

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