UN-HABITAT Student Internship Opportunities

Programme objectives

To provide current students with important practical experience which complements their field of study, which at the same time will be of benefit to the UN offices to which the intern is assigned.
To promote among the students a better understanding of major global problems confronting the world and to give them an insight into how the UN attempts to find solutions to these problems.
To expose the students to the UN and its policies and programmes and have them become ambassadors of good will.
To enable students from all parts of the world to exchange information during and after the internship so as to appreciate cultural diversity amongst different peoples and have them become ambassadors of peace and good will.

Current internship projects

Housing Practice: country experiences of designing and implementing affordable housing programmes
Global inventory of national housing policies and housing rights
Global slum upgrading and prevention documentation

All projects are based in Nairobi, Kenya at the UN-HABITAT headquarters.

Detailed information is available in attached Terms of Reference: Internship Opportunities 2011

Terms of Reference - HPS Internships 2011 (77 KB PDF)

Programme eligibility and selection criteria

Students wishing to participate in the programme through the University of Auckland/UN-HABITAT partnership must apply directly to the University of Auckland to be considered and must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

Be currently enrolled in their third or fourth full-time year of an undergraduate programme, or in a postgraduate programme at the University of Auckland, and will continue to be enrolled during the period of the internship.
Be willing to intern on a full-time basis spending five days a week for a period of THREE MONTHS and not exceeding SIX MONTHS.
Be in good overall academic standing with a minimum grade point average of B in the two most recent semesters of study.
Be able to demonstrate the relevance of the internship to the programme of study.
Be able to appropriately represent the University of Auckland as an ambassador.
Be able to demonstrate a good understanding of UN-HABITAT’s aims and objectives and show how these relate to the student’s personal and academic development.
Be selected and nominated by a Selection Committee of the University of Auckland’s International Committee.

Students may apply in future rounds if unsuccessful in any given round, but are only permitted to serve one internship with UN-HABITAT during their programme.

Accommodation and costs

Interns are fully responsible for their travel and accommodation arrangements but will be offered some assistance by UN-HABITAT through its’ intern network.

All successful applicants are expected to make their own arrangements for travel and living expenses during the internship period. The United Nations provides a nominal per diem.

Visas and Insurance

UN-HABITAT will support interns with visa arrangements. Interns must ensure they have appropriate travel and medical insurance during the period of the internship.

How to apply

Please print off the attached application form with the appropriate supporting information and submit it to Auckland Abroad by Friday 4 November 2011.

Once applications are received a Select Committee of International Committee will meet and candidates will be selected for nomination.

If a placement is subsequently offered by UN-HABITAT, an individual programme of work and assessment plan will be finalised and credit pre-approved by the faculty as appropriate. The timing of the internship will be confirmed in consultation with the department/faculty, the student and UN-HABITAT.