Intern - Tools and Methodology Development

Work LocationIn-person, Nairobi, Kenya Expected duration6 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesOrg. Setting and Reporting The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. During the second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly in June 2023, Member States endorsed the Resolution on Localizing the SDGs mandating UN-Habitat to strengthen the capacities of local and national governments on SDG data, planning and reporting as well as on multilevel governance for SDG localization. UN-Habitat’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan also identifies Participatory Multilevel Governance and SDG Localization as one of the five Means of Implementation to deliver on the corporate strategic focus on adequate housing, land, and basic services for all, and the transformation of informal settlements and slums. The position is located in UN-Habitat’s SDG Cities and MLG Unit, part of the SDG Localization and Governance Section, within the Global Solutions Division (GSD). The Global Solutions Division is responsible for providing programmatic direction for UN-Habitat and is responsible and accountable for the programmatic delivery of the Strategic Plan. The Division leads the development of tools and methodologies and the integration of various substantive competencies to effectively deliver the Strategic Plan and the mandate of UN-Habitat. It provides substantive training and supports capacity development of Member States and partners. The Global Solutions Division hosts the Local 2030 Coalition’s Secretariat and coordinates UN-Habitat’s work on SDG Localization through the SDG Cities and MLG Unit. UN-Habitat’s SDG Cities and MLG Unit works under the umbrella of the Local2030 Coalition and coordinates UN-Habitat’s corporate offering and global portfolio on SDG Localization, including the SDG Cities Global Initiative (Flagship 5). The SDG Cities Initiative supports cities in creating integrated solutions that drive progress across multiple SDGs, ensuring cohesive and scalable urban development addressing challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. It does so by leveraging the potential of data for evidence-based decision-making, fostering cities’ access to finance, while building their overall institutional capacities. Building on the Agency’s operational capacities and technical leadership, the SDG Cities and MLG Unit coordinates UN-Habitat’s delivery across three levels: 1) advancing city-level transformation through SDG Cities; 2) supporting national governments to develop National SDG Localization Frameworks, through the Partnership Platform on Localizing the SDGs; 3) advancing the global dialogue on SDG Localization through the SDG Cities Global Community and direct engagement within the main UN fora. UN-Habitat's vision on SDG Localization aims to impact the lives of 1 billion people by promoting transformative change in 50 countries and 1000 cities. The intern will be placed within the SDG Cities and MLG Unit, specifically supporting the Tools & Methodology Development workstream. This area is responsible for developing, refining, and operationalizing tools, frameworks, and methodological guidance that support Member States, cities, and local governments in SDG localization, multilevel governance, monitoring, and planning. The intern will work under the overall guidance of the Coordinator of the SDG Cities and Multilevel Governance Unit and their supervisor, while also collaborating with tool developers, technical experts, urban planners, and country focal points who use these tools in field operations. Responsibilities • Support the refinement, testing, and structuring of SDG Localization tools and methodologies. • Assist in drafting methodological notes, user guides, and tool explanations. • Assist in consolidating feedback from city teams, experts, and country offices. • Conduct desk research on good practices, methodologies, and comparable tools used globally. • Assist in preparing content and structural inputs for tool digitalization. • Contribute to interface planning, content formatting, and data structuring for online platforms. • Support coordination with designers and digital teams on tool representation. • Support organization of consultations, validation workshops, or technical sessions. • Assist in developing presentations, briefing materials, and structured summaries. • Perform other related tasks as assigned by the supervisor. Qualifications/special skillsApplicants must at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements: a. Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher), b. Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent), c. Have graduated with Bachelor's degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent. Be computer literate in standard software applications (Microsoft Office Suite). 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 study: Undergraduate (final year) or Graduate (Master/PhD) in one of: Urban/Regional Planning, Public Policy, Development Studies, Data Science / Information Systems, Environmental Studies, Political Science, Project Management, Research Methods / Monitoring & Evaluation or, any related field relevant to SDG localization, governance, or tool development. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Ph.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage. Proficiency in computer software applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required. Describe a time you contributed to developing a tool, framework, or research-based methodology. What steps did you take to structure information and validate it? Do you have experience in digitalizing tools and/or programming and coding? LanguagesEnglish 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 UN language is desirable. Additional InformationDo you have any previous UN internship experience? If yes, please indicate the UN entity and the specific dates. Intern Specific textInterns 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 FeeTHE 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.