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 Urban Basic Services Section, UN-Habitat, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

Urban environments continue to grow at unprecedented rates. Two-thirds of the global population, or six billion people, will live in cities by 2050. While they are economic powerhouses and present unprecedented social, economic, cultural and educational opportunities, unsustainable urban development puts enormous pressure on the provision of basic services to citizens, especially mobility, sanitation, water, solid waste management and energy. UN-Habitat, as a custodian of the ‘urban’ Sustainable Development Goal 11, is mandated to contribute to the creation of sustainable and inclusive human settlements, striving for better quality of life for all in an urbanizing world. Within this ambitious mission, UN-Habitat’s Urban Basic Services Section focuses on the provision of essential services to urban residents, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable groups who are at risk of being left behind – children, women, the elderly, indigenous groups, people with disabilities and the urban poor.

Within UN-Habitat’s Urban Basic Services Section, the Urban Mobility team works on diverse projects striving towards achieving sustainable mobility in urban environments. This is especially relevant in a rapidly urbanizing world, where the response to increased demand for access to economic
opportunities and vital services is often car-based urban development, tailored to and encouraging private car ownership, and a rapid increase in the global two- and three-wheeler fleet. The impacts of this approach are concerning: transport-based emissions make up a quarter of global carbon dioxide
emissions, traffic-related accidents are the leading cause of mortality among young people, and congestion results in a significant loss of national and local GDPs.

There is thus an urgent need for a shift towards sustainable, accessible and efficient mobility in cities. The urban mobility team works towards this aim. Its broad portfolio includes developing roadmaps for sustainable urban mobility, for example, in Tanzania; initiating the transition to low-carbon urban
mobility through the SOLUTIONS plus project in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in Europe; and the Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) objective is to mitigate climate change while improving access to sustainable energy under affordable and reliable conditions. The team supports building the capacity of local and national authorities to stimulate sustainable urban mobility and, through its projects around the globe, significantly contributes to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals in line with the New Urban Agenda, with a focus on leaving no-one behind.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Electric Mobility internship is for six (6) months.

the Internship will either be on-site or remote.

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.

UN-Habitat's Urban Basic Services Section is seeking a motivated and passionate Electric Mobility Intern to join our team in developing electric mobility roadmaps and feasibility studies. The selected intern will have a vital role in conducting research, collecting data and analyzing information related
to sustainable transport and light electric vehicles for deliveries in Tanzania. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to ongoing international cooperation projects and gain practical experience in sustainable mobility solutions that can contribute to implementing the New Urban Agenda, Paris
Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer, the intern will:
- Conduct research on electric mobility with a focus on light electric vehicles and electric buses in East Africa,
- Desk research on market trends, stakeholders, regulations, or infrastructure relevant to the assessment of the urban logistics such as electric bicycles in Dar es Salaam.
- Assist with data collection, including conducting interviews and surveys with relevant stakeholders.
- Provide technical support to ongoing urban mobility initiatives in project cities.
- Collaborate with the team to develop policy and technology roadmaps and feasibility studies for the adoption of electric mobility to contribute to ongoing projects such as SOLUTIONS plus and SESA in Africa.
- Preparing reports, presentations and other documents to communicate findings and recommendations.
- Support project personnel in managing the social media and outreach for the Electric Mobility Projects.
- Any other tasks as assigned related to urban mobility.

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. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

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. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

Applicants 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).

Have sound knowledge and understanding of theories and concepts of, and approaches to, sustainable urban mobility planning and design, combined with a demonstrated capacity for the in-depth analysis of context-specific urban mobility systems.

Have the ability to develop strong graphic materials, as well as illustrated proposals and substantive reports, and be computer literate in standard software applications.

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 Skills:
The intern must demonstrate the ability to carry out research and produce sound written and oral reports on topics related to urban issues, and sustainable mobility in particular.

Preferred areas of studies:
Urban Planning/Design, Transport Planning; Computer Science/Information Technology; Data Science; Environmental Science, Civil Engineering,
Mechanical Engineering; Innovation Management; Computer Science, Electrical Engineering Transport Geography, Urban Geography or any other related fields 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.

Knowledge of sustainable and/or electric mobility and sustainable energy is required. Please explain how you meet this criterion using examples.

Excellent skills in data collection, surveying and interviewing are desirable. Please explain how you meet this criterion using examples.

Languages

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

Assessment

Potential candidates will be contacted by hiring manager directly for further consideration.

Special Notice

Your application for this internship must include:
1. A completed application (Personal History Profile) and Cover Note, through the UN careers Portal. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Cover Note must include:

- Title of the degree you are currently pursuing
- Graduation Date
- IT skills and programmes you are proficient in
- Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship
- Portfolio of work (please add a link in the Cover Letter).

Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme, ensure to include all past work experience (if any).

2. Proof of enrollment from current University (if not graduated).

3. A copy of degree certificate (if you have already graduated).

The internship will either be remote or on-site.

Due to a high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.