Work Location

Full time, in person

Expected duration

May 2026-August 2026

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations in Tajikistan, comprising 23 UN entities, supports the Republic of Tajikistan to achieve its national priorities reflected in the National Development Strategy 2016-2030 aligned with SDGs. In 2023, the UN and the Government of Tajikistan launched a Joint Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2023-2026 (UNSDCF) to help the country in addressing its development needs. The UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) leads the UN Country Team (UNCT) and ensures the UNs coherent and coordinated support through the implementation of the UNSDCF 2023-2026. To respond, the UNSDCF is focused on reaching vulnerable groups to ensure they are not left behind. UNSDCF results will be achieved in broad partnership with civil society organizations (CSOs) and volunteer groups, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the human rights institutions, academia, media, the private sector, and international partners. The Government of Republic of Tajikistan and the UN system have mutual accountability for the achievement of UNSDCF results. The UN Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO) in Tajikistan supports the work of the UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) to coordinate activities of the UNCT in its engagement with the Government, development partners and other stakeholders. The UNRC leads and strategically positions the UNCT in Tajikistan to respond to the current national priorities through the Cooperation Framework and across the humanitarian, development and peace nexus. The UNRCO includes capacities for strategic planning, economic analysis, partnerships and development finance, data management and results reporting, as well as communications and advocacy. Apart from these five functions, the UNRCO has the expertise on disability inclusion and private sector development. UNRCO will be engaging a qualified intern for three months, who will contribute with an analytical support for the UNRC and the UNCT, to inform the development of possible entry-points for conflict prevention and/or social cohesion programming and mainstreaming, which could in turn strengthen the capacity of agencies to support programmes and policies to prevent conflicts and political risks. Under the direct supervision of the Head of UNRCO Tajikistan and with guidance from the UNRC, and in collaboration with UNRCO team members, the intern will support the UNRC and UNCT in their efforts to work with national partners on conflict prevention and social cohesion. Specific tasks envisaged are:

• Engage with UN agencies, development partners, civil society actors in understanding the political and socio-economic developments and conflict dynamics and identify appropriate entry points for conflict prevention, security and sustaining peace;
• Liaise with academia and think tanks in research and analyses on social cohesion and conflict-related themes, including including on the nexus of climate change, peace and security;
• Support UNRCO in engaging with the UN-IFI Surge Advisory Team member and support the scoping, assessment and design of social cohesion and conflict prevention initiatives for Tajik border communities (on the border with the Kyrgyz Republic);
• Support RCO in engaging with Climate Security Mechanism and relevant UN agencies with the expertise in the county team, to explore support and collaboration on analysis, advocacy and capacity development, with focus on border communities;
• Identify opportunities and suggest potential actions to build national and local capacities for conflict prevention and/or social cohesion.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:(a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelors degree or equivalent). 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), Masters or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelors, Masters 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.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Russian is an advantage.

Additional Information

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Russian is an advantage.

Intern Specific text

Interns 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 Fee

THE 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.