The Office of the Ombudsman for United Nations Funds and Programmes (the “Office”) is established as an informal pillar of the system of administration of justice within the United Nations to make available the services of impartial and independent body to address work-related issues of staff members and non-staff personnel of the UN Funds and Programmes (UNDP, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNFPA, and UN Women).

The Office has created training courses via e-learning methodologies. Additional online, fully automated training programmes will be available in 2021, as part of a demand-driven plan to create within the Office a new unit devoted entirely to training. The Office is also in a unique position to convene colleagues across the five organizations for training courses.

In this context, culture is a fundamental factor influencing our work, and particularly mediations. The Office seeks to understand the cultural barriers to the usage of mediation, identify implications and provide guidance to practitioners.

The Office is looking for an intern (Culture Mediation Statistics Intern) to support the mediation research consultant in carrying out the activities described below.

• Programming of online quantitative research tools such as SurveyMonkey or Alchemer for three internal studies.
• Assistance in evaluation and design of questions and questionnaire.
• Analysis and tabulations of survey results.

Subject matter

• Demonstrated understanding of statistical research methods
• Fluency with statistical tools and methods.  Clustering and MDS highly regarded, though likely not needed for the project.   
• Exceptional data visualization skills
• Interest in culture, anthropology, sociology and/or social psychology.

Professionalism

• Ability to keep matters confidential and exercise good discretion in using information.
• Conscientiousness in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Note that the applicant will be expected to contribute to the policing of timelines and deadlines by other collaborators.
• Applicant is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges and remains calm in stressful situations.
• Applicant is/can become familiar with Office software, actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office.
• Good interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from different national and cultural backgrounds to achieve organizational goals.
• Applicant 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.

Communication

• Ability to draft clearly and concisely, good written and oral language skills.
• Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication.
• Exceptional data visualization skills.

Planning and Organizing

• Ability to establish priorities, to coordinate one’s own work plan and meet deadlines.
• Applicant adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work.

To qualify for consideration the following conditions must be met:

1.     (a) Be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme in sociology, psychology or statistics (such as a master’s programme, or higher);

(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme sociology, psychology or statistics (such as bachelor’s degree or equivalent);

(c) Have recently graduated with a university degree in sociology, psychology or statistics (as defined in (a) and (b) above) and, if selected, must start the internship within one-year from graduation; or

(d) Be enrolled in a postgraduate professional traineeship program in sociology, psychology or statistics, and undertake the internship as part of this program.

Master’s degrees in cultural studies or statistics may be considered. 

2.     Experience conducting research is required.

3.     Applicant is/can become familiar with online quantitative research tools such as SurveyMonkey or Alchemer.

4.     A strong interest in the area of mediation, which could be demonstrated by education, training, or experience.

5.     Fluent written and spoken English is required.

Applications that do not meet the above requirements will not be considered.

* Stipend in the amount of US$1000 per month.