Careers at United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Responsibilities

• Communication and Visibility Document activities and events under the Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery in Kenya (PLEAD) through high-quality photography, videography, and written reports.
• Design and develop promotional materials, including infographics, brochures, and digital content, to enhance the visibility and engagement of PLEAD initiatives.
• Draft and disseminate communication materials in accordance with PLEAD Communications Guidelines and UNODC visibility standards.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report on the effectiveness of communication efforts to ensure alignment with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) branding and outreach objectives.  

Internal Communication

• Prepare internal reports and updates using standardized templates and communication tools.
• Maintain a well-organized and up-to-date archive of communication materials for internal use and institutional memory.
• Support internal information flow by ensuring timely sharing of relevant updates within the PLEAD team and with key UNODC stakeholders.  

Stakeholder and Event Support

• Assist in the planning and coordination of events and meetings, including logistical support and preparation of background documents, presentations, speeches, and talking points.
• Develop briefing notes and materials for meetings with stakeholders, implementing partners, and representatives of other UN agencies. Document events and compile comprehensive post-event summaries and reports.

Substantive Contributions

• Assist in the preparation of analytical content, background papers, and knowledge products in support of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme.
• Contribute to the management of PLEAD’s social media presence by drafting, editing, and updating content to showcase programme milestones and achievements.

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: 

• be enrolled in, or have recently completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); 
• be enrolled in, or have recently completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent), preferably in a field related to communications or public information.  
• Be computer literate in standard software applications. 
• Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and  
• Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.  
• 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 recently completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme, preferably in a field related to communications or public information.  
• 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. 
• Applicants should have good knowledge of specialized software applications, such as MS Stream, Trello, Canva or similar. Ability to record and edit video content is required.

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This internship supports PLEAD Phase II (Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery), which focuses on:

• Strengthening the rule of law, access to justice, and accountability in Kenya's justice system. 
• Leveraging technology to improve justice delivery.
• Addressing systemic bottlenecks in service delivery. 
• Enhancing access to justice for marginalized groups while tackling corruption.    

Key Responsibilities 

• Under the overall supervision of the Head of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme and the direct supervision of the PLEAD Programme Manager, and in close technical collaboration with Associate Programme Officers, programme staff, and consultants within the Criminal Justice Programme in ROEA, the intern will be responsible for the following tasks:    

Substantive Support

• Assist in the implementation of programme and project initiatives focused on crime prevention and criminal justice. Conduct thorough research and analytical work on key topics related to crime prevention and criminal justice frameworks and practices.  

Programme Planning and Coordination 

• Contribute to the organization and execution of programme activities, including meetings, workshops, conferences, and training sessions.
• Prepare detailed reports, meeting minutes, and event summaries to document and support programme activities.  

Documentation and Presentation Development

• Assist in the preparation of background materials, presentations, talking points, and speeches for use in programme activities. Draft briefing notes and other supporting documentation for meetings and engagements with stakeholders, including UN agencies and partner organizations.  

Communications and Visibility

• Support the development, review, and maintenance of social media content to increase awareness and visibility of the programme’s work and impact.  

Administrative Support

• Provide assistance with procurement processes, including the drafting of terms of reference and preparation of related documentation.  

Other Duties

• Undertake additional tasks, as needed, to support the effective delivery and achievement of the programme’s objectives.

Qualifications/special skills
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: 

• be enrolled in, or have recently completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• be enrolled in, or have recently completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent), preferably in Law, Criminology, Political Science, or Criminal Justice.  
• Be computer literate in standard software applications;
• Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and  
• Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.
• 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 recently completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme, preferably in Law, Criminology, Political Science, or Criminal Justice.  
• 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. Applicants must have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint and MS Teams.