Urban Law Intern (Multiple Positions)

About the role

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is looking for Urban Law interns in Nairobi, Kenya, working in a hybrid setting for about six months. The intern works under the direct supervision of the Legal Specialist of the Policy and Legislation Section, which supports policies, legislation, urban-rural linkages and metropolitan management for sustainable urban development.

Key responsibilities

• Research and study urban law topics such as urban planning law, housing law, public participation and climate-smart urban planning legislation.
• Provide backstopping support to ongoing and upcoming projects and help overcome implementation challenges.
• Analyze and present data from diverse sources and contribute to background papers, reports, studies and publications on housing, land and property rights, urban law assessments and land law.
• Maintain the UrbanLex database and apply the Section's toolkits, improving them with feedback and new ideas.
• Help create website communication materials and organize expert group meetings, consultative sessions, conferences and outreach events.
• Produce a personal project aligned with the Section's goals and carry out other duties as required.

Required profile

• Student in the final year of a bachelor's, master's or PhD programme, or a graduate with a bachelor's, master's or PhD; applicants need not have professional work experience.
• Experience researching urban law on topics such as urban planning, land, climate change and housing, and reviewing and analysing legal documents.
• Desirable: experience organizing events or supporting outreach activities.
• Fluency in oral and written English; knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
• Interest in the work of the United Nations and tolerance of different cultural backgrounds and views.

Required skills

• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Preferred fields of study: law, international relations or diplomacy.

Interns are not paid by the United Nations; travel, visa, accommodation and living costs are the intern's or their sponsor's responsibility. The UN does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.