Sustainable Energy in Build Environment - Intern

Job Description

Work Location: In-person, Nairobi, Kenya

Expected Duration: 6 months

Duties and Responsibilities 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 towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system.

UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty.

It works towards the long-term goal of ensuring sustainable cities and communities as mandated by the Sustainable Development Goals framework (SDG 11). As such, there are targets and indicators developed to this effect as short term guidance to enable monitoring of progress towards the attainment of SDG11, while linking and contributing to other SDG goals such as:

• Affordable and clean energy
• Poverty Eradication
• SDG 7 with custodian mandate for access to basic services (SDG indicator 1.4.1) and land tenure security (SDG indicator 1.4.2) among others.

Lack of access to adequate, affordable, reliable, safe and environmentally sound energy is a severe constraint on sustainable development. Currently, 780 million people lack access to modern energy (electricity) to meet their basic needs. 2.4 billion people are without access to clean cooking fuels. Access to reliable energy improves productivity and wealth, as energy services are needed to pump water, to provide adequate sanitation, to improve basic infrastructure and services.

UN-Habitat’s Multifunctional Clean Energy Centres (MCECs) concept represents a comprehensive approach to tackling the multifaceted issues associated with inadequate access to water, sanitation, and modern energy in slums and informal settlements. These centers are designed to serve as integrated hubs for clean energy generation, distribution, and service delivery within urban communities, particularly those in low-income and informal settlements. They combine several urban basic services in one roof namely:

• Biogas and sanitation system connected to public toilets, washroom facilities, water kiosks and other basic services for the urban and peri-urban poor.

The assignment aims to provide technical support in the development of designs and drawings and implementation of the MCECs. This position is located at the UN-Habitat Headquarter in Nairobi, Kenya under the Global Solutions Division, Urban Practices Branch, Urban Basic Service Section (UBSS), and Urban Energy Solutions. UBSS is responsible for proposing urban basic service solutions (water, sanitation, energy, mobility, waste management, drainage services etc.) including normative, advocacy and operational activities. The intern will be supervised by the Lead of the Urban Energy Solution Team.

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

Under the overall supervision of the Lead, Urban Energy Solutions Team, the Incumbent shall assist in:

Project Development and Implementation:

• Assist in planning, designing and producing architectural design and drawings and master plan for energy and resource efficient mass housing, neighborhood development, mass housing, material recovery facilities (MRF), Multi-functional Energy Centre (MCEC), bus transit stations, etc.
• Assist in mainstreaming Urban Energy and Low-carbon Interventions into housing design and human settlement development and interventions;
• Provide support in mainstreaming urban energy and low carbon interventions into UN-Habitat programmes, projects, and activities by assisting in providing inputs on technical and policy issues related to urban energy solutions.

Knowledge Management and Outreach:

• Assist in documenting case studies on mass housing, energy-related practices and preparing publications and outreach material (including posters and exhibitions material), in support of ongoing training, leadership and policy development activities and assisting the team with external communication and social media activities.
• Assist in developing typologies and standards for energy efficient mass housing based on UN-Habitat’s 5 principles of sustainable urban development planning;

Resource Mobilization and Stakeholders Engagement:

• Draft project proposals and formulation of concept notes to be submitted to donors for consideration, respond to calls for submissions on energy and climate-related topics.
• Support stakeholder engagement to explore potential partners to identify synergies, explore available investment opportunities with partner organizations, donors, financing institutions, private sector, and development partners.

Research and Reporting:

• Conduct research and analysis to support the team’s efforts in improving and expanding the MCEC, MRF projects and enable development of appropriate business models applicable in different settings. This will involve gathering data, developing business models, studying best practices, and identifying innovative solutions in the field of clean energy, urban development, and sustainable neighborhood development.
• Generate periodic progress reports specifically for Mass housing, MRF and MCEC projects highlighting key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Undertake any other duties and responsibilities consistent with the incumbent’s expertise and that she/he can be reasonably expected to undertake.

Qualifications/Special Skills

Applicants must at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher),
• Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent),
• Have graduated with Bachelor’s degree, Masters, PhD or equivalent.

Be computer literate in standard software applications (Microsoft Office Suite).

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 areas of study: Architecture, Engineering, Urban and Regional Planning, Urban Development or related field.

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.

Experience in research, technical writing, knowledge management and project development is desirable.

Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in AutoCAD, 3D modeling software, and Adobe Suite (Illustrator and Photoshop) is desirable.

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 completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s 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.

Good knowledge of the subject Energy efficiency in building is required, please tell us what ideas do you have to promote advocacy of sustainable and energy efficient buildings?

Languages

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

Additional Information 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. In your Personal History Profile (PHP), be sure to include all past work experiences, IT Skills, and three references.
2. The Cover Note must include:
   • Title of the degree you are currently pursuing;
   • Graduation date;
   • IT and Design you are proficient in (proficiency in AutoCAD, 3D modeling software, MS Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and Adobe Suite (Illustrator and Photoshop) is desirable);
   • Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship and what you hope to gain from the internship.
   • Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme, ensure to include all past work experience (if any).
3. Proof of enrolment (if not graduated).
4. A certified copy of degree certificate (if you have already graduated).

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

Do you have any previous UN internship experience? If yes, please indicate the UN entity and the specific dates.

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.

Deadline : Feb 2, 2026