1. Careers in International Organizations
Career SMART Day II, MBA Programme
14 November 2014, Nice
Saba Imru
Executive Leadership Coach
LeadersToday, Geneva

2. Agenda International Organizations The UN System Where to start
Job profiles and recruitment possibilities
Employment conditions
Doing business with the UN

3. Why would you consider a career in an international organization?
Share with person next to you
Write your main ideas on a post-it notes / one idea per note

4. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Generally member state driven.
Hiring process and work conditions based on the UN Common System or similar.
United Nations – peace keeping, social progress, human rights
UN Specialized Agencies – technical, humanitarian, development
World Bank – eradicate poverty, no-interest loans, analysis research, development support
International Monetary Fund – monetary cooperation, exchange rate stability
World Trade Organization – trade negotiations, capacity building
International Atomic Energy Agency – atoms for peace
World Economic Forum – public/private cooperation, setting global agendas (industry members)

5. REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Member state or organization driven. Hiring processes and working conditions usually modelled on best civil service in the region, or on UN.
African Union
Arab League
European Union
European Broadcasting Union
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Organization of American States

6. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
40’000 worldwide, large and small
5000 affiliated with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Hiring processes and working conditions depend on laws of the country where they are located.

7. United nations system Policy and Law Development Humanitarian
Technical
Over 60 organisations
Over 83’000 staff members
Over 600 duty stations world-wide
193 Member States  International and Regional organizations  Civil Society (NGOs)  Private Sector

8. Organizations of the united nations system
FAO - Food and Agriculture
ICAO - Civil Aviation
IFAD – Agricultural Development
ILO - Labour
IMF - Monetary Fund
ITU – Telecommunications & ICT
UNESCO - Education
UNIDO – Industrial Development
UPU – Postal Union
WHO – World Health
WORLD BANK
WIPO – Intellectual Property
WMO - Meterology
WTO - Trade
UN Secretariat
UNOG – Geneva, UNON – Nairobi, UNOV – Vienna
ICJ – International Court of Justice
ECOSOC – Economic and Social Council
SC – Security Council
HR – Human Rights
OCHA – Humanitarian Affairs UN
Programmes and Funds
Economic
Commissions
Other Entities
Research Institutes
Specialized Agencies
ITC – International Trade
UNCTAD - Trade and Development
UNDP - Development Programme
UNEP - Environment
UNFPA - Population Fund
UN HABITAT – Human Settlement
UNICEF - Children's Fund 
UNHCR – High Commissioner for Refugees 
UNRWA – Relief
UN WOMEN – Gender and Women Affairs
WFP – World Food Programme
Video UN Agencies Geneva
UNICRI - Crime & Justice
UNIDIR - Disarmament  
UNITAR - Training
UNRISD - Social Development 
ECA - Africa
ECE – Europe
ECLAC – Latin America
ESCAP – Asia Pacific
ICC - International Computing Centre
UNAIDS - Programme on HIV/AIDS
UNU - United Nations University
UNV – United Nations Volunteers
Peacekeeping Operations & Missions

9. What the member states do
Who does what ?
What the member states do
What the staff do
Decide on the global agenda for peace, security and development
Security Council
Adopt international treaties
Governing bodies (eg. UN General Assembly or agency Councils) decide on mission, policy, budget, management
Elect top echelons
Implement the decisions of the governing bodies
Research
Development & Operations
Advisory roles
Functional roles
Expert roles

10. Where do you see yourself working?
In the field ?
At headquarters?
Humanitarian or development operations
Policy, research, management, functional

11. Employment profiles Functional roles needed in all organisations
Management, Finance, HR, Administration
ICT professionals (IT engineers, analysts, developers, network managers
Knowledge and information management
Project and programme management
International relations, policy analysts, legal affairs specialists
Communications, promotion, public relations, media
Marketing, sales, fundraising
Events and conference management, logistics
Translators, interpreters
Administrative support, secretarial , clerical
Technical experts according to the organisation’s mandate, e.g.
Telecommunications engineer (ITU)
Epidemiologist (WHO)
Agronomist (FAO)
Lawyer (WIPO, UNHCR)
Economist (UNCTAD)

12. Where to start ? 1. Learn about the organizations UN Websites locator
2. Look at the career options and types of jobs that are open
UN Careers and UN Jobs
3. Get involved
Participate to open meetings: e.g. UN Geneva Seminars ,
ITU Workshops & Seminars
Volunteer to local UN activities: e.g. World Heritage (UNESCO)
4. Contact your diplomatic mission to the UN
Permanent missions in Geneva in New York

13. Engaging with the united nations organizations
Not paid
Intern
Volunteer
Delegate
Paid
Employee
Consultant
Supplier of goods or services

14. Internships Generally not paid Some organizations pay a stipendium
Maximum 6 months
Some organization require a 6 month break after your internship, before you can get hired as an employee
General overview : UN Internship programme
Best to apply from organization’s website, e.g. ILO internships

15. Volunteering General volunteering UN volunteers
Some organizations provide volunteering opportunities for short periods or even single events
Look at your local UN agency for opportunities
It’s a great way of getting familiar with the organization
A UN programme the promotes volunteering worldwide
Offers volunteering opportunities for people with specific professional expertise
Usually in development, humanitarian and peace-keeping
Experience real work in the field
Contribute to real change

16. Delegates Member States Private Sector International organizations
Regional organizations
NGO’s
These entities often include external experts in their delegation
Delegates become familiar with the organization, gain visibility and build a strong network

17. Employment contracts and Categories
Types of contracts
Employee category
Short-term
Fixed-term (renewable)
Continuing or indefinite
Consultant agreement
Internship agreement
Elected
Director
Professional
General Services
Field Services
Consultant
Intern
Volunteer

18. Special programmes
Young Professionals Programme - recruitment initiative to bring in new talent through annual entrance examination.
The Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme provides young professionals pursuing a career in development with hands-on experience in multi-lateral technical co-operation. The programme is funded by donor countries.
The Associate Experts Programme - Candidates are young professionals with advanced university degree and limited professional experience. The programme is funded by donor countries.

19. Applying for a job Short-term and consultancy Fixed-term contrats
Send an open candidature
Or apply to be included in an Experts or Consultants Roster
Or apply for a temporary vacancy notice
Time scale: can be long or on very short-notice
Fixed-term contrats
Apply for a vacancy notice
Formal recruitment process with several committees, interviews and sometimes exams
Check if an examination is required
Time scale: 6 to 10 months

20. ONLINE CV All UN organizations have an online CV system
It takes a while to fill in so don’t leave it to the last minute
Make sure that the minimum requirements (languages, number of years of experience) are reflected in the online form
Attach or paste your letter of motivation
Include your references and check on them later if you are hired
Target your applications, avoid applying to everything
Once your profile is registered you can easily modify it if you apply to another vacancy (remember to update the letter of motivation)
Some organization share the candidate database

21. What would be your first step?
Getting into the UN system requires resolve and determination !
Given what we’ve discussed so far, where would you start ?

22. After you’ve applied
Patience, patience, patience…. Response time can be long ! For open candidatures contact the organization after 2-3 weeks to ask if there are any temporary openings that have come up For fixed-term jobs, contact the organization 1 month after the deadline to ask about the process and expected date of decision

23. Recruitment process Fixed-term positions Short term positions,
consultancy
Staff hired following a Vacancy Notice
International recruitment
Complex process with several official selection committees
Interviews are f2f or by skype
Sometimes there are examinations
Staff hired from a roster OR following a Temporary Vacancy
Staff hired locally
Process is simple, an interview and decision by HR and business unit
Sometimes there are examinations

24. What you will find once you are hired
A job with a purpose
Global development or humanitarian challenges to contribute to
A multicultural environment
Opportunities to travel
Exciting work
Unique experiences
Interesting stakeholders
Good salaries and benefits
A bureaucracy, office politics and … human beings !

25. A Common management system
International civil service
The common system applies to all staff members in the world
Avoids discrepancies in terms and conditions of employment worldwide
Facilitates interchange of personnel between organizations
Common standards, methods and arrangements for:
salaries
allowances
benefits
rules and regulations
ethics and code of conduct
staff representation
administration of justice
The UN Common System

26. International Civil Service Commission (ICSC)
Independent expert body nominated by the UN General Assembly
Regulates and coordinates the conditions of service in the UN common system
Promotes and maintains high standards in the international civil service
Makes recommendations to UN General Assembly or to executive heads of agencies, in particular on human resources policy issues
Takes decisions in certain areas e.g. benefits

27. United Nations Chief Executives board for coordination
High-level forum among UN organizations to harmonize
Business practices
Human resources management
Financial management
ICT resources
Procurement
Staff safety and security

28. Employment conditions
Professional grades P1 to P5
Remuneration based on most highly paid home and foreign services (Noblemaire principle)
Base salary (same all over the world) + post adjustment (depends on duty station cost of living)
Yearly increases within the same grade (steps)
Allowance for dependants
Health insurance
Pension fund

29. Employment conditions 2
Rental subsidy
Removal costs
Education grant
Home leave (every 2 years travel to country of origin)
Facilities for housing and personal loans (at pension fund)

30. Status of international civil servant
Independence from Member States
Immunities and privileges
Diplomatic status for higher grades
No unemployment benefits
No social security safety net
Work permit generally valid only within UN organizations in duty station
Not all host countries grant a work permit for the spouse

31. Career development ? Yes, there are career development opportunities
The process can be slow because
Salary hierarchy based on rank-in-job approach (equal pay for equal work)
Promotions require the availability of a higher-level post
The recruitment process to the new post can be long
Careerism is not a goal in itself, you must be self- driven and believe in what you do to work in the UN system

32. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
Global perspective
The Charter of the United Nations
The Universal Declaration of Human rights
Each organization’s mission
Internal perspective
Code of Ethics
Code of conduct
Multiculturalism

33. Doing business with the UN
A global market of over USD 16 billion annually for all types of products and services All tender opportunities from the entire UN system available on a single portal Companies worldwide can register to become a vendor for the UN market Read 2013 Statistical Report on United Nations procurement

34. Un global market
To become a provider of goods or services, register your company to the UN Global Market UNGM
Access business opportunities
Receive targeted tender notices
Be visible to moreore than UN procurement staff who use this database to source new suppliers.

35. Various way to engage Delegate Intern Volunteer Employee Consultant
Vendor
Various way to engage

36. Useful links UN http://www.un.org/ UN Geneva http://www.unog.ch/
UN Organizations
UN System statistics
UN careers
UN jobs
UN Global Market

37. TAKE AWAYS ?
What are the key points you’re taking home ?

38. Thank you ! Let’s stay in touch
Saba Imru Executive Leadership Coach LeadersToday 10 rue de Grenus, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland
Leadership coaching : Coach Supervision: Career coaching: Non-profit: