United Nations Development Coordination Office (UNDCO)转发了
The United Nations Secretary-General’s proposal to end #UnpaidInternships at the #UN Secretariat is here, and it is a good starting point but falls short in crucial areas. ?? The Good News: ?? The proposal introduces a stipend for #interns at the UN Secretariat, a significant shift as the Secretariat remains one of the few UN entities not paying interns. ?? Interns would receive #HealthInsurance and travel support, addressing current challenges of covering medical insurance and flights for in-person internships in New York. ?? Access to language courses and educational opportunities would expand, responding to intern feedback. Additional positives include repealing the mandatory six-month break before applying for P-level staff roles and improving access to #justice. ?? So, what's the bad news then? ?? The stipend, set at 10% of the Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA), is too low — for example, that's about $1,580 USD/month in #NewYork, far below the $2,300 monthly living cost many UN interns report. This leaves in-person internships at UNHQ #inaccessible for many, especially from the Global South. ?? For local, remote, or hybrid interns, the already low stipend is halved, further limiting #inclusivity and #affordability. For example, if you can't afford the $720 monthly gap for an in-person internship in New York and opt for a remote one, you'll not only face isolation and fewer networking opportunities, you'll also receive a reduced stipend of just $790 per month, which can work for some but risks establishing a class system of internships. ?? The proposal mirrors UNDP’s internship programme, which underperforms across benchmarks for UN internships, according to our latest survey. What’s Next? While the proposal has positive aspects, it fails to ensure fairness and accessibility for young people. Youth deserve respect for their contributions without #financial barriers. We support the proposal and will advocate Member States in the General Assembly’s Budget Committee to approve it, but we also need more voices demanding #inclusive reform. Stay tuned for more in the upcoming weeks. ?? Read the SG’s proposal: https://lnkd.in/d9K73q2s ?? Our latest #internship report: https://lnkd.in/dTv2ac4Z