Organisational Unit

​​The General Secretariat directs administrative, human and financial resources and activities of the Union, including the implementation of the provisions of the administrative regulations on operational questions, the dissemination of information on telecommunication/ICT matters for operational and other purposes, and the provision of legal advice to the whole of the Union.  The General Secretariat coordinates the implementation of the Strategic Plan, monitors the telecommunication/ICT environment and recommends as needed action relating to the Union’s future policies and strategy.  The General Secretariat ensures inter-sectoral coordination and cooperation to advance a whole of ITU approach (One-ITU) in headquarters and the field. The General Secretariat provides logistical and information technology support to the Union’s activities including conferences and global forums; the coordination of the work of the Union with the United Nations system, and other international organizations; and the engagement of the Member States, Sector Members, and Academia. The General Secretariat manages corporate governance, and strategic communications and relations with the media, different stakeholder groups as well as the general public.

Within the General Secretariat, the Strategic Planning and Membership Department (SPM) advises the Secretary-General on strategic challenges and their implications for the Union in the fast evolving telecommunications/ICT environment; develops forward-looking strategic proposals to the ITU management team with a view to ensuring that the organization meets the objectives assigned by the membership; plans and coordinates the corporative and strategic activities with a view to ensuring their accordance with membership objectives; organizes and provides secretariat services to the Plenipotentiary Conference, Council, and other meetings in the general secretariat in order to achieve a high level of involvement from Member States and Sector Members, develops and maintains sound relations with Member States, Sector Members and other entities, the UN and other international organizations. The Department is also responsible for providing expert advice on communication and promotion strategies and for developing and implementing the Union’s corporate communication plan in cooperation with the three Sectors with a view to promoting ITU leadership in the field of telecommunications and ICT.

Background Information

Giga is a global UNICEF and ITU initiative to connect every school to the internet, and every young person to information, opportunity and choice. It also serves as a platform to create the infrastructure necessary to provide digital connectivity to an entire country, for every community, and for every citizen. (www.giga.global). Giga has four core areas of work:

• Map previously unmapped schools, and monitor connectivity in real-time using open-source AI/ML;
• Model with the govt the optimal connectivity infrastructure configuration, identifying the enabling policy & regulation levers, and developing connectivity cost models.
• Finance connectivity projects using the most capital efficient solutions available.
• Contract with the best practices for public procurement and delivery tools. 

Giga is active in 34 countries and has connected over 6,000 schools in Sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America & the Caribbean, providing online access to over two million students and teachers. Key activities in these countries include using AI and satellite imagery to map school locations, using blockchain technology to monitor real-time connectivity status, using infrastructure and policy data to inform connectivity choices, and bringing all these elements together to design sustainable business models for connecting schools. With the support of the Governments of Switzerland and Spain, Giga has established its global headquarters in Geneva, and its Giga Technology Centre in Spain. Giga is positioned for its next phase of growth to scale up in all programme areas with new resources associated with this support.

About Digital Public Infrastructure

While Giga’s core focus is connecting every school to the internet, achieving truly transformative digital education requires more than just physical infrastructure. Studies show that a lack of digital learning resources can significantly hinder educational outcomes, even with internet access. This is where the concept of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) – or “soft infrastructure” – for education comes into play.

DPI refers to a set of interoperable digital building blocks that enable governments to build and deliver essential services more efficiently and securely. In the context of education, DPI focuses on the foundational digital components needed to support effective learning in the 21st century classroom.
Giga is currently exploring potential and possible challenges for the adoption of this digital investment approach in the Education domain; specifically, it will focus on the soft infrastructure elements that the initiative should consider integrating into its system design to enable:

• Effective learning ecosystems: This could include learning management systems, digital content repositories, and platforms for collaboration and assessment.
• Teacher capacity building: DPI could be leveraged to provide teachers with access to training resources and professional development opportunities.
• Empowering students: DPI can be used to ensure equitable access to quality educational resources for all students, potentially utilizing AI-powered tools for personalized learning experiences.

To delve deeper into these aspects and support the design and implementation of DPI within Giga, the Giga team is seeking a DPI Junior Project Officer. 

Term of References

Under the supervision of the designated officer, the intern will:

• Provide support for the preparation of the Global DPI Summit 2024, including coordination on agenda (session descriptions, summaries, outcomes).
• Conduct research and analysis on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).
• Support the advancement of the High Impact Initiative on Digital Public Infrastructure.
• Participate in the organization and the support to Giga-related meetings and events, particularly within International Geneva, by assisting in the coordination with ITU, UNICEF, and other international organizations.
• Prepare project reports, monitor project schedules and deadlines, and identify potential issues or risks that could affect project progression, drafting recommendations as necessary.
• Attend internal and external meetings with stakeholders at all levels.

Competencies

Core Competencies: Applying Expertise; Effective Communication; Learning and Knowledge Sharing; Organizational Commitment; Results-Focused, and; Teamwork and Collaboration.

Functional Competencies:  Analysis, Judgement and Decision Making; Client and Service Orientation; Planning and Organizing; and Successful Management.

Technical Competencies: Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Event Management skills.

Qualifications required

Education: University degree in business administration, business computing, management information systems, project management, information technology, telecommunications or a related field OR education from a reputed college of advanced education, with a diploma of equivalent standard to that of an advanced university degree in one of the fields aboveor completing advanced university degree.

Experience: No work experience is required.

Languages: English at advanced level. Knowledge of a second ITU official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) would be an advantage.

General Information

Unpaid Internship.

Internship preferably on-site but remote could also be considered.

Please note that a non-remunerated Internship position at ITU does not carry the same conditions of employment as a Short-term or a Fixed-term position. Mandatory Medical Insurance, travel expenses, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the interns or sponsoring institutions.

Information on recruitment Process

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the ITU Careers website. The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice, and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. ITU uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates. Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided. Messages originating from a non ITU e-mail account – @itu.int – should be disregarded. ITU does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

ITU applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. ITU is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. Achieving gender balance is a high priority for ITU.