Intern - Economic Affairs

Work Location

New York

Expected duration

3 months

Duties and Responsibilities

These positions are within the United Nation Trade and Development (UNCTAD) New York Office. The Internship Programme is unpaid and full-time, i.e., an intern is expected to work five days per week (40 hours). The period of these three internship positions will be for three months with starting date in September 2026. Please note that flexibility is available with regard to prospective start dates. This internship is designed to be full-time and to be conducted in person. For in-person internships, interns must have a valid visa. All costs of travel, accommodation, medical insurance and living expenses must be covered by the intern. Under the supervision of a senior staff member, the intern will perform the following functions: - Assist in monitoring and providing summaries of relevant meetings of the UN General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and dialogues with other UN entities (inter-agency meetings) Contribute to activities being carried out with UN system entities among others: ECOSOC Secretariat, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Office of the High Representative for Least developed countries, Landlocked developing countries and Small island developing states - Assist in the preparation of UNCTAD’s briefings and meetings. Provide support to UNCTAD staff on mission to New York by assisting the organization of meetings with representatives of Member States, UN agencies and departments and other stakeholders as necessary - Assist in updating and improving information contained in the NYO databases and performing Internet-based research and information cataloguing related to the work of UNCTAD - Assist with the maintenance of NYO’s electronic communications dispatched regularly to all stakeholders, including UNCTAD communications and outreach products - Assist in preparing inputs for staff members of the NYO participating in intergovernmental processes - Contribute to implementing the social media outreach strategy - Undertake other tasks as necessary. More generally, interns shall: 1. Observe all applicable rules, regulations, instructions, procedures and directives of the Organization notwithstanding their status as described in section 4 of the UN Internship Programme Administrative Instructions ST/AI/2000/9 & ST/AI/2005/11. 2. Provide the receiving departments/offices with a copy of all materials prepared by them during the internship. The UN shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights, and trademarks, regarding material which bears a direct relation to or is made in consequence of, the services provided under the internship. At the request of the UN, the interns shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to the UN in compliance with the requirements of the applicable law. 3. Respect the impartiality and independence required of the UN and of the receiving department/office and shall not seek or accept instructions regarding the services performed under the internship agreement from any government or from any authority external to the UN. 4. Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the receiving department/office, they may not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, government, or any other external source any information which has become known to them by reason of their association with the UN or the receiving department/office, that they know or ought to have known has not been made public. They may not use any such information without the written authorization of the appropriate official, and such information may never be used for personal gain. These obligations also apply after the end of the internship with the UN. 5. Refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on the UN or on the receiving department/office and will not engage in any activity which is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the UN.

Qualifications/special skills

The United Nations internship programme is intended to expose students or recent graduates to the United Nations in order to enhance their educational experience and to help them to gain experience in the work of the Organization. Therefore, applicants to the programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or, (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent). Moreover, interns should: • Should be computer literate in standard software applications; • Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and • Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. Applicants to the UN Internship Prgramme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related ot the type of internship that you are applying for is required.

Languages

Fluency written and oral in English is required. Knowledge of French or Spanish is desirable.

Additional Information

ASSESSMENT: Candidates will be assessed based on their Personel History Profiles (PHP). Individual interviews may be conducted for further assessment. A complete online application (Cover Note and Personal History profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The cover Note must include: - Title of the degree; - Graduation date (when will you be graduating from the programme, if not yet graduated); - List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in; - Explain why you are the best candidate for the internship position. In your Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experience, if any; IT skills and three (3) references. Due to high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted. SPECIAL NOTICE: This profile is for the sole purpose of the Internship Programme of the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development. There should be no expectation of employment within the UN after the internship. Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, positions at the professional level and above carrying international recruitment status in the Secretariat for a period of six months following the end of their internship. Applicants who are children or siblings of a staff member are not eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations. Applicants who are otherwise related to a staff member may be engaged as interns, provided that they are neither assigned to the same work unit as such staff member nor placed under the direct or indirect supervision of such staff member.

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.