Intern: Environmental Studies, Economics, International Relations, International Law, Social or Political Studies

Work Location

Palais des Nations, UNECE, Geneva, Switzerland

Expected duration

The internship is for the period 14 September to 13 December 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities

The internship is located in the Water and Industrial Safety Section, Environment and Forests Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe based in Geneva. UNECE Environment and Forests Division contributes to the overall objectives and mandate of UNECE as a multilateral platform facilitating greater economic integration and cooperation among its member States, and to the broad aim of the Environment subprogramme to safeguard the environment and human health, and to promote sustainable development in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. Responsibilities The intern is expected to contribute to the work of the secretariat of the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents as follows: a) Support the organization and preparation of the fourteenth meeting of the Convention’s Conference of the Parties and the preceding seminar on chemicals safety; b) Prepare draft presentations and inputs for reports, documents and project proposals related to industrial accident prevention, preparedness and response, including emerging risks; c) Conduct research and contribute analytical inputs on environmental and industrial safety topics, including on land-use planning, accidental water pollution, mine tailings safety, energy transition risks and natural hazard-triggered technological disasters (Natech); d) Support the preparation of meetings, including of the Convention’s subsidiary bodies, and contribute to expert exchanges through background inputs and follow-up; e) Contribute to the preparation and implementation of capacity-building activities and projects under the Convention’s Assistance and Cooperation Programme; f) Identify and support linkages between the Industrial Accidents Convention, the SDGs, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and other international policy processes; g) Support the development and updating of content for the Convention’s web-page, including proposals to improve its usability and accessibility; h) Assist in the preparation of communication materials, such as brochures, flyers, articles and social media posts; i) Support the drafting and review of press releases, informal meeting minutes and other content, and assist in proofreading publications; j) Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications/special skills

To qualify for the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met: - Applicants to the United Nations internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled or have completed a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent). Be computer literate in standard software applications; For this internship, environmental studies, economics, international relations, international law, social or political studies or equivalent are required. Have a demonstrated 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 include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. Applicants for all countries are accepted and under-represented or un-represented countries in the UN are encouraged to apply. No professional work experience is required for participation in the Internship Programme.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French and/or Russian is an asset.

Additional Information

The internship is for a duration of 3 months within the period 14 September to 13 December 2026. Completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. The cover note must include: Title of the degree and graduation date or title of the degree that you are currently pursuing and the expected graduation date. List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in, Top three areas of interest, Explain why you are the best candidate for the internship position, Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme, and your availability during the period considered. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. KINDLY NOTE THAT THIS TEMPORARY JOB OPENING IS SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE. The Internship Programme is guided by Administrative Instruction ST/AI 2020/1 of the United Nations issued by the Under-Secretary-General for Management. Interns are considered type I gratis personnel. They are not staff members. The United Nations does not financially remunerate interns. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibilities of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns work five days per week. Interns shall not be eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in the Secretariat for a period of six months following the end of their internship. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. Applicants for internship must show proof of valid medical insurance coverage and provide a medical certificate of good health. The United Nations is not responsible for any claims by any parties where the loss of or damage to their property, death or personal injury was caused by the actions or omission of action by the interns during their internship. A person who is the child or sibling of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations. An applicant who bears to a staff member any other family relationship may be engaged as an intern, provided that he or she shall not be assigned to the same work unit of the staff member nor placed under the direct or indirect supervision of the staff member. For purposes of this instruction, "child" means (i) the child of a staff member; (ii) the child of the spouse of a staff member (stepchild); and (iii) the spouse of a child of a staff member or a staff member's spouse (son- or daughter-in-law). "Sibling" includes the child of both or either parent of a staff member and the child. Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

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.