Intern - UN 2.0 skillsets (Data, Digital, Strategic Foresight, Innovation & Behavioural Science) for Strategic Planning, Analytics/AI and Communications

Work Location

New York. Internships with the UN Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) are typically full-time, with part-time options available, and may be conducted in a hybrid or remote format - depending on operational needs and the candidate’s circumstances

Expected duration

Three to six months. Internships generally last between three and six months, with preference given to candidates available for the full duration. All arrangements ensure a safe, professional, inclusive, and respectful working environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

To ensure a United Nations that is fit-for-purpose to deliver on the ambition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the General Assembly adopted the most far-reaching development reforms in the history of the organization in May 2018. At the core of resolution 72/279 was the establishment of a reinvigorated, independent, impartial and empowered Resident Coordinator (RC) system to support a new generation of UN country teams (UNCTs). The UN Development Coordination Office (DCO) oversees managerial and oversight functions of the Resident Coordinator system under the collective ownership of the members of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG). To learn more about the work of the RC system and DCO, visit https://un-dco.org/. DCO plays a central role in advancing the Secretary-General’s UN 2.0 vision for a modern, future-ready UN system powered by a forward-looking culture and cutting-edge skills (https://www.un.org/two-zero/en). This work is carried out internally and across the UN development system, supporting system-wide transformation through strengthened data, digital, innovation, strategic foresight and behavioural science capabilities. DCO therefore seeks interns with UN 2.0-relevant skill sets, including policy, planning and coordination, analytical and communications skills. DCO interns work across teams within the Office, while primarily assigned to a specific team under the direct supervision of a full-time staff member in that area, including: • Policy • Programme Cycle • Strategic Communications and Information Integrity • Data, Digital and Innovation • Universal Values • Strategic partnerships • Cross-Pillar Collaboration • DCO Regional Office • Operations All DCO interns contribute to the work of the DCO Digital Solutions Lab, sharing knowledge from their assigned teams with the Lab, and vice versa. DCO interns typically work full-time (35 hours per week) or part-time (less than 35 hours per week) and are assigned to one of the three (3) tracks outlined below. The DCO internship programme runs on a 12-month planning horizon, meaning the internship may begin no sooner than two (2) months from your application and may start within 12 months of the application. Interns are typically onboarded in two main cohorts, ex. Spring and Fall of each year. There are three (3) main tracks that the intern can apply for. In the motivation statement, candidates may indicate the track that they are interested in. Track 1: Analytics, Digital Services and Artificial Intelligence (AI); Track 2: Strategic planning and integrated policy and programming; Track 3: Communications, Design and Media. In the motivation statement, candidates should indicate the track(s) that they are interested in, and highlight any UN 2.0 skills (data, digital, innovation, strategic foresight and behavioural science). TRACK 1: ANALYTICS, DIGITAL SERVICES & AI • UN 2.0 Quintet of change emphasis: Data; Digital; Innovation and secondarily Strategic Foresight; and Behavioural science • Apply data science and analytical methods to develop and maintain data visualizations, dashboards, analytical reports, performance indicators and scorecards to support decision making. Conduct analysis, maintain key datasets and prepare analytical products and slide decks for decision makers • Support the responsible and ethical use of AI in development coordination, including consideration of AI governance principles. Support AI/digital experimentation and upscaling of digital services to strengthen efficiencies • Apply relevant technical and digital skills, including through familiarity with Python, Power BI, Tableau, SQL, geospatial/GIS tools, ThinkCell, and AI technologies (e.g. MS Copilot Studio and MS Azure Foundry) TRACK 2: STRATEGIC PLANNING, INTEGRATED POLICY & PROGRAMMING • All the five UN 2.0 Quintet of Change areas. • Monitor, identify and analyse geographic, political and thematic global trends across DCO policy and programme areas, including economics, SDG financing, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, climate and environment, inter agency programming and partnerships. • Support the preparation of analytical reports, policy papers, briefing notes, talking points and correspondence for internal and external stakeholders. • Assist in coordinating the formulation of strategies, programmes and policies, supporting alignment across DCO units and the UN development system. • Support all stages of the policy and programme cycle, including agenda setting, policy development, adoption, implementation and evaluation. • Support knowledge management and organizational learning for policy and programme work, including community facilitation, good practice capture, knowledge dissemination, market intelligence, and the preparation of meetings, events, talks and visits. TRACK 3: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION INTEGRITY • UN 2.0 emphasis: Digital; Data; Strategic Foresight; and Behavioural Science to support impactful communications strategies aligned with the priorities of DCO and the UNSDG. • Support the development of high-quality strategic communications products (briefing notes, key messages, speeches, press releases, reports, infographics, other digital and multimedia content for web and social media, etc.) and campaigns to drive engagement with target audiences, ensuring consistency in content and branding. • Assist in monitoring media and online narratives, identifying trends and risks (misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, etc.), and contribute to analysis at the intersection of AI, digital communications and information integrity. • Support crisis communications coordination and contribute to the preparation of materials for sensitive contexts in collaboration with stakeholders at local, regional, and global levels. • Support the application of behavioural insights to strengthen audience engagement, including message framing, audience mapping and identification of trusted messengers. • Participate in the analysis of performance data from digital platforms and apply behavioural insights to strengthen audience engagement. • Contribute to visual and data storytelling using design and AI-enabled tools (e.g., Adobe CS, Canva, PowerPoint/ThinkCell, other Generative AI tools, etc.)

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants to the United Nations internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled or recently graduated from a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) in public policy, information management, data science, international relations, or a similar/related field of study; (b) Be enrolled in the final academic year or graduated from a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent)y; Applicants must demonstrate their intention to study further or to work in a field relevant to this internship description. No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an advantage.

Additional Information

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Considered candidates will be contacted by the hiring manager for further assessment. Special Notice A completed online application (Cover Note, Personal History Profile as well as proof of enrolment and/or graduation) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Cover Note should include: • Availability (period when a start and end date must fall) • Indication of interest for track 1,2 and/or 3 • List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in. • Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship and the track you are applying to. • Link to a digital portfolio, where available, for candidates applying to track 3 In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, technical skills, and three references. Do not forget to attach your proof of enrolment or graduation. Due to the high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted. United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General. Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, Inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the Inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in Inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, and religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided with support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. Applicants from developing countries, female candidates, and those that identify as having a disability are encouraged to apply.

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.