INTERNSHIP: Digital Business Solutions

OVERVIEW

Type of contract : Internship

Duty Station : Headquarters, Field Offices, and Institutes

Duration of contract : 1 to 6 months

Application deadline : 31 December 2026 (Midnight)

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Digital Bureau Solution is the entity responsible for ICT operations within UNESCO, and reports to the Assistant Director General to Administration (ADG/ADM). The team oversees the implementation of UNESO’s digital strategy, with the delivery of (1) more integrated and properly codified project and knowledge management in support of programme delivery; (2) the provision of a resilient IT infrastructure, and best-in-class service management to enable effective programme delivery; and (3) the provision of strengthened cyber security and digital risk management.

DBS is seeking highly motivated individuals graduate/postgraduate students or recent graduates or postgraduates to assist DBS in its mission. Interns will be exposed to the work of the UNESCO and will provide DBS with qualified and specialized assistance in the various projects of the Bureau, under the supervision and direction of DBS’ management team.

Interns will have the opportunity to assist in the various projects of the Bureau, under one or more of the following domains:

Operations, Helpdesk, Network, Server and Cloud:

• Network Monitoring and configuration: Assist in monitoring network performance and diagnosing connectivity issues using network monitoring tools; while gaining hands-on experience with network device configuration, including routers, switches, and firewalls.
• Cloud Platform Familiarity: Gain experience with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud by setting up and configuring cloud resources; assist in planning the migration of on-premises applications and workloads to the cloud.
• Server and Network Troubleshooting: Learn to troubleshoot network problems, such as slow connections or network outages.
• Documentation: Help update and maintain network documentation, including network diagrams and device inventories.
• User Support and troubleshooting: Provide basic user support, including password resets and account creation, and learn about helpdesk ticketing systems.
• Documentation: Help update and maintain network documentation, including network diagrams and device inventories.

Cybersecurity, Compliance, AI :

• AI/Generative AI: Support the deployment, configuration, and testing of AI and GAI models developed by UNESCO.
• Cybersecurity Awareness Workshops: create content to educate employees about cybersecurity threats, safe online practices, and the importance of strong passwords.
• Phishing Simulations: coordinate simulated phishing campaigns to train employees to recognize and report phishing emails and other social engineering attacks.
• Security Policy Review: Review and discuss company cybersecurity policies, ensuring that all employees understand their roles and responsibilities in maintaining security.
• Vulnerability Scanning Reports: Analyze and discuss vulnerability scanning reports to educate employees about potential security weaknesses and how to address them effectively.

Development, Architecture, Engineering

• Application Development: Assist in designing and coding web-based or cloud-based business applications using technologies such as Salesforce, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and a backend framework like Node.js or Django.
• User Interface (UI) Enhancement: Collaborate on improving the user interface and user experience (UI/UX) of existing applications based on user feedback.
• Reporting: Prepare and support developing reports using Microsoft or Salesforce Technologies.
• Data Cleaning, Transformation and Visualization: Assist in data preprocessing, cleaning, and transformation to ensure data quality and suitability for analysis; create interactive data dashboards using tools like Power BI to present data insights effectively.
• Debugging, Testing and Quality Assurance: Conduct testing, assist in debugging, and quality assurance activities to identify and fix bugs and issues within applications.
• Documentation: Help document application features, code, and development processes for knowledge sharing and future reference.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Knowledge of project management and UNESCO actions

• Strengthen writing skills

• Teamwork

• Technical skills and knowledge in the area of work

• Build up interpersonal skills in a multicultural environment

Competencies (Core / Managerial)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)
• Professionalism (C)

Short Description

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Age:

You must be at least 20 years old to apply.

Academic qualifications:

You should be currently enrolled AND on the 3rd (third) year or final year of your Bachelor’s degree;

OR

You should be currently enrolled in your second university degree, Master's or PhD degree or equivalent;

OR

You must have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree no more than 12 months prior to the issuance of the Internship Agreement, as determined by the completion date indicated on your diploma.

Applicants in technical/vocational assignments must be enrolled in a specialized technical/vocational institution and must have reached the last year of their studies, or have recently graduated (within the last 12 months) from their school or institution.

Languages:

You should have an excellent command, both written and spoken, of English or French. A working knowledge of the other language (English or French) is an asset, and may be required for internships in secretarial and assistantship assignments at the Headquarters.

Computer skills:

You must have an excellent knowledge of computer systems and office-related software.

Team player:

You should be able to work well in a team and adapt to an international working environment.

Communication skills:

You should possess strong interpersonal and communication skills.

BENEFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS

UNESCO does not remunerate interns. There is no compensation, financial or otherwise for internship assignments.

Interns are entitled to 2.5 days of leave per month during their internship and an additional leave of 1 working day per complete month of internship.

Interns are provided with a limited workplace insurance coverage against risk of injury, illness, disability, or death incurred during the period of the internship and directly attributable to the execution of the internship.

SELECTION AND HIRING PROCESS

Candidates shall apply to this vacancy notice (or any of the available vacancy notices that match their expertise, domain, or interest). Please note that you are applying to become part of the pool of intern candidates, not to a specific internship opening.

Candidates who successfully applied will stay in the intern talent pool and will be further assessed and selected by relevant hiring managers. The candidature will be valid for 6 months. Candidates who have been selected will be contacted directly by the relevant hiring manager. If the candidate does not receive any update from UNESCO within six months, it means that the application has not been successful.

KEEP IN MIND

Duration: The minimum duration of an internship is one month, and the maximum duration is six months.

Visa: You should be responsible for obtaining any necessary visas.

Travel: You must arrange and finance your travel to the location where you will undertake your internship.

Medical insurance: You must show proof of a comprehensive health insurance valid in the country where you will undertake your internship and for the entire period of the internship. UNESCO will only provide a limited workplace insurance coverage against risk of injury, illness, disability, or death incurred during the period of the internship and directly attributable to the execution of the internship.

Supporting Documents: Before the beginning of your internship, you must provide your proof of your identity (ID card or passport), Certificate of Enrollment, Transcript of Record, or Diploma (if you have just recently graduated).

Leave: Interns are entitled to 2.5 days of leave per month and an additional leave of 1 working day per complete month of internship.

Internship Agreement: UNESCO does not sign any third-party agreements or contracts (e.g., conventions de stage) provided by academic or research institutions. The internship arrangement is strictly between UNESCO and the intern. Only the official Internship Agreement issued by UNESCO will be executed and signed by UNESCO representatives.

BEFORE APPLYING

• During the application process, you will be asked to answer questions about your skills, competencies, experience (if any), and interests. You only have one hour to finish the process.

• Make sure your contact details will be valid in the next 6 months.

• You can only use either English or French in applying.

• Please provide an unofficial French or English translation of your documents if they are not in these languages.

• Even if you are eligible, there is no guarantee of placement. We receive more applications from qualified candidates than we can place.

• Please note that you are submitting your application to become part of the pool of internship candidates. Your application will be further accessed by UNESCO managers around the world and will stay in our internship portal for a period of six months.

• We do not respond to each and every candidate. If there is an internship opening and if you are selected, you will be directly contacted by the manager from the pool. If you do not receive any update within six months, it means that your application has not been successful.