Expected duration
Please note that flexibility is available with regard to prospective start dates in February 2025. Kindly indicate your preferred internship start date and length (4, 5 or 6 months) in your motivation statement.
Duties and Responsibilities
This profile is for the sole purpose of the Internship Programme of the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development in New York (UNCTAD NYO). There should be no expectation of employment within the United Nations after an internship. Interns shall not be 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. The position is located in the United Nations Trade and Development Office in New York. This internship is designed to be (part-time/full-time) and to be conducted (in person, remote or hybrid). The modality may be adjusted based on the request of the successful candidate. Carrying out his/her tasks 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; 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
To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, applicants must meet one of the following requirements: – be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); – or be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent); – or have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one year period of graduation from an academic programme. Applicants who are unable to commence the internship within one year of graduation shall not be accepted. 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. 1. Applicants to UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. 2. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s pr PhD programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate one and attached proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.
Languages
Fluency in English is required for this Internship Programme. Knowledge of French or Spanish is an asset.
Additional Information
Candidates will be assessed based on their candidate’s profile. 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 degree you are currently pursuing; – Graduation date (when will you be graduating from the programme); – 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: Applicants are encouraged to apply for internships which relate directly to their studies and/or skills and expertise. Applicants are asked to please indicate preferences which best match his/her suitability and do so carefully in order to enhance the value of the internship for both the intern and the receiving UN department. 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. There should be no expectation of employment by the United Nations upon completion of the internship. Interns may not apply for or be appointed to any position in the Professional or above categories and for positions at the FS-6 and FS-7 levels in the Field Service category during the period of their internship and for the six months immediately following the expiration date thereof.
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.