JOB DESCRIPTION

Work Location
Geneva

Expected duration
3 months

Duties and Responsibilities
The UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva, Switzerland is seeking passionate and innovative students to join its Internal Communications team. These exciting internship positions are located in the Communications and External Relations (CER), Office of the Secretary-General. The initial period is of 3 months with starting dates in April, May and June 2025. Indicate your preferred start date on your cover letter. Internal Communications interns will play a critical role in supporting the internal communications efforts surrounding UNCTAD’s 2025 Quadrennial Conference that will take place in Vietnam in October, gaining an immersive experience in a global event’s communications strategy. As an intern, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to UNCTAD’s mission supporting internal communication strategies while gaining invaluable experience in this field. UN internships are unpaid and full-time, requiring interns to work five days a week (40 hours). For in-person internships, candidates must ensure they have valid health insurance coverage in Switzerland for the duration of the internship, along with a valid visa. Interns are responsible for covering all personal costs, including travel, accommodation, medical insurance, and living expenses. As an intern, you’ll be a key player in helping to shape internal communication strategies. You’ll work closely with Communications Officers gaining hands-on experience in creating and delivering impactful content. Some of the tasks include and are not limited to: • Helping enhance the intranet: Keep the intranet fresh and engaging by ensuring it’s informative, up-to-date, and reflective of our ongoing initiatives. • Providing ideas to communication channels: Help evaluate and improve existing communication tools, ensuring they are effective and user-friendly. • Supporting internal campaigns: Work on creating compelling campaigns that boost employee engagement and foster a positive workplace culture. • Writing for impact: Collaborate on articles for the internal newsletter, providing employees with updates on organizational news, policy changes, and important events. • Managing content: Maintain an internal communications calendar, ensuring messaging is timely, consistent, and aligns with UNCTAD’s strategic priorities. • Storytelling: help develop inspiring stories that highlight the accomplishments of staff, key milestones, and personal profiles, enriching the organization’s narrative. • Supporting events: Help promote and coordinate the UNCTAD16 Conference events ensuring smooth operations and strong employee engagement. More generally, interns shall: 1. Observe all applicable rules, regulations, instructions, procedures and directives of the Organization notwithstanding their status as described in section 5 of the UN Internship Programme Administrative Instructions ST/AI/2020/1. 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 propery rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to 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. There should be no expectation of employment within the UN 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.

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). For these internship positions the following skills are an asset: ::Familiarity with digital communication tools such as PowerPoint and SharePoint is an advantage. ::Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. ::Understanding of how AI and data analytics can enhance internal communications. ::Ability to work both independently and as part of a diverse, multicultural team. ::Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. 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. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or PhD Programme, or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach 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. Knowledge of Vietnamese is a strong asset.

Additional Information
Not available.

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.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements