Economic Affairs Intern null

Your role

Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Internship Opportunity:

The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) serves as a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social, and environmental spheres and national action. Its work is guided by the universal, integrated, and transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 associated targets adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015.

The Economic Analysis and Policy Division (EAPD) provides research and policy analysis on:

• Global macroeconomic trends and prospects
• Frontier issues
• Emerging issues
• Issues associated with countries in special situations

This work is conducted in the broad context of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. EAPD also serves as the Secretariat to the Committee for Development Policy, an independent advisory body to the Economic and Social Council which provides recommendations on cross-cutting development issues and reviews the status of countries in the least developed country (LDC) category. EAPD manages capacity development projects in developing countries, assisting with research, training, and workshops.

Internship responsibilities:

The intern will report to the Senior Economic Affairs Officer in the DESA Economic Analysis and Policy Division, Development Research Branch. The intern will:

• Conduct research for the World Social Report (WSR), Frontier Technology Issues (FTIs), and other outputs on economic and social development.
• Assist with projects being implemented by the Branch, including communication and dissemination, and support for intergovernmental negotiations, as needed.
• Work daily with the supervisor in the conduct of research with a strong emphasis on the 2030 Agenda.

Tasks include:

• Supporting the team in their day-to-day activities and tasks. This may include, for example, servicing requests for information; support for developing presentations and servicing meetings; updating databases, etc.
• Conducting quantitative data analysis, including identifying and collecting data from primary and secondary sources, and visualizing data.
• Assisting in implementing capacity-building activities, including communication.

This internship is designed to be full-time and in-person but can be adjusted based on request by the successful candidate.

About you

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent).

Applicants must have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams. Applicants to the 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.

Languages:

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Intern-specific text:

The United Nations does not financially remunerate interns. 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.

Benefits

This internship is unpaid in person and full-time.

If you join as a full-time employee, you will get the following benefits:

• Holidays and leave
• Health insurance
• Retirement pension
• Tax exemption
• Allowances
• Contribute to impactful global initiatives and work towards promoting peace, security, and human rights worldwide.

Training & development

Throughout the internship, the intern will gain hands-on experience in conducting research for major reports such as the World Social Report (WSR) and Frontier Technology Issues (FTIs), assist in communication and dissemination for projects, and support intergovernmental negotiations. During the internship, you will develop skills in quantitative data analysis, updating databases, and implementing capacity-building activities.

Career progression

At the United Nations, interns gain practical experience by engaging in meaningful work across various fields and contributing to the UN's mission of promoting peace, sustainable development, and human rights. With a strong focus on mentorship and professional development, the program equips interns with the skills and knowledge necessary for future career advancement within the organization and other organizations.

Sources

The following sources were used in researching this page:

• careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx
• youtube.com/unitednations
• careers.un.org/payandbenefits