Policy Analysis, Strategic Planning, Innovation & Analytics Intern null

About United Nations

The United Nations stands as a global sentinel for cooperation, championing diplomacy over conflict and unity over division. Committed to fostering peace, development, and human rights, it transcends borders to address the world's most pressing challenges, epitomizing the collective aspirations of humanity toward a harmonious and just world.

Your role

Development Coordination Office (DCO) interns may be selected for assignments within a section of the Policy and Programming Branch of DCO, including;

• Policy, Inter-agency Programme Facilitation
• Strategic Partnerships
• Universal Values Team (human rights, gender equality, youth, disability inclusion) and
• The Cross-Pillar Team (peace, humanitarian, development), or within the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General (Front Office), Regional Office, Communications and Results Reporting Branch, RC system Leadership Branch, and Business Management Branch.
• Interns typically work full-time, five days per week (40 hours), report to full-time professional staff in their teams, and focus on one of the two tracks set out below under Responsibilities.
• DCO Internships are typically for a between five and six months  NB: Candidates available for five to six months full-time are typically prioritized by hiring managers.
• In their motivation statement, interested candidates should indicate their exact availability, i.e. the period (DDMMYY – DDMMYY) within which your start and end date must fall (e.g. “I currently expect to be available for a 5 or 6-month period between March 2024 – February 2025”). 
• Internships can be in-person, fully remote, or in-person for a limited period in combination with remote work, and can therefore take place from any timezone.
• Successful applicants may include management from regional offices depending on the candidate's location. All modalities provide for a safe, professional, inclusive, and respectful environment for the colleagues they work with. 
• The DCO internship program runs on a 12-month planning horizon, meaning the internship may begin no sooner than 2 months from your application and may start within 12 months of the application.
• Typically, two larger cohorts of interns are onboarded to work in the following periods; March - September • September - March

Responsibilities:

Track 1 & 2: Coordination and executive support;

• Help collate guidance materials on knowledge capture and sharing.
• Assist collection and sharing of emerging good practices and lessons for DCO and UNSDG members.
• Help facilitate various online communities of practice.
• Support the preparation of senior-level management meetings (including UNSDG and other inter-agency meetings), conferences, and retreats.
• Support the preparation of country-level meetings organized from the global level.
• Support the preparation of slide decks, background, and option papers for meetings.
• Support the tracking and analysis of UNSDG decisions and their implementation.
• Help ensure consistent visual concepts and language are used.
• Assist in the preparation of speeches and talking points.

Track 1: Strategic planning, data & analytics;

• Support analytics on issues relating to the DCO/UNSDG, including cross-cutting needs, priorities, resources, risks, and performance.
• Assist in the development of corporate visualization solutions derived from multiple data sources using state-of-the-art tools to enable insight and decision-making at various levels.
• Support the development of data models, including performance measures, to enable scorecard analysis.
• Build interactive dashboards and reports, using corporate analytics applications.

Track 2: Policy analysis & program facilitation;

• Help monitor, identify, and analyze geographic, political, and thematic global trends (across all units of the Policy and Programme branch (eg. human rights, gender equality, climate and environment, inter-agency programming, partnerships). 
• Support the preparation of analytical reports, papers, talking points, and correspondences.
• Assist in coordinating the formulation of strategies, programs, and policies.
• Support all areas of the policy process: identification and agenda building, policy development, formulation and adoptions, implementation, and evaluation.

Training & development

The United Nations internship program offers comprehensive training opportunities to aspiring professionals. With a focus on cultivating skills and knowledge across various fields, interns gain valuable hands-on experience and exposure to the organization's work. Through mentorship, workshops, and practical assignments, the program equips interns with the necessary tools to thrive in their careers and contribute to the UN's global mission.

Benefits

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.

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

• Health insurance.
• Holidays and leave.
• Retirement pension, etc.

Career progression

At the United Nations, interns gain practical experience through engaging in meaningful work across various fields, 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.

Work-life balance

The United Nations strongly recognizes that interns need time for personal and social activities outside of work to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The intern is expected to work five days a week, on a full-time basis. They provide opportunities for interns to engage in meaningful work while ensuring they have time for personal growth and well-being.

Culture & vibe

At the United Nations, the culture and vibe are truly exceptional. From savoring a delightful cup of coffee to engaging with talented colleagues, it's a place that offers insightful experiences in a friendly environment. Embracing diversity, the workspace becomes a vibrant hub of varied perspectives, while maintaining high standards for sustained success.

About you

Competencies:

• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively.
• Planning and organizing.
• Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies.
• Technological awareness.
• Actively seeks to apply emerging technology across tasks.

Education:

• Applicants to the United Nations internship program must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
  • Be enrolled in a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) in information management, document management, digital archiving, or a related field of study; 
  • Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent) in information management, document management, digital archiving, or a related field of study;  
• Applicants must demonstrate their intention to study further or to work in a field relevant to this internship description.
• Applicants are expected to have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel applications.

Work experience:

• No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advanced 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 is an advantage.

Sources

The following sources were used in researching this page:

• careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx
• careers.un.org/payandbenefits?language=en
• youtube.com/unitednations