Economic Affairs 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

Internship duration: 4 to 6 months

Duties and Responsibilities:

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Subregional Office for South and South-West Asia (ESCAP-SSWA), based in New Delhi, offers internship opportunities for a minimum of three months and a maximum of six months. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (37.5 hours) from the office under the supervision of staff member(s) in ESCAP-SSWA which interns are assigned.

A key mandate of ESCAP-SSWA is to support the countries in the subregion to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The work program of ESCAP-SSWA covers carrying out analytical and normative work, providing policy support, technical assistance, and capacity building to member States, promoting policy advocacy, building networks among various stakeholders, etc., along the subregional priority areas, as per the mandate received from UNESCAP member States:

• Inclusive growth, supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), structural change and job creation, gender equality and women's empowerment, social protection, and sustainable development
• Regional cooperation for disaster risk reduction
• Strengthening connectivity, trade and transport facilitation, and regional economic integration
• Regional cooperation for food and energy security
• Assisting LDCs and LLDCs in the implementation of the Istanbul and Almaty Programmes of Action as well as SDG targets

Responsibilities:

Under immediate supervision by a staff member (s), the intern is responsible for contributing to the research project (s) related to the work program of SSWA for the implementation of the SDGs. The topic of the project will depend on the intern's background, skills, and interests.

Other duties may include undertaking the following:

• Regular monitoring of relevant developments, policy trends, and news articles related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs in the subregion;
• Monitor and collect details on national policies on selected sustainable development issues of ESCAP-SSWA Member States
• Collect data, generate figures and tables, and describe and analyze the tables and results to support ESCAP-SSWA staff in related research and analytical work
• Attend conferences, seminars, meetings, and other events and provide written highlights and briefing notes
• Provide administrative, organizational, and conference management support for ESCAP-SSWA events
• Other activities may be decided by the supervisor Competencies

The United Nations Core Competencies include:

• Communication: Ability to draft clearly and concisely, good written and oral language skills.
• Teamwork: Good interpersonal skills, and ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from different national and cultural backgrounds to achieve organizational goals.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be 'clients' and seeks to see things from clients' point of view.
• Planning & Organizing: Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work and monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary
• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities honors commitments, and delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within the prescribed time, cost, and quality standards

Training & development

Learning Opportunities during the course of the internship:

ESCAP-SSWA provides interns with an opportunity to enhance their understanding of:

• Socio-economic challenges the subregion is facing in particular within the 10 countries served
• The processes of regional and multilateral cooperation
• Mandates and operations of the United Nations in developing countries in its efforts to provide policy advice, capacity building, and a platform for governments to create space for economic and political integration

Benefits

The UN internship is unpaid.

However, interns are entitled to certain benefits:

• Job Training
• Gymnasium
• Free Transport
• Team Outings
• Cafeteria
• Soft Skill Training

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 as well as 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. The company provides opportunities for interns to engage in meaningful work while ensuring interns have time for personal growth and well-being.

Culture & vibe

UN India recognizes the vital role of culture in fostering decent work, poverty reduction, social resilience, and gender equality for sustainable development. While career progression can be challenging, freshers benefit from a multicultural environment that values integrity, professionalism, and diversity.

About you

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
• Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent).
• Work Experience Applicants are not required to have professional work experience for participation in the program but shall be computer literate in standard software applications.
• Familiarity with econometrics and empirical data analysis methods and relevant software packages (e.g. EViews, Stata, SPSS, R, and Python) or IT tools is desirable.
• Data handling skills and skills in using spreadsheets, Excel is also an asset.
• Familiarity with the use of social media is desirable.

Languages:

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required for the Internship Programme. Knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.

How to apply

Assessment Potential candidates will be contacted by ESCAP staff for further consideration. Special Notice UN goes through the pool of applications periodically during the application period and recruits the candidates in an ongoing manner. A complete online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Important: The Cover Note must include:

• Information about the degree you are currently pursuing (Title, University, etc.) or the latest obtained degree.
• Graduation Date (when will you be graduating from the program or have graduated)
• Your estimated availability period (Specific dates will be discussed in the next steps)
• List your top three areas of interest (such as the link between ICT and disaster risk reduction)
• Explain why you are the best candidate for this position.
• Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme
• List the ICT skills and programs (including courses/modules at the University that you have completed) that you are proficient in In your Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experience (if any), ICT skills, and relevant University courses/modules, and three references.

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.

Sources

The following sources were used in researching this page:

• careers.un.org
• youtube.com/@unitednations