The internship is with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and is full-time (40 hours per week) and unpaid.
The position is based in the Productive Capacities and Sustainable Development Branch (PCSD) of the Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes (ALDC).
For in-person internships, interns must have a valid visa and cover all costs for travel, accommodation, medical insurance, and living expenses.
Remote interns must have access to a computer with Office 365, up-to-date software and security updates, firewall enabled, and secure password management.
Key responsibilities include:
Assist the Branch in implementing technical assistance to strengthen productive capacities in developing countries, including Blue Economy, agricultural value chains, and value addition strategies in Southern Africa.
Support the preparation of Holistic Productive Capacities Development Programmes based on National Productive Capacities Gap Assessments.
Collect and synthesize information and prepare summary notes for broader sectoral studies, both country-based and global.
Support project proposal development to assist in productive capacities development in African countries, LDCs, and other target regions.
General responsibilities:
Observe all applicable UN rules, regulations, instructions, and procedures.
Provide copies of all materials prepared during the internship to the receiving departments/offices; all intellectual property created belongs to the UN.
Maintain impartiality and independence; do not accept external instructions related to the internship.
Do not disclose or use confidential information obtained through the internship without written authorization, even after the internship ends.
Refrain from any conduct that could negatively reflect on the UN or the receiving department/office.
There is no expectation of employment with the UN after the internship. Interns cannot apply for positions at professional level or above within six months of completing the internship.
Qualifications/Special Skills
Must be enrolled in or have completed:
A graduate school programme (Master’s degree or equivalent, or higher), or
The final academic year of a first university degree programme (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent).
Must be computer literate in standard software applications.
Demonstrated interest in the work of the United Nations and commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter.
Ability to interact successfully with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and beliefs.
Field of study should be in economics, development, law, political science, or related social sciences.
No professional work experience is required.
Languages
Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese is an asset.
Additional Information
Assessment: Candidates will be assessed based on their Personal History Profiles (PHP). Individual interviews may be conducted.
Complete online applications including a cover note and PHP are required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
The cover note must include:
Title of the degree and graduation date (or expected graduation date)
IT skills and programs proficiency
Explanation of why the applicant is the best candidate for the internship
The PHP must include all past work experience, IT skills, and three references. Only successful candidates will be contacted.
Special Notice: This internship does not guarantee employment with the UN. Interns are ineligible to apply for professional-level positions for six months after the internship.
Interns are not financially remunerated; all costs for travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or sponsoring institution.
Interns not citizens or permanent residents of the country of the internship may require the appropriate visa and work authorization
Deadline : Nov 17, 2025
Start Your Application
Applications for this position must be completed on the recruiting organization's website.
