Economic Affairs Intern

Job Description

Work Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Expected duration: 3-6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

ESCAP aims to support its members and associate members in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Subregional Office for Southeast Asia (SROSEA) at ESCAP promotes sustainable development across Southeast Asia by bringing a subregional perspective to global issues and tailoring programs to regional needs. It supports the eleven South-East Asian member States in implementing the 2030 Agenda through policy dialogues, capacity-building initiatives, and partnerships with academic institutions, civil society, and the private sector.

SROSEA also coordinates with ASEAN on key priorities such as digital transformation, climate action, and inclusive economic growth, while fostering youth engagement and innovation to address regional challenges.

For more information on the work of the section, please refer to: https://www.unescap.org/subregional-office/south-east-asia

This internship is located within the Subregional Office for South-East Asia of ESCAP.

The internship is UNPAID and full-time for a period of six months. Qualified applicants who can commit to a longer internship duration will be preferred. Interns work five days per week (35 hours) in hybrid under the supervision of the Head, Subregional Office for South-East Asia. This internship is conducted in person, with the duty station located in Bangkok.

The responsibilities of the interns range from providing research support, assisting in project implementation, and development of digital platforms and multi-media content. Each intern will have a work plan which will be developed with the supervisor based on the intern’s skills and interests, educational background, and future academic/career plans.

The internship is centered on assisting the SROSEA in discharging a range of policy work and activities to support the implementation of the SDGs in South-East Asia. The following responsibilities can be adapted, as appropriate, to fit each intern:

• Contribute to research initiatives on issues related to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in ASEAN, including conducting literature reviews, compiling data, and drafting analytical inputs.
• Assist in coordinating UN–ASEAN engagements and joint initiatives, helping prepare background materials, track activities, and support communication with internal and external partners.
• Support the planning and delivery of SROSEA meetings and events, such as policy dialogues, workshops, and consultations. This includes assisting with agenda preparation, participant coordination, and logistical arrangements.
• Develop communication and outreach materials, including flyers, press releases, newsletter content, and social media posts to support SROSEA visibility and engagement.
• Provide support on special projects and other tasks as required, contributing to the broader work programme of the Office.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

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

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.

Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. 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.

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

Applicants’ training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship. Strong research and writing skills are preferable.

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 asset.

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

DEADLINE: Feb 15, 2026