Intern: Development Coordination Associate

Job Description

Work Location: Colombo - Sri Lanka

Expected Duration: 4 months

Start Date: 01.05.2026

Duties and Responsibilities

Working under the supervision of the Head of RCO, with input and guidance from the Data Management Officer and the Economist, the Development Coordination Associate provides comprehensive support to the work of the Resident Coordinator Office (RCO), contributing to its coordination, analytical, and administrative functions.

It assists in the inception and coordination of the independent mid term evaluation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023–2027 and supports the Operations Management Team (OMT) by helping strengthen inter agency joint services and contributing to preliminary feasibility assessments for the potential introduction of the Common Back Office (CBO) modality under the Secretary General’s Efficiency Agenda.

The role further contributes to the coordination and substantive analytical work required for the 2025 joint UN Sri Lanka Country Analysis, including the use of innovative methodologies such as Horizon Scanning and Foresight Analysis. It supports the RCO’s daily coordination mandate across policy analysis, inter agency initiatives, organization of workshops and events, and contributions to public information materials.

The position is also responsible for preparing a wide range of documents—including briefing notes, meeting summaries, notes to file, and communication and public information products—and for providing coordination and administrative assistance for RCO activities as needed.

Additional duties may be assigned in support of overall office priorities.

• Assist in the inception and coordination of the independent mid-term evaluation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027.
• Support the work of the Operations Management Team (OMT), including strengthening inter-agency joint services and contributing to preliminary feasibility evaluations of introducing the Common Back Office (CBO) modality as part of the Secretary-General’s Efficiency Agenda.
• Contribute to the coordination and substantive analytical work towards the 2025 joint UN Sri Lanka ‘Country Analysis’, including by leveraging innovative methodologies such as Horizon Scanning and Foresight Analysis.
• Support the RCO in its day-to-day coordination mandate, including on policy analysis, inter-agency initiatives, the organization of workshops and events, contribution towards public information materials, etc.
• Support the preparation of a wide range of documents including briefing notes, meeting summaries and notes to file, communication and public information content, etc.
• Provide coordination and administrative assistance for RCO activities as needed.
• Carry out any additional tasks related to development coordination as required by the unit.

The internship is in-person and full-time. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns.

Interns work for 5 days (37.5 hours) per week under the supervision of a staff member in the division or office they are assigned.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Qualifications/special skills

(a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or,

(b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent); or

(c) Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in international relations, sustainable development, political science, business administration or a related field; either obtained recently or in progress.

Applicants are not required to have professional work experience to be eligible for the internship. However, experience and skills in the following areas would be an advantage:

• Familiarity with the Sustainable Development Goals and the development mandate of the United Nations.
• First professional experience in the public or private sector, ideally in an international environment.
• Experience in research and analysis, especially as related to sustainable development.
• Excellent writing skills and experience in the drafting of complex reports and documents.
• Excellent user skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, additional experience in using AI tools in a professional or academic context is an advantage.

Languages

For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge in one of the local languages (Sinhala or Tamil) is desirable.

NOTE: “Fluency” equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of “confident” in two of the four areas.

DEADLINE: Feb 24, 2026