Intern: Economic Affairs, Trade Facilitation

Job Description

Work Location: Remote and onsite

Expected duration: 3-6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote inclusive economic, social and environmental development and support regional cooperation and integration in the Asia-Pacific region. ESCAP’s role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership, through its analytical, normative and technical cooperation work, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asia-Pacific region.

The internship is located in the Trade Policy and Facilitation Section (TPFS) of the Trade, Investment and Innovation Division (TIID), a busy and dynamic team within UN ESCAP and is involved in a wide variety of work. The internship is for a duration of 3-6 months, depending on the needs of the division.

The opportunities are available both for the remote and onsite internship programmes.

This internship program is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the division or office to which they are assigned. This internship program has attracted very high caliber candidates, who as part of this internship gained invaluable academic and applied skills.

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Background research, literature reviews and drafting inputs including contributions to ESCAP publications on the issues related to trade, trade policies, regional integration, trade facilitation, paperless trade, trade related sustainable development issues.
• Support various meetings and studies related to the Framework Agreement on facilitation of cross-border paperless trade in Asia and the Pacific.
• Support for the UN Network of Experts for Paperless Trade and Transport in Asia and the Pacific (UNNExT) and the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) including work to improve research dissemination by various channels (e.g. social media, webpage).
• Support for section events, including through the website and social media.
• Logistical support for training events, conferences and meetings.
• Other tasks as required by the work programme.

Responsibilities

Types of services include: research and analysis; providing training and capacity building for Policymakers and researchers; delivering advisory services to member governments; organizing regional dialogues, meetings and forum. Much of our work is focused on the development needs of the region’s least developed countries and other countries with special needs.

Daily responsibilities will depend on the intern’s background and the work of intern’s supervisor as well as the internship period.

Ideal candidates may have backgrounds in economics, international trade, trade facilitation, public policy, data science, or related fields.

Interns are encouraged to engage in research topics of their and supervisor’s interest. Past interns, under the supervision of the professional staff, have published joint working papers and policy briefs.

Special Notice

MODE OF INTERNSHIPS: While it is optional to do internship remotely, applicants may be requested to undertake the internship remotely in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to UN premises. 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.

To expedite the internship process, please kindly specify your preferred start and end dates in the cover letter.

A complete online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Cover Note must include:

• Title of degree you are currently pursuing
• Graduation Date
• Period of availability for taking internship. (The availability for more than 4-month internship could be an advantage)
• List of IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in
• List of top three areas of interest/department preferences
• Explanation why you are the best candidate for this post
• Explanation of your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme

In your Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experience, IT skills, and three references. Should there be a need for an intern that matches the applicant’s profile, the applicant will be contacted directly by the Division. Please note that due to the large number of applicants, Division are not necessarily in a position to reply to each request and only short-listed applicants will be contacted for further consideration.

Qualifications/special skills

Competencies

Ideal candidates may have backgrounds in economics, international trade, public policy, data science, or related fields.

• Communication: Ability to draft clearly and concisely, good written and oral command of English.
• 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 the client’s point of view.
• Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies and identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required.

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, applicants must, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements:

• (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).

Candidate must be studying or have a degree in Economics preferred.

No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance 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. 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: March 1, 2026