Duties and Responsibilities
The position is in the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Internship Programme is unpaid and full-time, i.e., an intern is expected to work five days per week (40 hours). The internship is offered either on an in-person or remote basis. For in-person internships, interns must have a valid visa. All costs of travel, accommodation, medical insurance and living expenses must be covered by the intern. The position is located in Geneva in DIAE-IPB. The internship will tentatively start in March 2026 for a period of 2 Months.
Responsibilities:
The IIAs Section strives to expose interns to all three pillars of UNCTAD’s activities: research, intergovernmental meetings and technical assistance to Governments mainly from developing countries. Tasks during the internship will include:
Research:
• Assist in collecting data on IIAs – bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and treaties with investment provisions (TIPs), e.g. for the G20 reporting, IIA database.
• Assist in collecting data on the investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) cases, e.g. for the update of the ISDS database.
• Assist in conducting research on recent investment policy trends and developments, including monitoring of national and international policy developments as reported in UNCTAD’s regular reporting, in the World Investment Report, as well as in other publications.
• Assist in updating (in excel format) the “mapping” of IIAs in line with the criteria developed from UNCTAD’s Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development, e.g. for Investment Policy Reviews, for the World Investment Report, for the update of the Mapping of IIA Content, and upon specific requests by stakeholders.
• Assist in conducting (in excel format) “mapping” of other IIA features, including on emerging issues (e.g. investment facilitation, cooperation).
• Assist in conducting background research for and help finalize IIA Issues Notes on specific topics related to IIAs and ISDS and any other issue related to IIAs as requested.
Intergovernmental meetings
• Assist with the organization and preparation of UNCTAD’s intergovernmental processes, e.g. organization of expert meetings such as the Annual IIA Conference, the World Investment Forum, Multistakeholder Platform on IIA Reform and other meetings.
• Assist with invitations, confirmations, inputs for speech writing and presentations by UNCTAD senior staff).
Technical assistance
• Assist in conducting background research and analysis for the delivery of technical assistance e.g. ad hoc advisory work such as the review of country’s IIA network and/or model treaty commentary.
• Assist with the organization of capacity-building activities, e.g. prepare slides, exercises or background material for the training; organise face to face or virtual meetings, seminars or workshops.
• Assist with proof reading and editing of publications.
• Assist with updating the Investment Policy Hub website and with the use social media, tweeting, webinars.
• Assist in preparing inputs for reporting on programme activities.
Qualifications/special skills
This profile is for the sole purpose of the Internship Programme of the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development in Geneva. There should be no expectation of employment within the UN after an internship. Interns shall not be eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, positions at the professional level and above carrying international recruitment status in the Secretariat for a period of six months following the end of their internship. UN interns must have a valid visa. The Internship Programme is unpaid and full-time, i.e. an intern is expected to work 8 hours a day five days per week.
This vacancy is open to one internship position located in the International Investment Agreements (IIAs) Section of the Division on Investment and Enterprise, (DIAE) at UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The duration of the internships will be of two months with possibility of extension, and the expected start date is 2 March 2026.
The IIAs Section strives to expose interns to all three pillars of UNCTAD’s activities: research, intergovernmental meetings and technical assistance to Governments mainly from developing countries. Tasks during the internship will include:
Research:
• Collect data on IIAs – bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and treaties with investment provisions (TIPs), e.g. for the G20 reporting, IIA database.
• Collect data on the investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) cases, e.g. for the update of the ISDS database.
• Conduct research on recent investment policy trends and developments, including monitoring of national and international policy developments as reported in UNCTAD’s regular reporting, in the World Investment Report, as well as in other publications.
• Update (in excel format) the “mapping” of IIAs in line with the criteria developed from UNCTAD’s Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development, e.g. for Investment Policy Reviews, for the World Investment Report, for the update of the Mapping of IIA Content, and upon specific requests by stakeholders.
• Conduct (in excel format) “mapping” of other IIA features, including on emerging issues (e.g. investment facilitation, cooperation).
• Conduct background research for and help finalize IIA Issues Notes on specific topics related to IIAs and ISDS and any other issue related to IIAs as requested.
Intergovernmental meetings
• Assist with the organization and preparation of UNCTAD’s intergovernmental processes, e.g. organization of expert meetings such as the Annual IIA Conference, the World Investment Forum, Multistakeholder Platform on IIA Reform and other meetings.
• Assist with invitations, confirmations, inputs for speech writing and presentations by UNCTAD senior staff).
Technical assistance
• Conduct background research and analysis for the delivery of technical assistance e.g. ad hoc advisory work such as the review of country’s IIA network and/or model treaty commentary.
• Assist with the organization of capacity-building activities, e.g. prepare slides, exercises or background material for the training; organise face to face or virtual meetings, seminars or workshops.
• Assist with proof reading and editing of publications.
• Assist with updating the Investment Policy Hub website and with the use social media, tweeting, webinars.
• Prepare inputs for reporting on programme activities.
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 within five years of the application date. 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.
Languages
Fluency oral and written in English is required for the internship. Knowledge of French is desirable.
DEADLINE: DECEMBER 4, 2025
