Intern – Statistics

Job Description

Work Location: UN-House ESCWA

Expected duration: 2 months

Duties and Responsibilities Background

This internship is embedded within the project 2Resilient and Agile National Statistical Systems: Improving the Production and Communication of Gender, Disability and SDG Data to Leave No One Behind through Modernization and Improved Coordination.2 The project aims to strengthen national statistical systems by enhancing their capacity to produce, integrate, analyze, and disseminate high-quality, timely, and disaggregated data, with a particular focus on gender, disability, and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators.

The program seeks to provide interns with hands-on exposure to the work of a United Nations regional commission, while enabling them to apply and further develop their academic knowledge through practical assignments related to official statistics and data innovation. At the same time, the internship contributes to ESCWAs efforts to support member States in modernizing statistical processes, improving inter-institutional coordination, and advancing data use for evidence-based policymaking and for leaving no one behind.

Within the Clusters substantive areas including SDG monitoring, Economic Statistics and Demographic and Social Statistics, intern will contribute to activities related to data collection, management, analysis, visualization, and communication, as well as to selected project-specific tasks that support the objectives of resilient and agile national statistical systems.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Technical Specialist, the Statistics/Data Science Research Intern will support the work of Cluster 4 and contribute to the implementation of ESCWAs statistics program. The intern will:

• Support the collection, management, analysis, compilation, and dissemination of data in selected statistical areas.
• Contribute to methodological research and the preparation of draft technical documentation and analytical reports.
• Support the organization of seminars, expert meetings, working groups, and training activities.
• Assist in the development and testing of machine-learning and data analytics tools for statistical applications.
• Assist in documenting and communicating analytical findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Assist in follow-up and coordination tasks related to the upcoming meeting of: World Data Forum, the United Nations Statistical Commission, and the ESCWA Statistical Committee.
• Perform other related duties as required in the implementation of statistical activities under Cluster 4.

The duration of a United Nations internship is for a minimum of two months on a full-time basis - this may be exceptionally extended for a maximum period of six months.

Qualifications/special skills

To qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:

1. Applicants must:
   • (a) be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
   • (b) be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent); or
   • (c) have graduated with a university degree (as defined above);
2. Applicants must:
   • (a) be computer literate in standard software applications.
   • (b) have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter; and
   • (c) have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

No previous work experience is required for this job opening. Knowledge of statistical tools, data management, processing, and modelling, statistical analysis and visualization and communication skills is desirable. Excellent interpersonal skills: being able to listen and collaborate with a wide range of players, being able to work independently, being pro-active and taking initiative is desirable. Excellent ability to write and communicate with accuracy and professionalism is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA.

For this position, fluency in Arabic and English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Note: 2Fluency2 equals a rating of fluent in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and 2Knowledge of2 equals a rating of confident in two of the four areas.

Additional Information

Not available.

Intern Specific text

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. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS BANK ACCOUNTS.

Deadline : Jan 29, 2026