Intern - Sustainable Development

Job Description

Work Location: New York

Expected Duration: 3 months with a possibility of extension

Duties and Responsibilities

The position is located in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) / Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development (OISC), Operational Activities Policy Branch (OAPB).

Daily responsibilities will depend on the work programme for the internship period which includes official meetings and negotiations among Member States, preparation of official reports of the Secretary-General and substantive preparations requiring research, data and information collection and analysis. Additional tasks should be expected on short notice due to the nature of support to senior officials of the UN system and Member States.

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Conduct research on relevant topics in sustainable development and operational activities for development of the UN development system;
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data and prepare data visualizations and infographics based on tables, figures, statistical results;
• Support the development and roll-out of surveys on operational activities for development of the UN development system;
• Assist in the organization of high-level panels and seminars for the General Assembly and ECOSOC and prepare summaries of their outcomes;
• Support informal consultations on intergovernmental legislation;
• Follow various intergovernmental meetings in ECOSOC and the General Assembly and prepare draft summaries of intergovernmental discussions and consultations, upon request.

This internship is designed to be in-person and full-time (35 hours) but can be adjusted based on request by the successful candidate.

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 must be computer literate and have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint.
• Must have excellent drafting skills in English, ability to synthesize and extract essential information on short notice, and ability to work independently with limited supervision and overall guidance.
• The successful applicant must be detail oriented, diligent, and deliver high-quality outputs.
• 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.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the Internship Programme.

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.

Additional Information

ASSESSMENT: Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a written assessment, which may be followed by an interview.

G-4 VISAS FOR INTERNS: All interns assigned to a UN Organization, including Funds and Programmes, at a United States based duty station, who are not United States citizens or United States legal permanent residents (LPR) will be required to obtain G-4 visas prior to travelling to the United States.

Prospective interns who are already in the United States in another nonimmigrant status may need to apply for a change of status to G-4 prior to joining the United Nations for an internship. It should be emphasized that prospective interns are responsible for ensuring that they have an appropriate valid visa and employment authorization allowing them to undertake the internship.

If the applicant is in F-1 status and has a valid EAD, they may undertake an internship within the scope of their F-1 visa without seeking a change of visa status. Please note, however, that interns in F-1 status who wish to undertake an internship following completion of their academic programme as part of Optional Practical Training (OPT) ‘may’ need to seek a change of visa status to G-4 (This process currently takes about 8-10 weeks) or obtain G-4 visa overseas.

To qualify for G-4 nonimmigrant status, interns must be serving essentially full-time, i.e. 35+ hours per week.

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 : Dec 29, 2025

About the Organization

The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas: it compiles, generates and analyses a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and information on which Member States of the United Nations draw to review common problems and to take stock of policy options; it facilitates the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint courses of action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and it advises interested Governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through technical assistance, helps build national capacities.