Internship: Funder Engagement and Governance

Job Description

Job Opening ID: 271053
Job Network : -
Job Family : Programme Management
Category and Level : Internship, I-1
Duty Station : GENEVA
Department/Office : International Trade Centre
Date Posted : Jan 22, 2026
Deadline : Feb 5, 2026

Work Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Expected duration: 15 February 2026 (tentative) – 14 May 2026, with possibility of extension up to a maximum of six months

Duties and Responsibilities

BACKGROUND:

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint cooperation agency of the WTO and the UN for trade-related technical assistance. ITC is the only multilateral agency fully dedicated to supporting the competitiveness and internationalization of SMEs, and works to advance inclusive and sustainable trade diversification and value addition through increased SME competitiveness.

The Office of the Executive Director (OED) spearheads the positioning of ITC, including communication with donors, external stakeholders, beneficiary groups and the general public as well as internally among ITC staff; leads a corporate approach to event management and fundraising; coordinates strategic partnerships; and oversees key management control functions especially governance, planning and performance reporting, and evaluation.

OED is made up of the offices of the Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Director (ODED) including the Cabinet of the Executive Director, the Strategic Planning, Performance and Governance Section (SPPG), the Communications and Events (CE) Section. The Strategic Planning, Performance and Governance Section (SPPG) supports ITC’s Senior Management and staff in advancing results-based management, strategic direction and organizational effectiveness. SPPG is responsible for corporate planning, performance monitoring and reporting, and risk management. SPPG brings together core corporate functions through its constituent entities: External Relations and Governance, the New York Office, Gender, Diversity and Inclusion, the Project Design Task Force, Planning and Performance, and the Independent Evaluation Unit, ensuring a coherent, organization wide approach to strategy, accountability, partnerships and inclusion.

The intern will work in the External Relations and Governance team within the Strategic Planning, Performance and Governance Unit.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Donor Relations and Governance Officer and the direct supervision of the Associate Governance and External Relations Officer, and in close cooperation with other divisions and sections, the intern will support the work of the team through the following activities:

• Research and data analysis:
  • Undertake desk research and basic data analysis to contribute inputs to senior management briefing notes and corporate reports related to ITC’s fundraising performance, using tools such as Excel and PowerPoint.
  • Conduct background research on governmental funders and private actors, including corporations and foundations, focusing on development assistance volumes, funding of UN agencies and NGOs, geographic and thematic priorities, SDG relevance, and corporate social responsibility agendas.
• Data visualisation and dashboards:
  • Support the maintenance and improvement of internal dashboards and analytics tools used for monitoring fundraising performance, grant agreements signed, and funds received.
  • Contribute to identifying opportunities to enhance the clarity, usability and accuracy of existing dashboards, under the guidance of programme staff.
• Knowledge management:
  • Contribute to ITC’s internal knowledge management by collecting, structuring and maintaining up-to-date information on funders and funding opportunities.
  • Support regular updates of relevant intranet pages by cataloguing donor intelligence, including development cooperation priorities, funding instruments and engagement modalities, and by consolidating inputs from ITC officers managing project and programme portfolios related to specific funders.
• Funder engagement and resource mobilisation:
  • Support the development of ITC’s updated Resource Mobilization Strategy (RMS) 2026–2030 by contributing background research, analytical inputs and drafting selected sections, under staff guidance.
  • Support the implementation of the RMS through preparation for meetings with funder representatives, contribution to targeted engagement approaches, and drafting concise meeting records.
  • Assist ITC’s outreach to traditional and non-traditional funders by researching funding opportunities and mapping potential private-sector partners, including foundations, for engagement at corporate and programme levels.
• Resource mobilisation trainings:
  • Support the preparation and delivery of resource mobilisation-related trainings, including contributing to the development of training materials and providing logistical and organizational assistance, in collaboration with SPPG/External Relations staff.
• Governance events:
  • Assist in the organization of ITC’s key governance events, including meetings of the Consultative Committee of the ITC Trust Fund (CCITF).
  • Support the preparation of agendas, background documentation and draft meeting minutes, under staff supervision.

ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind.

Qualifications/special skills

Applicants to the programme shall, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements:

• a) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or
• b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent);
• c) Have graduated with a university degree (as defined in a or b above) and, if selected, shall commence the internship within one year of graduation.

• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft 365 (MS Office) applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams;
• Previous work experience in an international organization or in the areas of fundraising/CSR will be considered an asset.

Languages

• Fluency in spoken and written English is required.
• Working knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.

Skills

• Ability to write clearly and concisely is essential, as is the ability to apply sound judgement when synthesizing and presenting information.

Additional Information Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes:

The internship will provide practical experience in trade-related technical assistance and exposure to ITC’s mandate, governance structure, and resource mobilization processes. The intern will develop skills in donor intelligence, research and internal knowledge management by contributing to funder briefings, governance events, and donor-related activities.

The intern will strengthen analytical and technical skills through work on corporate fundraising data, including preparation of data visualisations, and further develop proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.

By the end of the assignment, the intern is expected to:

• Understand ITC’s governance, financing and resource mobilization mechanisms.
• Conduct desk research on governmental and private-sector funders aligned with ITC priorities.
• Prepare concise funder briefing notes, meeting records and data visualisations.
• Contribute to maintaining donor-related information on internal knowledge-sharing platforms.

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: February 5, 2026