Office Background
The Digital Enablement Team (DET) is tasked with driving the implementation of the Strategy for Digital Transformation of UN Peacekeeping (DTS), which envisages technology as a transformative enabler to directly enhance the safety and security of peacekeepers and improves mandate implementation.
The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) provides political and executive direction to UN peacekeeping operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates.
The Department works to integrate the efforts of UN, governmental and nongovernmental entities in the context of peacekeeping operations.
DPO also provides guidance and support on military, police, rule of law, mine action and other relevant issues to other UN political and peacebuilding missions.
This role is located in the Digital Enablement Team (DET) for UN Peacekeeping in the Office for Coordination and Shared Services (OCSS) in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Department of Peace Operations Shared Structure (DPPA-DPO-SS).
The internship is unpaid and full-time.
Interns work five days per week (35 hours), with supervision and support of a staff member.
Interns are expected to come into the office at least three days a week, in keeping with UNHQ-NY hybrid working policies.
This internship is designed to be full-time and in-person for first 3 months then with possibility of adjustment based on the needs of the office and the successful candidate to part-time (20 hours per week) and/or remote.
Responsibilities
The Intern’s duties may include:
• Assist in the identification, development, implementation, and evaluation of digital transformation initiatives.
• Carry out background research on peacekeeping-related challenges, digital solutions, emerging technologies, and innovation methodologies. Synthesize findings into actionable insights and contribute to briefings, reports, and strategic recommendations.
• Design and conduct surveys, stakeholder consultations, and data-gathering exercises. Analyze and visualize data, and assist in drafting summaries, insights, and reports that inform programme decisions.
• Support the planning and facilitation of workshops, co-creation sessions, consultations and support in liaising with relevant UN entities, field missions, and external partners as needed.
• Draft and contribute to various written outputs, including background notes, talking points, meeting summaries, presentation decks, analytical briefs, and content for internal and external communications.
• Maintain organized records of meetings, project documents, and innovation tools. Contribute to knowledge-sharing efforts, including through DET’s repositories, intranet pages, and toolkits.
• Assist with the day-to-day coordination of workstreams and events. This includes tracking tasks and deadlines, taking meeting minutes, maintaining project management platforms, and monitoring progress against implementation plans.
• Assist in organizing and delivering in-person, virtual, and hybrid meetings and events. Tasks may include preparing agendas, coordinating with participants, setting up digital platforms, managing polls, and following up on action points.
• Support DET’s efforts in measuring the progress and impact of innovation and digital transformation activities, including through indicators, feedback mechanisms, and after-action reviews.
• Provide logistical, administrative, and operational support for the team’s ongoing work, including scheduling, note-taking, and document and presentation deck formatting.
• Carry out additional tasks as required to support DET’s priorities and the implementation of the Strategy for Digital Transformation of UN Peacekeeping.
Qualifications/special skills
We are open to a broad range of educational backgrounds.
An academic background in Strategy Development, Innovation, IT, Engineering, Project Management, or Public Administration is beneficial.
Please note that to qualify for an internship with the United Nations Internship Programme, applicants must meet the following requirements:
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
(1) be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or
(2) be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor’s degree or equivalent); or
(3) have graduated with a university degree as defined in (1) and (2) above.
We also ask that applicants:
(1) Be computer literate in standard software applications;
(2) Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and
(3) 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.
Languages
DEADLINE: AUGUST 27, 2025
