Intern

Support youth development initiatives related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This opening expired 2 months ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UN DESA - Department of Economic and Social Affairs

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Application deadline 2 months ago: Wednesday 25 Mar 2026 at 03:59 UTC

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Overview

Support youth development initiatives related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

You have:

  • Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship.
  • Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.
  • Students must be in the final year of their first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme.
  • Field of study closely related to the type of internship is required.

Contract

This is a I-1 contract. It usually requires 0 years of experience, depending on education. More about I-1 contracts.

Work Location

UNHQ

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

This internship is located in Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Division seeks to strengthen international cooperation for social development, particularly in the areas of poverty eradication, productive employment and decent work, as well as the social inclusion of older persons, youth, family, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, and persons marginalized from society and development. The intern will work under the supervision of and report to the Social Affairs Officer in the Programme on Youth Unit (PYU) of the Social Inclusion and Participation Branch (SIPB).

Qualifications/special skills

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat. 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 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.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Additional Information

The intern will support youth development initiatives related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY). This includes research, drafting policy briefs, promoting youth inclusion in intergovernmental processes (e.g., UN Youth Delegate Programme), and facilitating collaboration within the Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development. Additionally, the role involves raising awareness on youth issues, preparing International Youth Day activities, and developing materials to communicate the Unit’s work to stakeholders.

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.

Potential interview questions

Can you discuss a project where you included youth voices? This assesses your ability to engage and include youth in development processes. Provide an example that highlights collaboration and communication with youth.
How do you handle challenges in teamwork? This evaluates your teamwork skills and conflict resolution abilities. Pro members can see the explanation.
What experience do you have in research or policy drafting? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Why are you interested in social development and youth inclusion? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a situation where you raised awareness on a social issue. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What do you know about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How would you facilitate collaboration among diverse stakeholders? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What challenges do you think youth face today? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 2 months ago - Updated 2 months ago - Source: careers.un.org