Intern - Economic Affairs

Intern in Economic Affairs at the United Nations.

UN DESA - Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Open positions at UN DESA / Open positions at UN
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Application deadline in 2 days: Friday 11 Jul 2025 at 03:59 UTC

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Overview

Intern in Economic Affairs at the United Nations.

You have:

  • Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher).
  • Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent).
  • Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the Internship Programme.
  • Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an asset.

Contract

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

Work Location

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

Expected duration

Up to six months

Duties and Responsibilities

The Financing for Sustainable Development Office (FSDO) / Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) internship is for three months with an opportunity for extension, pending on the needs of the Department. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the Department or Office to which they are assigned. The unpaid internship is designed to be in person and full-time at the New York duty station. Depending on the situation of the successful candidates, the internship may also offer a Flexible Work Arrangement to be conducted fully remote, hybrid (in-person and remote), and/or in part-time.

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 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

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.

Potential interview questions

Describe a situation where you had to analyze complex data. What was your approach? The interviewer wants to assess your analytical skills and understanding of data. Talk about a specific situation where you used data to inform a decision or project.
How do you work effectively in a team environment? The interviewer is looking for your teamwork and collaboration skills. Pro members can see the explanation.
What motivates you to work in sustainable development? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you share an experience where you communicated effectively with a diverse group? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe a challenging situation you faced in your studies and how you overcame it. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Why do you want to intern with the United Nations? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What skills do you bring to this internship that would benefit the team? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you prioritize your tasks when facing tight deadlines? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 22 days ago - Updated 57 minutes ago - Source: careers.un.org