Intern Economic Affairs

Assist in promoting regional cooperation and integration among African countries.

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UNECA - Economic Commission for Africa

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Application deadline 1 month ago: Monday 4 May 2026 at 03:59 UTC

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Overview

Assist in promoting regional cooperation and integration among African countries.

You have:

  • Applicants must be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme in economics, statistics, data science or related area.
  • Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent).
  • Ability to draft news articles and/or social media posts is desirable.
  • Ability to design surveys and polls is desirable.
  • Knowledge of standard software applications such as MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, and MS Teams is desirable.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship.
  • Knowledge of French is an advantage.

Contract

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

Work Location

Addis Ababa

Expected duration

6 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The Regional Integration and Trade Division (RITD) is responsible for promoting regional cooperation and integration among African countries. It has three main sections: African Trade Policy Centre, Regional Integration and Economic Diversification Section and the Office of the Director. The division aims to enhance the capacity of member states and regional economic communities to develop policies related to deepening regional markets, boosting intra-African trade and investment, accelerating industrialization, fostering market institutions, and tackling the challenges of structural transformation. The division also supports member states in ensuring policy coherence and alignment with the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. The core functions of the Division include contributing to enhancing the capacity of member States and regional economic communities to develop, implement and monitor policies and programmes to deepen regional markets and accelerate industrialization including in the pharmaceutical sector; contributing to enhancing the capacity of member States and regional economic communities to develop, implement and monitor policies and programmes in the areas of intra-African and international trade; assisting member States, Pan-African institutions, regional economic communities and intergovernmental organizations in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes for the advancement of Africa’s structural transformation; developing and disseminating policy tools, instruments and guidelines and helping to build the capacity of member States (including African landlocked developing countries) to identify opportunities for diversification, value adding and the development of manufacturing and industrial clusters; creating an enabling environment across the continent that is conducive to deeper regional integration; and supporting member States to ensure trade and industrialization policy coherence and the alignment of trade and industrialization policies with the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.These internship positions are in the Regional Integration and Trade Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, specifically in the Regional Integration and Economic Diversification Section, the African Trade Policy Centre, and the office of the Director respectively. The internship is unpaid, full-time and in-person. Under the supervision of the Chiefs of the Regional Integration and Economic Diversification Section, the African Trade Policy Centre, and the Director of RITD the interns will: • Assist with carrying out literature reviews and compiling databases to feed into research and analyses on regional integration and trade. Research areas could include but are not limited to, free movement of persons, labour mobility and skills portability, trade and the AFCFTA, regional and global value chains, customs union and common markets, and the development needs of landlocked developing countries (LLDCs). • Assist in the organization of expert group meetings and policy dialogues. • Assist in the preparation of briefing notes, talking points, and speeches for senior officials. • Assist with any other ad hoc assignments of the Division.

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) in the area of economics, statistics, data science or related area.; (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 a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Masters or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Masters or PH.D. Programme in the area of economics, statistics, data science or related area is required. 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. Ability to draft news articles and/or social media posts in desirable, and ability to design surveys and polls is desirable. Knowledge standard software applications, such as MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, and MS Teams is desirable.

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 French is an advantage.

Additional Information

Women and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply. As per the UN Convention os the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, do you identify as a person with disability? If Yes, please specify if you need any reasonable accomodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process?

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 conduct research for a project. What steps did you take? The interviewer wants to assess your research methods and how you approach problem-solving. Explain your research plan, sources used, and the outcome of the project.
How would you prioritize tasks if you have multiple deadlines approaching? This question evaluates your time management and prioritization skills. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you give an example of a time you worked in a team setting? What was your role? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What challenges do you think African countries face in achieving deeper regional integration? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Explain how you would draft a briefing note for a senior official. What key elements would you include? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Discuss your experience with data analysis. What tools and techniques have you used? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Why are you interested in this internship with the Regional Integration and Trade Division? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What do you think is the economic impact of the AFCFTA on African countries? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 1 month ago - Updated 1 month ago - Source: careers.un.org