Intern - Economic Affairs

Assist in economic affairs to support sustainable development initiatives.

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UN DESA - Department of Economic and Social Affairs

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Application deadline 1 month ago: Tuesday 12 May 2026 at 03:59 UTC

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Overview

Assist in economic affairs to support sustainable development initiatives.

You have:

  • Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) or 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

2-6 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

What motivated you to apply for this internship in Economic Affairs? The interviewer wants to understand your interest in the field and the organization. Discuss your passion for economic affairs and how it relates to your studies.
Can you describe a challenging project you worked on and the outcome? This question assesses your problem-solving and project management skills. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you prioritize your tasks when managing multiple projects? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What skills do you believe are most important for an intern in this field? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How would you approach working in a team with diverse backgrounds? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you provide an example of how you dealt with feedback in a previous experience? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What role do you see economic affairs playing in global sustainability efforts? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Are you familiar with any current economic affairs topics? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 1 month ago - Updated 1 month ago - Source: careers.un.org