Work Location

Geneva

Expected duration

3 months

Duties and Responsibilities

This internship position is in the Communications and External Relations (CER), Office of the Secretary-General, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), based in Geneva, Switzerland. The internship is unpaid and full-time, requiring interns to work five days a week (40 hours). For in-person internships, candidates must ensure they have valid health insurance coverage in Switzerland for the duration of the internship, along with a valid visa. Interns are responsible for covering all personal costs, including travel, accommodation, medical insurance, and living expenses. The internship will begin as soon as possible for an initial period of three months. Under the overall supervision of a senior staff member the key responsibilities are: 1. Assist in creating engaging content on key topics such as sustainable development, trade, investment, and the digital economy to enhance the visibility of UNCTAD's initiatives among target audiences. 2. Contribute to the drafting and editing of various publications, including fact sheets, brochures, newsletters, and other materials for both internal and external stakeholders. 3. Support the creation of multimedia content by leveraging new media tools and platforms to expand UNCTAD’s outreach and global visibility. 4. Assist in reviewing and ensuring the accuracy and quality of editorial content, both textually and visually, across digital platforms. 5. Assist in performing initial edits on content for print and digital publications, ensuring consistency and adherence to editorial standards. 6. Assist with tasks related to preparing stories for publication across a variety of platforms, including print and online media. 7. Assist in engaging with modern editorial practices, including content planning and agile methodologies, to optimize communication strategies. More generally, interns shall: 1. Observe all applicable rules, regulations, instructions, procedures and directives of the Organization notwithstanding their status as described in section 4 of the UN Internship Programme Administrative Instructions ST/AI/2000/9 & ST/AI/2005/11. 2. Provide the receiving departments/offices with a copy of all materials prepared by them during the internship. The UN shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material which bears a direct relation to or is made in consequence of, the services provided under the internship. At the request of the UN, the interns shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to the UN in compliance with the requirements of the applicable law. 3. Respect the impartiality and independence required of the UN and of the receiving department/office and shall not seek or accept instructions regarding the services performed under the internship agreement from any Government or from any authority external to the UN. 4. Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the receiving department/office, they may not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or any other external source any information which has become known to them by reason of their association with the UN or the receiving department/office, that they know or ought to have known has not been made public. They may not use any such information without the written authorization of the appropriate official, and such information may never be used for personal gain. These obligations also apply after the end of the internship with the UN. 5. Refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on the UN or on the receiving department/office and will not engage in any activity which is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the UN.

Qualifications/special skills

No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advance course work or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship. However, for this position, a Degree in Journalism, English, Communications, Writing, International Relations, Science or related field, is required. * Strong analytical abilities and a keen interest in modern editorial practices, including agile or scrum methodologies are desirable. * Exceptional verbal and written communication skills are desirable. * Familiarity with emerging media tools, such as large language models (LLMs) and AI-powered editorial technologies, is highly desirable.

Languages

Fluency in spoken and written in English is required for this internship. Knowledge of French and Spanish is an asset.

Additional Information

ASSESSMENT: Candidates will be assessed based on their Personel History Profiles (PHP). Individual interviews may be conducted for further assessment. A complete online application (Cover Note and Personal History profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The cover Note must include: - Title of the degree; - Graduation date (when will you be graduating from the programme, if not yet graduated); - List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in; - Explain why you are the best candidate for the internship position. In your Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experience, if any; IT skills and three (3) references. Due to high volume of applications received, ONLY successful candidates will be contacted. SPECIAL NOTICE: This profile is for the sole purpose of the Internship Programme of the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development. There should be no expectation of employment within the UN after the internship. Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, positions at the professional level and above carrying international recruitment status in the Secretariat for a period of six months following the end of their internship. Applicants who are children or siblings of a staff member are not eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations. Applicants who are otherwise related to a staff member may be engaged as interns, provided that they are neither assigned to the same work unit as such staff member nor placed under the direct or indirect supervision of such staff member.

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.