Expected duration
The duration of the internship will be of an initial period of 3 months starting on 1 December 2026 . 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 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 the 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.
Duties and Responsibilities
The position is at the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Internship Programme is unpaid and full-time, i.e., an intern is expected to work five days per week (40 hours). The internship is offered either on an in-person. For in-person internships, interns must have a valid visa. All costs of travel, accommodation, medical insurance and living expenses must be covered by the intern. The internship will be located in the Office of the Secretary-General, (OSG) in Geneva. The internship will tentatively start on 1 December 2026 for a period of three months. The duties and responsibilities of the intern shall include:
Draft, edit and adapt web stories, explainers, social media copy, newsletters and other editorial products on trade and development
Improve clarity, structure, headlines and reader navigation while preserving accuracy, institutional neutrality and UNCTAD’s editorial voice.
Prepare content that people can understand and that search and AI answer systems can identify, retrieve and cite (precise headings, contextual explanations, credible sources and structured metadata.
Research emerging practice in generative AI, AI-assisted discovery and content provenance; turn relevant findings into usable editorial recommendations.
Test approved AI tools and prompts for editorial work, with human review; document effective workflows, limitations and safeguards. 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
The United Nations internship programme is intended to expose students or recent graduates to the United Nations in order to enhance their educational experience and to help them to gain experience in the work of the Organization. Therefore, applicants to the programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:
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 level or equivalent). For this position the following skills are desirable:
Studies in communications, journalism, digital media, linguistics, international relations, economics or a related field.
Demonstrable knowledge of generative AI in communications or editorial work, supported by coursework, projects, publications, tools or workflows.
Understanding of conventional search, AI-generated answers, source quality, structured content and digital discoverability.
Sound editorial judgment, attention to detail and the discipline to verify facts, sources and AI-generated output before use.
Interest in the work of the United Nations and ability to work constructively in a multicultural environment. Although professional work experience is not required for the UN Internship Programme, do you have any relevant Editorial AI and Communication experience? Please describe your experience with Multimedia? (desirable)
Languages
Fluency oral and written in English is required. Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is desirable
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.