Expected duration
Desired start date is 1 September, or sooner.
Duties and Responsibilities
The internship is unpaid and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours), with supervision and support of a staff member. Interns are expected to come into the office at least four days a week, in keeping with UNHQ-NY hybrid working policies. This internship is designed to be full-time and in-person for first 3 months then with possibility of adjustment based on the needs of the office.
The Digital Transformation Team (DTT) is tasked with driving the implementation of the Strategy for Digital Transformation of UN Peacekeeping (DTS), which advances the use of digital technology to strengthen mandate implementation, improve the safety and security of peacekeepers, and enhance operational effectiveness.
The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) provides political and executive direction to UN peacekeeping operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates. The Department works to integrate the efforts of UN, governmental and non-governmental entities in the context of peacekeeping operations. DPO also provides guidance and support on military, police, rule of law, mine action and other relevant issues to other UN political and peacebuilding missions.
The intern will support the Digital Transformation Team with the following task:
Support the implementation of the Strategy for Digital Transformation of UN Peacekeeping (DTS) through programme management, coordination, and stakeholder engagement activities across Headquarters and field missions.
Assist in the governance mechanisms of the DTS, including supporting project reviews, monitoring implementation progress, preparing briefing materials, documenting discussions and decisions, and contributing to efforts that strengthen coordination and accountability across DTS workstreams.
Support innovation initiatives and projects that apply experimental and user-centered approaches, including ideation workshops, prototyping exercises, pilot projects, innovation challenges, and hackathons aimed at addressing operational and business challenges in peacekeeping.
Engage with end-users and stakeholders to identify needs, gather feedback, and support the design, testing, and implementation of innovative, technology-enabled solutions.
Carry out background research on digital transformation, innovation, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and data-driven approaches relevant to peacekeeping operations. Synthesize findings into actionable insights, briefing notes, reports, presentations, and strategic recommendations.
Support the improvement of the peacekeeping data ecosystem, including activities related to data collection, management, analysis, visualization, and reporting. Assist data teams at Headquarters and in field missions to strengthen evidence-based and data-informed decision-making.
Conduct exploratory data analyses, research innovative approaches to data use, and contribute to assessments of how new technologies and analytical methods can support operational effectiveness and programme delivery.
Assist in the rollout and adoption of generative artificial intelligence within DPO by supporting the management of communities of practice, networks of AI users, and knowledge-sharing activities across the organization.
Contribute to the development, testing, and documentation of AI use cases, AI-enabled tools, and agents that support business processes, knowledge management, operational effectiveness, and decision-making.
Draft, design, and disseminate communication materials for internal and external audiences, including newsletters, briefings, presentations, web content, and outreach campaigns.
Support the development and delivery of training, workshops, and capacity-building activities related to digital transformation, innovation, artificial intelligence, data literacy, and emerging technologies.
Draft and contribute to a variety of written outputs, including background notes, talking points, meeting summaries, analytical briefs, lessons learned reports, success stories, presentation decks, and internal and external communication materials.
Maintain organized records of meetings, project documentation, knowledge products, and innovation resources. Contribute to organizational learning and knowledge-sharing efforts through DET repositories, intranet pages, toolkits, and other platforms.
Assist with the day-to-day coordination of workstreams and events, including tracking actions and deadlines, maintaining project management tools, monitoring progress against implementation plans, and supporting reporting requirements.
Assist in organizing and delivering in-person, virtual, and hybrid meetings, workshops, consultations, and events, including preparing agendas, coordinating participants, managing digital platforms, and following up on action points.
Support DET’s efforts to capture and document best practices, lessons learned, and success stories arising from the implementation of the Digital Transformation Strategy, promoting a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
Provide logistical, administrative, and operational support for the team’s ongoing work, including scheduling, note-taking, document management, and presentation formatting.
Carry out additional tasks as required to support DET’s priorities and the implementation of the Strategy for Digital Transformation of UN Peacekeeping.
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). 1 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. We are open to a broad range of educational backgrounds.
An academic background in Strategy Development, Innovation, IT, Engineering, Project Management, or Public Administration is beneficial. 2 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.
Applicants should be proficient in standard computer software applications, particularly Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Teams. Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in the work of the United Nations and a personal commitment to the principles and ideals of the United Nations Charter. Applicants should demonstrate the ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.
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 an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
Additional Information
The United Nations does not financially remunerate interns. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. For internships in the United States of America, interns who are not United States citizens, permanent residents, or not currently in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa status will be required to obtain a G-4 visa.
If already in the United States of America on another non-immigrant visa status other than G-4, interns will be responsible for ensuring that they have a valid visa and, if required, employment authorization, allowing them to undertake the internship. For internships outside the United States, interns who are not citizens of the country, permanent residents, or not currently in the country's nonimmigrant visa status will be required to obtain a valid visa and work permit, allowing them to undertake the internship.
The United Nations must ensure all applicants for an internship, regardless of citizenship or national origin, are authorized to work in the country where the internship will be undertaken, either remotely, hybrid, or on the UN-premise duty station. Before resuming an internship, the applicant must submit proof of visa and/or work authorization. Applicants who have previously served six months, in total, as an intern in the United Nations Secretariat cannot be engaged as an intern.
Applicants who are children, siblings, and sons or daughters-in-law (including stepchildren, half-siblings, or stepsiblings) of an active staff member in the United Nations Secretariat cannot be engaged as an intern.
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.