Sustainable Development Policy Intern

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945, currently comprising 193 member states. Its mission is to promote peace, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and cooperation among nations, and to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. The UN operates in numerous countries around the world, with a focus on sustainable development and humanitarian assistance. The UN Resident Coordinator (RC) leads the UN Country Team in China, which includes various UN agencies working collaboratively to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness at the country level. The UN aims to be a reliable partner for governments, particularly in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Job Overview:
The Sustainable Development Policy Intern will play a crucial role in supporting the UN Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in China. This position is designed for individuals who are passionate about sustainable development and eager to contribute to the UN's mission. The intern will work full-time for a duration of six months, under the direct supervision of the Senior Economist. The internship is unpaid, and interns are expected to work five days a week, totaling 40 hours. The intern will assist in various tasks related to UN coordination mechanisms and contribute to the overall policy work of the RCO. This role provides an excellent opportunity for individuals to gain hands-on experience in international development and policy analysis within a prestigious organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern's responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Providing relevant support to UN coordination mechanisms and UN Country Team (UNCT) activities under the guidance of the Economist of the RCO.
• Conducting independent research and contributing inputs to reports and analyses produced by the office, including identifying data sources and preparing visual aids such as charts, graphs, and infographics.
• Supporting the RCO’s policy work by compiling and preparing briefing materials, background information, and documentation.
• Assisting in the development and updating of databases and other information management activities.
• Drafting talking points and inputs for speeches for meetings, events, and missions.
• Supporting team members in facilitating on-site, inter-agency, and high-level meetings or events.
• Completing other ad hoc tasks as requested by the office and/or the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must meet one of the following criteria: (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). While professional work experience is not required for the UN Internship Programme, a field of study closely related to the internship is necessary. Applicants must be students in the final year of their first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s, or Ph.D. Programme, or have completed such programmes. Additionally, applicants should possess good knowledge of standard software applications, particularly MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Excel. Familiarity with statistical software tools such as Stata or SPSS is desirable, as is experience in drafting analytical reports and speeches for senior officials on topics related to economics and sustainable development.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this internship includes being enrolled in or having completed a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent) or being in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). This ensures that candidates have a solid academic foundation relevant to the tasks they will undertake during the internship.

Experience:
While the UN Internship Programme does not require professional work experience, candidates should ideally have some exposure to research, policy analysis, or related fields. Experience in drafting analytical reports, speeches, and talking points for senior officials on topics related to economics and sustainable development is considered desirable. Additionally, any experience in supporting event organization will be beneficial for the intern's role.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory for this internship, as English is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of French is also beneficial, as it is another working language of the UN. Furthermore, knowledge of Chinese is desirable, which can enhance communication and understanding within the local context of the internship.

Additional Notes:
This internship is unpaid, and interns are responsible for their own travel, visa, accommodation, and living expenses. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of China may need to obtain the appropriate visa and work authorization. It is important for successful candidates to discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring a transparent and fair selection process.