Internship at United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) was established to promote economic and social development in the Asia-Pacific region. ESCAP operates in ten member states in South and South-West Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Türkiye. The organization focuses on implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ESCAP-SSWA is dedicated to providing policy support, technical assistance, and capacity building to its member states, with a mission to foster inclusive growth, strengthen connectivity, and promote regional cooperation for sustainable development. The organization has a diverse workforce and engages in various initiatives to address socio-economic challenges in the region.

Job Overview:
The internship opportunity at ESCAP-SSWA in New Delhi is designed for individuals seeking to gain practical experience in the field of sustainable development and regional cooperation. Interns will work full-time for a minimum of three months and a maximum of six months, under the supervision of ESCAP staff. The internship is unpaid, and interns are expected to contribute to research projects related to the implementation of the SDGs. The role offers a unique chance to understand the socio-economic challenges faced by the subregion and the workings of the United Nations in developing countries. Interns will engage in various activities, including monitoring policy trends, collecting data, and assisting in content creation and media outreach, thereby enhancing their skills and knowledge in international development and policy advocacy.

Duties and Responsibilities:
Interns will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including: (a) Regularly monitoring relevant developments, policy trends, and news articles related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs in the subregion; (b) Collecting details on national policies regarding selected sustainable development issues of ESCAP-SSWA member states; (c) Gathering data, generating figures and tables, and analyzing results to support ESCAP-SSWA staff in research and analytical work; (d) Attending conferences, seminars, meetings, and other events, and providing written highlights and briefing notes; (e) Assisting in content creation and media outreach to enhance the UN’s digital presence through effective social media support; (f) Providing administrative, organizational, and conference management support for ESCAP-SSWA events; (g) Undertaking other activities as assigned by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications:
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). Candidates with degrees in Economics, Environment, Energy Management, Finance, Statistics, Communication, and IT are preferred. Additionally, applicants should possess good written and oral communication skills, teamwork abilities, and a client-oriented mindset.

Educational Background:
Candidates should have a background in relevant fields such as Economics, Environment, Energy Management, Finance, Statistics, Communication, or IT. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required, with preference given to those pursuing or having completed a graduate degree.

Experience:
While professional work experience is not required for participation in the internship programme, candidates should be computer literate in standard software applications. Familiarity with econometrics, empirical data analysis methods, and relevant software packages (e.g., EViews, Stata, SPSS, R, and Python) is desirable. Data handling skills and proficiency in using spreadsheets, particularly Excel, are also considered assets. Experience with social media is advantageous.

Languages:
Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required for the Internship Programme. Knowledge of another official UN language, such as French, is considered an asset and may enhance the candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
The 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 India may need to obtain the appropriate visa and work authorization. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, and applicants are encouraged to follow all instructions carefully during the application process.