Intern in Communications and Knowledge Management Section

Job Posting Organization:
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is a vital intergovernmental platform in the Asia-Pacific region, established to promote cooperation among its 53 member States and 9 associate members. ESCAP is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations, dedicated to addressing sustainable development challenges. The organization focuses on generating action-oriented knowledge and providing technical assistance and capacity-building services to support national development objectives, regional agreements, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. ESCAP plays a crucial role in fostering inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development across the region.

Job Overview:
The internship-position" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">internship position is located within the Communications and Knowledge Management Section (CKMS) of the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support (ODESPS). The intern will work under the direct supervision of library support staff and the overall supervision of the Chief Librarian. This internship is designed to be full-time, requiring the intern to work five days a week for a minimum of three months and a maximum of six months. The primary focus of the internship is to support the Library in various tasks related to digitizing and multimedia archival, aimed at enhancing the visibility of ESCAP's work among key stakeholders and the public. The intern's daily responsibilities will vary based on their background and the internship period, providing a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a dynamic environment.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including but not limited to: assisting in the curation, indexing, and contextual enrichment of existing multimedia materials; upgrading and enriching existing metadata and metadata schemes for audio-visual records and files to ensure comprehensive searchability; assisting in ongoing improvements to and maintenance of content management systems, databases, spreadsheets, and other organizational tools for improved searching of audio-visual materials; processing and/or cataloguing archival collections; assisting in database management and preservation of UN media; researching people or events covered by a collection to generate richer context and accurate descriptions; and initiating and carrying out other assigned tasks or special projects as directed by supervisors.

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme in library science, audio-visual archives, communications, information science, media studies, journalism, or a related field (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme in library science, audio-visual archives, communications, information science, media studies, journalism, or a related field (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 should possess good knowledge of standard software applications, including MS Office, social media, and multimedia applications. Familiarity with online repositories, integrated library systems, digital asset management systems, or similar tools is desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates should have a background in library science, audio-visual archives, communications, information science, media studies, journalism, or a related field. This includes either being enrolled in or having completed a graduate programme or being in the final year of a bachelor's degree programme in one of these areas. The educational qualifications should align closely with the responsibilities of the internship to ensure that the intern can effectively contribute to the tasks assigned.

Experience:
The position does not require prior professional work experience; however, applicants should have relevant academic experience or coursework that aligns with the internship's focus. This is particularly important as the internship is designed for individuals who are either pursuing or have recently completed their studies in fields related to library science and information management.

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, which is another official UN language, is considered an advantage and may enhance the candidate's application. Proficiency in additional UN languages could also be beneficial, although not required.

Additional Notes:
This internship is unpaid, and candidates are responsible for covering their own costs related to travel, visas, accommodation, health insurance, and other living expenses during the internship period. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of Thailand may need to obtain the appropriate visa and work authorization before starting the internship. It is important for successful candidates to discuss their specific visa requirements with the organization prior to accepting the internship offer. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring that the application process remains accessible and equitable.