Information Systems Intern

Job Posting Organization:
The Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is a crucial entity within the United Nations that serves as a bridge between global policies and national actions in the economic, social, and environmental domains. Established to facilitate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, DESA plays a pivotal role in guiding countries towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN General Assembly. The organization is involved in extensive research, policy analysis, and capacity development projects across various nations, focusing on macroeconomic trends and development issues. DESA operates globally, engaging with numerous countries to promote sustainable development and enhance the effectiveness of national policies.

Job Overview:
The Information Systems Intern will be engaged in a project aimed at enhancing the MUIOGO platform, which integrates OG-Core into MUIO. This internship is designed to provide hands-on experience in developing user-friendly interfaces and improving open-source applications. The intern will work closely with the Senior Economic Affairs Officer and will be responsible for designing and implementing a user interface that is accessible to policymakers. The role requires collaboration in building dashboards for scenario design and execution, implementing visualization components, and adding usability features to enhance the overall user experience. The intern will also be involved in replacing proprietary components with open-source alternatives, contributing to the development of documentation and onboarding materials, and setting up continuous integration and delivery pipelines. This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of technology and policy, contributing to significant global initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern's responsibilities will include:

• Assisting in the design and implementation of a user-friendly interface for policymakers based on MUIO.
• Further developing the integration of OG-Core with MUIO.
• Building dashboards for scenario design, selection, and execution.
• Implementing visualization components to explore results effectively.
• Adding usability features such as defaults, tooltips, and guardrails to enhance user experience.
• Replacing proprietary front-end components with open-source alternatives to facilitate easier distribution and maintenance.
• Contributing relevant improvements to MUIO and ensuring the project aligns with open-source principles.
• Implementing packaging and distribution workflows to streamline the deployment of the application.
• Setting up continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines to automate testing and deployment processes. 1
• Writing comprehensive documentation and onboarding materials to assist future users and developers.

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must meet one of the following criteria: (a) be enrolled in or have completed a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher) in computer science, information technology, software engineering, or a related field; (b) be enrolled in or have completed the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in computer science, information technology, software engineering, or a related field. While professional work experience is not required for the UN Internship Programme, a field of study closely related to the internship is essential. Candidates must provide proof of their academic status and qualifications during the application process.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this internship includes being a student in the final year of a first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), or being enrolled in or having completed a Master's or Ph.D. program in a relevant field such as computer science, information technology, or software engineering. This educational foundation is crucial for understanding the technical aspects of the internship and for contributing effectively to the project.

Experience:
While prior professional work experience is not a prerequisite for this internship, familiarity with economic concepts and principles would be advantageous. The intern should possess a foundational understanding of programming, particularly in Python, as the project involves working with open-source software and developing user interfaces. Experience with software development practices, particularly in the context of open-source projects, will be beneficial.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory for this internship, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of an additional official UN language, such as French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, or Spanish, is considered an advantage and may enhance the candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
This internship is designed to be in-person and full-time, requiring a commitment of 35 hours per week, although adjustments can be made based on the successful candidate's requests. The expected duration of the internship is between 4 to 6 months, with a desired start date of 23 November 202

• It is important to note that interns are not financially compensated by the United Nations, and all costs related to travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of the interns or their sponsoring institutions. Additionally, applicants who have previously served as interns in UN Entities for a total of six months are not eligible for this internship. The UN does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.