Intern - Economic Affairs

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Position Title: Intern - Economic Affairs
Location: Bangkok
Country: Thailand
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The internship is offered by the Energy Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). ESCAP was established in 1947 and is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. Its mission is to promote inclusive and sustainable economic and social development in the Asia-Pacific region. The organization operates in 62 member states and has a workforce of over 300 employees. ESCAP focuses on various areas including energy security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, climate change, and sustainable development, particularly in relation to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Job Overview:
The internship with the Energy Division is designed to support member states in enhancing energy security, facilitating energy transition, and addressing climate change through regional cooperation. The intern will engage in various research and analytical tasks aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), which focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. The internship is unpaid and requires a full-time commitment of 37.5 hours per week, working under the supervision of professional staff within the Energy Division. Interns are expected to indicate their areas of interest in their applications, which may include energy challenges, financing practices, energy modeling, and the socio-economic impacts of energy access.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for a range of tasks including:

• Conducting research on key energy challenges and solutions related to SDG7, focusing on universal access to energy, renewable energy share, and energy efficiency improvements.
• Analyzing good practices in energy financing, pricing, and policies that promote energy affordability and connectivity.
• Assisting in the development of project proposals and implementation of the Regional Road Map on Power System Connectivity, including identifying challenges and capacity gaps.
• Collecting and processing data related to energy demand and supply, and researching national energy policies and commitments.
• Conducting economic analyses of energy access and its socio-economic benefits, including data visualization in Excel.
• Researching the role of natural gas in achieving SDG7 and its socio-economic impacts.
• Investigating the implications of energy transition on the extractives industry and the demand for critical raw materials.
• Exploring sustainable cooling strategies and their impact on energy demand and emissions.
• Maintaining and updating the Asia-Pacific Energy Portal, ensuring the accuracy of energy statistics and policy documents. 1
• Supporting knowledge management efforts, including reviewing news clippings, preparing briefing materials, and assisting in social media outreach.

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); (b) be enrolled in or have completed the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s degree or equivalent). While professional work experience is not required, a field of study closely related to the internship is necessary. Candidates must provide proof of their academic status in their applications.

Educational Background:
Candidates should be pursuing or have completed a degree in a field relevant to economic affairs, energy policy, environmental studies, or a related discipline. This includes students in their final year of undergraduate studies, as well as those in graduate programs (Master’s or Ph.D.). Proof of enrollment or completion of the relevant degree must be attached to the application.

Experience:
No prior professional work experience is required for this internship. However, candidates should have relevant academic experience or coursework that aligns with the responsibilities of the internship, particularly in areas related to energy, economics, or sustainable development.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory for this internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is considered an advantage, as English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

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 Thailand may need to obtain the appropriate visa and work authorization. The United Nations does not charge any fees during the recruitment process, and candidates should be cautious of any requests for personal financial information.