Intern - Data Science

Job Posting Organization:
The Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) was officially established in March 2003 and became operational in May 200

• Its mission is to enhance international support for Africa's development and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security through advocacy and analytical work. OSAA assists the Secretary-General in improving coherence and coordination of the UN System support to Africa, facilitates inter-governmental deliberations on Africa at the global level, particularly regarding the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and establishes a monitoring mechanism to review commitments made towards Africa’s development. The organization plays a critical role in addressing the interrelated issues of peace, security, and development in Africa, and it operates within the framework of the United Nations.

Job Overview:
The Intern - Data Science will work within the Policy Innovation Unit of OSAA, contributing to various projects aimed at enhancing data-driven decision-making processes. The intern will be involved in reviewing and developing the existing codebase, aligning data infrastructure with OSAA’s backend requirements, and supporting data collection efforts. This position is designed for individuals who are passionate about data science and its application in international development and diplomacy. The intern will also assist in preparing dashboards for deployment, ensuring that technical outputs meet the analytical needs of the organization. This role provides an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a dynamic environment while contributing to meaningful projects that support Africa's development.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The intern will be responsible for several key tasks, including:

• Codebase Review & Development: Refactoring and modularizing the existing Python and Streamlit codebase to enhance performance, reusability, and scalability. Implementing version control and documentation practices using GitHub.
• Data Infrastructure Alignment: Structuring and aligning datasets according to OSAA’s backend infrastructure requirements and supporting the setup of structured ingestion pipelines for raw data and metadata harmonization.
• Data Collection & Diplomacy: Identifying, verifying, and collecting datasets from primary and authoritative sources, including government websites, institutional portals, and international organizations. Supporting OSAA’s data diplomacy efforts by coordinating data requests and correspondence with external data holders and national institutions.
• Dashboard Integration Support: Preparing the dashboard for full deployment within OSAA’s internal systems, optimizing Altair and Markdown outputs, customizing layout and styling using CSS, and ensuring accessibility and responsiveness.
• Collaboration & Documentation: Contributing to internal documentation of workflows, design choices, and data schema, and supporting collaboration with IT and policy teams to align technical outputs with analytical needs.

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). While professional work experience is not required for the UN internship-programme" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Internship Programme, a field of study closely related to the internship is necessary. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Ph.D. Programme. Proof of eligibility must be attached to the application.

Educational Background:
Candidates should have a background in fields related to data science, computer science, statistics, or a similar discipline. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required, and candidates should ideally be pursuing or have completed a graduate degree. The educational background should provide a solid foundation in data analysis, programming, and statistical methodologies relevant to the tasks outlined in the internship.

Experience:
While no prior professional work experience is required, candidates should demonstrate familiarity with data science concepts, programming languages (particularly Python), and data visualization tools. Experience with GitHub for version control and documentation is also beneficial. Interns should be prepared to engage in collaborative projects and contribute to team efforts effectively.

Languages:
Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. The working languages of the United Nations Secretariat are English and French, and familiarity with other official languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish can enhance a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. All costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of the interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken may need to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training.