Requisition ID: 6907
Grade: Intern
Category: Internship
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Country: Austria
Duty Station: Vienna
Entry Date: As soon as possible
Internship Duration: 3-6 months
Application Deadline: 05-Jan-2026, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)
Vacancy Announcement
UNIDO welcomes applications from qualified persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to applicants and employees with disabilities to support full participation in the recruitment process and in the performance of their duties.
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies to a greater or lesser extent to all SDGs.
The medium-term programme framework (MTPF) is UNIDO’s core strategic document. As the Organization moves from the 2022–2025 cycle to the 2026–2029 MTPF, it sets a renewed vision to support Member States shape their industries for development. The new priorities include renewable and clean energy, sustainable access and climate action, ending hunger through innovation and local value addition, and fair and sustainable global and regional supply chains. Cross-cutting priorities focus on industrial and economic policy advice, skills development, fostering digitalization and artificial intelligence, gender equality and the empowerment of women, supporting youth, promoting cleaner production and circular economy, and leveraging private sector investment and development finance.
Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Sub-regional Offices and Country Offices.
The Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development (TCS), headed by a Managing Director, ensures the Organization's application of strategies and interventions for sustainable industrial development related to environment, energy, Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises (MSMEs), and digitalization. The Directorate also oversees the Organization's normative contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through industrial policy advice and capacity development. Through coordination in-house and with Member States and industry stakeholders, it ensures that the services provided in these areas contribute to effective and appropriate technical, business and policy solutions and are focused on results, scaling up and positioning UNIDO as a leading platform for industrial development in developing countries and global fora. The Directorate is responsible for the Division of Industrial Policy Advice and Capacity Development (TCS/IPC), and technical Divisions of Circular Economy and Green Industry (TCS/CEG), Energy and Climate Action (TCS/ECA), Climate Innovation and Montreal Protocol (TCS/CMP); MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation (TCS/SME); and Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI). Leveraging the diverse skill sets of UNIDO personnel and the services provided by the two TC directorates, TCS collaborates closely with IET to develop and implement programmes and projects, aiming at enhancing synergy and complementarity and maximizing UNIDO corporate performance and impacts on the ground. The Directorate also ensures close coordination and collaboration among the Divisions as well as with relevant entities in all Directorates across the Organization.
The Intern shall work under the direct supervision of an officer designated under the Division of Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence (TCS/DAI) promotes digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence as well as associated technologies as part of innovation ecosystems consisting of productive capacities in manufacturing, services and digital firms, with the purpose to advance the competitiveness of industries and manufacturing firms in Member States. It helps industries to benefit from the rapid progress in digital and convergent technologies associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), ensuring a smooth transition towards safe and secured cyber- physical industrial systems and a smart society and mitigating any negative adverse effects on employment and quality of work. Through the Division's services, the productive transformation is the key, by integrating industrial businesses, dynamic entrepreneurship, and acceleration services, and by applying technological innovation to smart manufacturing, smart energy, smart agribusiness and others, in developing countries, transition and emerging economies, with emphasis in developing countries to provide the opportunity to technologically catch up instead of falling behind industries in more advanced countries.
In response to the official letter of Bama Yao Autonomous County Committee of the CPC and People’s Government of Bama Yao Autonomous County to the Managing Director of Programme Development and Technical Cooperation at UNIDO, dated 26 April 2020, the project was developed to boost Bama’s tourism potential, as well as the job generation through the Health and longevity brands products. The objective of the project is to contribute to the Bama County’s efforts in regional development and rural revitalization by ensuring efficient implementation the national development strategies, through supporting innovative, inclusive and sustainable development, with an emphasis on elevating the global brand recognition of the health industry and its ties to the tourism sector. The project will also focus on the associated food value chains, seeking opportunities beyond the existing product range and offering technical assistance to beneficiary SMEs to improve their international market performance, inter alia, by tapping into their potential to ensure compliance with EU food safety regulations and organic food standards.
The project identifies the major stakeholders in the region and will strengthen the linkages of the main health and longevity products and services with other sectors in the region. With this, the project will combine and harness the potential with an upgrading perspective, exposure to best international practices, and capacity building activities to enhance the job creation potential of Bama’s tourist potential. Three outputs will strengthen the region’s comparative advantage through an upgrading and modernization strategy for the local health and selected longevity product industries, including Bama drinking water, camellia oil, hemp seed oil and Bama Xiang pig. Further, a comprehensive framework for tourism and service providers to benefit from these products is going to be established. A quality campaign and review of the local tourist offerings could also help explore new market niches and options, appeal to new national and international markets in order to strengthen Bama’s socio-economic development. Third, the project will provide several marketing capacity building activities and host Global Forum events. Two major forums will be a part of those outputs.
There are several partners in the region that will be integral to the success of this project, including the Bama regional authority, the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE) and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China. Bama is a picturesque village with great touristic potential. The city and region have gained some status as a health and wellbeing hotspot. In addition, the local spring water offers a great potential for further growth applying developed marketing strategies and procedures. Despite great endowments in natural beauty and resources, Bama tourism lacks international appeal and caters to a limited market only. Among major touristic assets are Bama’s longevity branded marketing campaigns addressing multiple given opportunities and regional properties. Spring water companies are another driver for the health and longevity branding in the region, yet their volume output and standing is low when compared against international benchmarks. A holistic tourist approach that captures both the water companies with its improved high-quality packaging (i.e. glass bottles) and tourist related activities including the creation of its required infrastructure could significantly boost local employment and retain more value added in the region. Pathways for tourist activities, quality enhancement of local production and linking those activities will strengthen forward and backward linkages, which sees an impact on employment, quality of life in the region, and contributes to inclusive and sustainable industrial development.
In line with the Joint Declaration for tripartite cooperation signed on 19 February 2024, Ethiopia, China, and UNIDO agreed to jointly develop a Center of Excellence (CoE) to deliver innovative solution and to address the inter-linked challenges across industries.
Under the China-Africa-UNIDO Centre of Excellence, the proposed project aims to strengthen the digital transformation in Ethiopia by integrating technologies and sustainable practices. Through a combination of international expertise from, among others, UNIDO’s Global Alliance Members, the proposed project will identify and address risks and challenges associated with the adoption of frontier technologies in developing countries. Three separate proposals are made to improve on the matter.
One project aims to establish a digital platform for shared services, resources and expertise, where buyers and sellers can exchange services or product, which will improve overall equipment efficiency, reduce costs for communities and increase availability of state-of-the-art technologies. The platform will specifically scope for relevant technologies and – in its inception phase – will formulate and identify those through field visits and wide discussions with national counterparts and stakeholders.
Second, a pilot programme that deploys technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), remote sensing and drones, geographic information systems and practices. These will foster cooperation and spur innovation in the industrial support ecosystem of Ethiopia.
Third, and combining the approaches for the other two projects will be an extensive capacity building program through an AI excellence programme. In combination with other initiatives and particularly with the open source community (e.g. FabLab and Maker movements) the programme will specifically further homegrown innovations, and the potential for “do it yourself” (DIY) solutions that enable SMEs and local service providers to build their own applications and increase technological autonomy of the region.
For the preparatory assistance phase, the first course of action is a series of field visits to ensure relevant activities are being proposed, and technologies proposed can already be tested and verified in terms of their usefulness for local conditions. Early preparatory steps can be taken specifically for the digital platform, and prepare for the launch of the project phase.
GENERIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The intern will contribute to the development of digital tools for TCS/DAI Technical teams’ projects and initiatives and, in general, in supporting UNIDO’s mission to promote sustainable industrial development through innovative digital technologies. The Intern shall work under the direct supervision of the Chief of TCS/DAI and shall be engaged as follows:
The Intern will be required to prepare an end-of-internship report, which will be submitted to and cleared by UNIDO Internship Coordination.
Education: Enrolled in a second level university degree programme (master's or equivalent) or higher; or begin the internship within one year of completing a second level university degree; or be enrolled in the final academic year of a first degree programme (bachelor's or equivalent); or begin the internship within one year of completing a first level university degree. Only accredited institutions will be considered.
Field of specialization: Digital Transformation, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.
Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English and Chinese is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language (Arabic, French, Russian, or Spanish) is an asset.
Other skills:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
CORE COMPETENCIES
Core values:
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.
WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.
WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.
Key competencies:
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.
WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.
WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.
WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: to stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.
LEARNING ELEMENTS
UNIDO Interns are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity at all times, both at work and outside. Only candidates who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for internships at UNIDO.
All applications must be submitted through the UNIDO Online Recruitment System.
Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process.
Visit the UNIDO employment website for details on how to apply: www.careers.unido.org
Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: internship@unido.org
