Intern - Economic Affairs

This internship is designed to be in-person and full-time (35 hours) but can be adjusted based on request by the successful candidate.

2-6 months / 01 Dec 2026

The Financing for Sustainable Development Office (FSDO) within the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) provides substantive support and secretariat services to the intergovernmental process on Financing for Development (FFD). FSDO works to promote policy coherence, align financial frameworks with global development goals, monitor progress on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and mobilize financial resources to accelerate the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This internship is structured specifically around the preparations, execution, and substantive support for the upcoming Financing for Development (FfD) Forum. The selected intern will work directly as part of the core team organizing and executing the Forum's preparatory activities. Under the overall supervision of an Economic Affairs Officer within FSDO, the intern will support the FfD Forum preparation team through the following key tasks: Substantive Support & Research: Conduct web and open-source research to support background documentation, concept notes, and FfD Forum project preparation. Compile statistical data into reference spreadsheets to support analytical reviews and policy briefings for the Forum. Monitor global media channels and draft daily news summaries relevant to financing for development topics. Document Drafting & Reporting: Assist team members with preliminary research, formatting, and drafting support for official Forum documents. Attend designated preparatory conferences, intergovernmental meetings, and side events to observe proceedings and draft concise summary notes for internal review. Support team members in gathering background notes and drafting preliminary outlines for speeches, intervention statements, and public remarks. Logistics & Communications Support: Provide hands-on logistical, operational, and administrative support prior to and during FfD Forum conferences and events. Assist with the formatting and updating of presentation materials, visual decks, and online web content dedicated to the FfD Forum. Assist team members in gathering preliminary participant feedback and operational metrics for post-Forum project evaluation. Over the course of the internship, the candidate will be expected to deliver: Well-researched background documentation, literature reviews, and compiled statistical reference sheets supporting FfD Forum themes. Timely and accurate summary notes from preparatory meetings, intergovernmental discussions, and relevant side events. Formatted and updated digital and visual assets, including presentations and web updates for Forum outreach. Daily FfD-related media briefings and news monitoring summaries for the team. Drafting support for speech outlines, briefing materials, and post-event evaluation reports.

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). Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work. experience. However, a field of study that is closely related to the type of internship that you are applying for is required. 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. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the Internship Programme. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an asset: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat.

Not available.

Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.