Work Location

Home for remote internships. Geneva for in-person internships

Expected duration

3 months (full-time), with the possibility of extension for up to an additional 3 months. Desired start date: 15 September 2026.

Duties and Responsibilities

The positions are at United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Internship Programme is unpaid and full-time, i.e. interns are expected to work five days per week (40 hours). The internships are offered either on an in-person or remote basis. For in-person internships, interns must have a valid visa. All costs of travel, accommodation, medical insurance and living expenses must be covered by the intern. The positions are in the Transport Section, Trade Logistics Branch (TLB), Division on Technology and Logistics (DTL). For in-person internships, the duty station is Geneva. The three interns will work under the supervision of the Chief, Transport Section, and two Economic Affairs Officers. One hiring manager will be designated for each intern. The same general terms of reference will apply to the three positions. Specific assignments and tasks will be allocated in consultation with each intern, taking into account operational needs, their respective skills, fields of study and areas of interest. The Transport Section conducts research and analysis, provides technical assistance, delivers capacity-building and training and supports consensus-building to help developing countries participate effectively in trading networks through efficient, reliable, cost-effective, well-connected, socially inclusive, environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient freight transport systems. Its work covers transport and logistics across modes of transport while focusing on freight and trade. More specifically, the Section has long-standing expertise in shipping, ports, transport connectivity and costs, sustainable and resilient freight transport and logistics, transport and transit corridors, and related statistics and indicators. The interns will support the Section's research and technical cooperation work, including activities and outputs under relevant technical assistance projects on sustainable and resilient food supply chains, sustainable smart ports, and sustainable freight transport and logistics. They will also contribute to work on resilient maritime logistics, energy transition in maritime transport, transport and logistics for supply chain resilience and food security, transport and transit corridors, maritime transport statistics including port-call statistics, and the organization of Transport Section events during the second UNCTAD Global Supply Chain Forum, being held from 29 November to 1 December 2026. Training and mentoring will be provided throughout the internship by the supervisors and other staff and colleagues working in the Transport Section. Under the guidance of their respective supervisors and in collaboration with the Transport Section team, tasks and responsibilities include the following:

Participate in meetings with supervisors and the Transport Section team.
Undertake desk research and contribute to the preparation of background notes, short analytical drafts and other substantive inputs on sustainable smart ports, resilient supply chains, food security-related transport and logistics, public-private partnerships, and other areas of work of the Transport Section.
Collect, compile, clean and analyse transport and logistics data, including port-call statistics, and assist in preparing tables, charts, graphs and concise explanations of findings.
Support the development of a scenario-based simulation tool and related data analysis.
Support the implementation of activities under relevant technical assistance projects on resilient maritime logistics, sustainable and resilient food supply chains and sustainable smart ports.
Assist in preparing training, workshop and presentation materials related to sustainable and resilient transport systems and logistics.
Support organizational and substantive preparations for Transport Section events and activities during the UNCTAD Global Supply Chain Forum 2026, including background research, participant and programme information, presentations, briefing materials, meeting support, online information and follow-up documentation.
Assist in preparing digital and print products, including presentations, briefs, brochures and communication materials, as required.
Provide support for project implementation and administration, including organizing project documentation, tracking activities and outputs, and contributing to reporting and evaluation materials.
Prepare short drafts and substantive inputs for relevant documents, including presentations, project documents, meeting notes and technical cooperation materials.
Support the updating and management of web-based content and platforms and assist in packaging training and capacity-building materials, including audiovisual and communication products.
Attend, service and summarize conferences, webinars, workshops and meetings relevant to the work of the Transport Section.
Support other activities of the Transport Section as required. To work remotely, the applicant shall have full access to a computer with a modern browser capable of running the latest version of Microsoft 365 applications and allowing all tasks within the scope of the internship to be performed. The computer must follow basic IT security practices, including an up-to-date operating system and security updates, an enabled firewall and secure password management. More generally, interns shall: Observe all applicable rules, regulations, instructions, procedures and directives of the Organization notwithstanding their status as described in section 5 of the UN Internship Programme Administrative Instructions ST/AI/2020/1. Provide the receiving departments/offices with a copy of all materials prepared by them during the internship. The UN shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material which bears a direct relation to or is made in consequence of the services provided under the internship. At the request of the UN, interns shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to the UN in compliance with the requirements of the applicable law. Respect the impartiality and independence required of the UN and of the receiving department/office and shall not seek or accept instructions regarding the services performed under the internship agreement from any Government or from any authority external to the UN. Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the receiving department/office, not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or any other external source any information which has become known to them by reason of their association with the UN or the receiving department/office, that they know or ought to have known has not been made public. They may not use any such information without written authorization of the appropriate official, and such information may never be used for personal gain. These obligations also apply after the end of the internship with the UN. Refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on the UN or on the receiving department/office and not engage in any activity incompatible with the aims and objectives of the UN.

Qualifications/special skills

The United Nations Internship Programme is intended to expose students or recent graduates to the United Nations in order to enhance their educational experience and to help them gain experience in the work of the Organization. Therefore, applicants to the programme must, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or (b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent). Applicants should be pursuing or have completed studies in transport, logistics, supply chains, communications, economics, statistics or another area relevant to the work of the Transport Section. Moreover, interns should:

Be computer literate in standard software applications;
Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and
Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study closely related to the type of internship is required. Please explain how your studies relate to transport, logistics, supply chains, communications, economics, statistics or another relevant area. Applicants must meet one of the following eligibility requirements: (a) be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (master's, doctoral or equivalent); or (b) be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (bachelor's or equivalent). Please indicate which requirement you meet and attach proof to your application (an official certificate will be required at a later stage). Please also indicate the exact date on which you would be available to start the internship. Please describe your proficiency in standard software applications, particularly Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel, and provide an example of how you have used them for research, data analysis or communication. Please describe any academic, volunteer or other experience relevant to sustainable transport, ports, logistics, resilient supply chains, food security, statistics, communications, web content management, project management assistance or event organization support.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of French would be an asset.

Additional Information

1) ASSESSMENT Candidates will be assessed based on their Personal History Profiles (PHP). Individual interviews may be conducted for further assessment. A complete online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The Cover Note must include:

Title of the degree;
Graduation date (when will you be graduating from the programme, if not yet graduated);
List of the IT skills and programmes in which you are proficient; and
An explanation of why you are a suitable candidate for the internship position. In your Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experience, if any, IT skills and three (3) references. Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted. 2) SPECIAL NOTICE This profile is for the sole purpose of the Internship Programme of United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD). There should be no expectation of employment within the United Nations after the internship. Interns are not eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, positions at the professional level and above carrying international recruitment status in the Secretariat for a period of six months following the end of their internship. Applicants who are children or siblings of a staff member are not eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations. Applicants who are otherwise related to a staff member may be engaged as interns, provided that they are neither assigned to the same work unit as such staff member nor placed under the direct or indirect supervision of such staff member.

Intern Specific text

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.

No Fee

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.

Transport, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Intern