Work Location

UNECE

Expected duration

14.09.26-12.03.27

Duties and Responsibilities

The internship is located in the Director’s Office of the Sustainable Transport Division, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe based in Geneva. The incumbent works under the direct supervision of the Secretary of the Inland Transport Committee (ITC). The intern is expected to contribute to the work of the Sustainable Transport Division as follows: The 89th plenary session of ITC will take place in Geneva from 9-12 February 2027. The 2027 session will be a particularly significant occasion, as it marks the eightieth anniversary of ITC, which offers a unique opportunity to not only celebrate the Committee's remarkable legacy, but also to shape its vision and priorities for the decades ahead. Under the supervision of the Secretary of ITC, and in close cooperation with the team in the Director’s Office and colleagues in the Sustainable Transport Division, the intern will support the preparation, implementation and follow-up of the 89th plenary session of ITC, including its Ministerial components, and is expected to:

Assist with research, analysis and drafting elements for official and informal documents of the plenary session;
Assist with the invitation of participants and speakers, including high-level participants/speakers from governments, other international organizations and the private sector;
Support the organization of side-events with participation of high-level representatives of UN Member States and Senior UN officials;
Assist with the preparation of communication materials and the management of the ITC web and social media presence;
Provide ad hoc assistance to other activities related to the preparation and follow-up of the ITC plenary session and its side-events, including liaising with representatives of member States, taking notes, etc.;
Provide support to the implementation of the ITC Strategy on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Inland Transport and its initial Action Plan with milestones;
Assist with other tasks in the Director’s office and the Sustainable Transport Division. Competencies:
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. The internship is for a duration of 6 months from 14 September 2026 to 12 March 2027. Completed online application (Cover Note and Personal History Profile) is required. Interviews will be conducted in the second half of August 2026. The cover note must include: Title of the degree you are currently pursuing, Graduation date (when will you be graduating from the programme), List the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in, Top three areas of interest, Explain why you are the best candidate for the internship position, Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme, and your availability during the period considered. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. KINDLY NOTE THAT THIS TEMPORARY JOB OPENING IS SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE. The Internship Programme is guided by Administrative Instruction ST/AI/2000/9 of the United Nations issued by the Under-Secretary-General for Management. Interns are considered type I gratis personnel. They are not staff members. The United Nations does not financially remunerate interns. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibilities of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns work five days per week. Interns shall not be eligible to apply for, or be appointed to, any post in the Secretariat for a period of six months following the end of their internship. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. Applicants for internship must show proof of valid medical insurance coverage and provide a medical certificate of good health. The United Nations is not responsible for any claims by any parties where the loss of or damage to their property, death or personal injury was caused by the actions or omission of action by the interns during their internship. A person who is the child or sibling of a staff member shall not be eligible to apply for an internship at the United Nations. An applicant who bears to a staff member any other family relationship may be engaged as an intern, provided that he or she shall not be assigned to the same work unit of the staff member nor placed under the direct or indirect supervision of the staff member. For purposes of this instruction, "child" means (i) the child of a staff member; (ii) the child of the spouse of a staff member (stepchild); and (iii) the spouse of a child of a staff member or a staff member's spouse (son- or daughter-in-law). "Sibling" includes the child of both or either parent of a staff member and the child. Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

Qualifications/special skills

To qualify for the United Nations Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met: - Applicants to the United Nations internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: (a) Be enrolled in 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 level or equivalent). Be computer literate in standard software applications; For this internship, studies in economics, political/international affairs, international relations, business/public administration, law, or similar are required; Knowledge of the transport sector, sustainable development and/or climate change will be considered an asset. Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. Applicants for all countries are accepted and under-represented or un-represented countries in the UN are encouraged to apply. 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.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship, fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of French or Russian is desirable.

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.

INTERN - ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, Economic Commission for Europe, GENEVA