Work Location
Expected Duration
Duties and Responsibilities
The position is located in the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology (OSET). Building on the work of the High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation and consultations of multi-stakeholder roundtable groups, the United Nations Secretary-General issued a Roadmap for Digital Cooperation (A/74/821) which addresses how the international community can better harness the opportunities presented by digital technologies while addressing their challenges. The Secretary-General’s report “Our Common Agenda” issued in September 2021 prioritizes the digital space and the need to “protect the online space and strengthen its governance”. It also proposes a Global Digital Compact to be developed through a multistakeholder track.
OSET leads the implementation of the Secretary-General’s vision on digital cooperation by working closely with various UN entities and multi-stakeholder groups, facilitating dialogue to accelerate global digital cooperation, seizing on the opportunities that are presented by technology – while mitigating the risks – so that progress towards achieving the Goals by 2030 can be made collectively, as well as carrying out other related duties and responsibilities assigned by the Secretary-General, including follow up actions from the report “Our Common Agenda”. OSET also hosts the secretariat for the Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence.
OSET offers internship opportunities in three broad areas, with the below corresponding duties:
TRACK 1: POLICY ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT
• Help monitor, identify, and analyze geographic, political, and thematic global trends
• Support research, analysis, and formulation of policy options in key focus areas
• Support the preparation of analytical reports, papers, and other outputs
TRACK 2: ANALYTICS
• Support in preparing data, data models, surveys, and analysis
• Develop dashboards and visualizations for senior managers and provide user support
• Support data mining, optimization, metrics development, and text analysis
TRACK 3: COMMUNICATION AND DESIGN
• Design core identity products that illustrate corporate vision, mission, and values
• Design and prepare content/copy for briefings, presentations, fact sheets, and snapshots
• Support the development of websites, including layout, content, look and feel
Please indicate the track you are interested in in your Cover Note.
Qualifications/special skills
Education
To qualify for an internship by the United Nations Headquarters Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met:
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
(1) Be enrolled in a graduate school program (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);
(2) Be enrolled in the FINAL academic year of a university degree program (minimum Bachelor’s level or equivalent); or
(3) Have graduated with a university degree as defined in (1) and (2). Preferably in the area of the below degree programs in a graduate school (second university degree or higher); or if pursuing their studies in countries where higher education is not divided into undergraduate and graduate stages, have completed at least four years of full-time studies at a university or equivalent institution towards the completion of a degree in one of the below areas.
In each track, interested candidates can pursue a broad range of studies as indicated below:
TRACK 1: POLICY ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT
International Relations, Political Affairs, Law, Geography, Economics, Public or Business Administration, Management, Computer Science, Technology Governance, Data Governance, Internet Governance, Behavioural Science
TRACK 2: ANALYTICS
Analytics, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Data Visualization or Information Design
TRACK 3: COMMUNICATION AND DESIGN
Relevant coursework in Design, Web Development, Strategic Design and Management, Marketing, Information Design, Public Relations, Media Studies, Journalism, or Data Visualization
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
• Tailor’s language, tone, style, and format to match the audience
• Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed
Planning and 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
Technological Awareness
• Actively seeks to apply emerging technology across tasks
• Keeps abreast of available technology
• Understand the applicability and opportunities of technology for the organization