Intern - Economic Affairs

Work LocationAlmaty, Kazakhstan Expected duration3-month, with possibility of extension. Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote regional cooperation for inclusive economic and social development and support regional cooperation and integration in the Asia and Pacific region. ESCAP's role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership through analytical, normative, and technical cooperation to respond to the development priorities and changing needs in Asia and the Pacific. The Subregional Office for North and Central Asia covers Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Afghanistan as a member of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA). The Subregional Office is located in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and is offering an internship opportunity. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. The minimum duration of an internship is two months and can be extended up to a total period of six months. Interns work five days per week (37.5 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the Office to which they are assigned. Under the general guidance of the Deputy Head of Office and the direct supervision of the Associate Economic Affairs Officer, the intern will assist in conducting research and providing administrative support related to SONCA’s works to facilitate economic development, enhance connectivity, strengthen environmental protection, and mainstream climate change in North and Central Asia. Specifically, the tasks expected include: • SDGs-related research: assist in data collection and analysis, note-taking, drafting and editing background notes, official documents, speeches, and presentations about the Sustainable Development Goals • SPECA-related research: assist in data collection and analysis, note-taking, drafting and editing notes, speeches, and other documents about the SPECA-related activities • Multistakeholder engagement and coordination: support organization of subregional meetings to discuss priority areas for sustainable development and regional cooperation in North and Central Asia • Event management: backstop and provide logistical support to conferences, expert group meetings, capacity-building workshops, and other events organized by SONCA in on-site, online, and hybrid settings • Ad-hoc research and general administrative supports Qualifications/special skillsTo qualify for an internship with the ESCAP Internship Programme, the following conditions must be met: • Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); • Have studied macroeconomics, international economics, development economics, political economy, applied econometrics or statistics, finance, climate science, environmental and life sciences, business administration, public policy, social science, engineering/geology/mathematics, or related areas No working experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your training, education, advanced course work, or skills should benefit the United Nations during your internship. • Your field of study being closely related to this internship is desirable. • Experience in supporting event organization and work under tight deadlines and multitask is desirable. • Experience in research and data analysis on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), or SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals) is desirable. • Ability to comfortably work as part of a larger team, interact well with people of various social and cultural backgrounds in an occasionally stressful environment is desirable. • Good drafting and oral communication skills are desirable. LanguagesFluency in spoken and written English and Russian is required for the Internship Programme. Knowledge of an additional official UN language, or any other official languages in North and Central Asia, is an asset. Additional InformationThe intern is expected to: • Have demonstrated familiarity with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals; • Have demonstrated familiarity with the the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia; • Have demonstrated strong writing skills and the ability to analyse research publications and policy documents to provide succinct outlines of and comments on key messages in the form of summaries, briefings, background notes, and other materials. • Have demonstrated a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter; and • Have demonstrated the ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes the willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views; • Have a demonstrated ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative data and create data visualizations and infographics based on tables, figures, and statistical results. • Have a proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, such as Word, Excel, Teams, Video Conference software and hardware, and statistical software. Intern Specific textInterns 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 FeeTHE 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.