Work LocationFlexible (in-person, hybrid) Expected duration6 months. Desired start date is 12 May 2025, or sooner. Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe duration of the internship is for six (6) months. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. It should be noted that full-time internship working hours are 35 hours per week. The internship will be undertaken in a hybrid working arrangement at the UN Premise, New York, United States. Interns work under the supervision of DPO/SCS Public Information Officer. The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) serves as a center of excellence for peace operations, responsible for preventing, responding to and managing conflict and sustaining peace in countries where peace operations under its purview are deployed, and provides support to other entities on peace and security issues. The Strategic Communications Section is seeking assistance to bolster its communication efforts, digital media presence and media relations for UN Peacekeeping. The requested services directly align with the unit's mandate to raise awareness of and build support for UN Peacekeeping. Responsibilities: Assist in the coordination of day-to-day operations of the Strategic Communications Section, supporting both substantive and administrative tasks. This includes contributing to internal workflow processes, organizing team meetings, maintaining tracking tools and files, liaising with other offices, and supporting timely implementation of activities in line with organizational priorities. Conduct research and analysis on a wide range of issues related to strategic communications and UN Peacekeeping. This includes gathering information from diverse sources—such as UN documents, media reports, public data, and internal databases—and assisting in the preparation of reports, briefing notes, talking points, and communication materials to support the work of the Section. Collaborate with the Strategic Communications Section on strategic communication and public outreach, focusing on media relations tasks, and digital/social media content production. This includes conducting research to support the development of key messaging and responses to media queries , and curating content for the daily press briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Contribute to the development and design of multimedia products, stories and digital content for various platforms, including the UN Peacekeeping website and social media channels such as Twitter, Facebook, Medium, and Instagram, addressing peacekeeping issues, including related to gender and conduct. Assist in drafting and editing UN Peacekeeping publications (e.g., fact sheets, brochures, newsletters, correspondences, pitches, presentations and donor-related updates) for both internal and external audiences, pertaining to peacekeeping issues. Support the planning, preparation, and execution of campaigns and public events, including exhibits, High-Level events, screenings, workshops, and others relevant to UN Peacekeeping. Monitor media trends to inform communication strategies, preparing and circulating an internal daily media monitoring report. Proactively contribute creative ideas for projects and stories to enhance communication efforts and shape the narrative around UN Peacekeeping's work. Perform any additional duties as assigned by the supervisor. Qualifications/special skillsApplicants 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. The field of study must be closely related to the type of internship you are applying for. Proficient in standard word processing and software applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint or similar; Be proficient in standard office automation equipment, scanner, printer, etc.). 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. Relevant training in communications, event planning, public relations desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in spoken and written English is required for the internship. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish are the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Additional InformationThe United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Applicants who have previously served six months, in total, as an intern in one or more UN Common Systems cannot be engaged as an intern. Applicants who are children, siblings, and sons or daughters-in-law (including stepchildren, half-siblings, or stepsiblings) of an active staff member in a UN Common System cannot be engaged as an intern. In your Motivational Statement, please indicate when you would like to start your internship. Please note that the start and end dates are flexible. A complete online application is required. The Motivational Statement must also include: • Title of degree you are currently pursuing. • Graduation Date (When will you be graduating/have graduated from the programme?) • Explain why you are the best candidate for this specific internship • Explain your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references. 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.