🇸🇦 UN Internship in Saudi Arabia 📊 Research and Policy Support Intern 🌍 UN Resident Coordinator Office, Riyadh 🇸🇦
Are you a student or recent graduate in economics, public policy, international development, or a related field — with the legal right to live and work in Saudi Arabia — and interested in contributing to UN policy research at the heart of one of the most ambitious national transformation programmes in the world? The UN Resident Coordinator Office in Riyadh is looking for a Research and Policy Support Intern to assist with policy analysis, socioeconomic research, meeting documentation, and — uniquely — exploratory work on the application of large language models (LLMs) in development research. Unpaid. 3 months. Deadline: 26 March 2026.
🇸🇦 Did You Know? Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 — the national transformation strategy that forms the central policy context for this internship — is one of the most ambitious economic diversification programmes ever undertaken by a government. It aims to reduce the country's dependence on oil, develop public service sectors, and position Saudi Arabia as a global investment and tourism hub by the year 2030.
What Will You Do?
🔬Conduct desk reviews of UN frameworks, socioeconomic reports, and national strategies relevant to Saudi Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
📝Support the drafting of analytical papers and policy briefs on the Saudi economy, development trends, and thematic UN priorities — including cross-sectoral analysis on leaving no one behind (LNOB), gender equality, and inclusivity
🗓️Take and draft meeting minutes for internal UN Country Team (UNCT) meetings, consultations with government counterparts, and partner engagements
📊Support background note preparation and data collection for senior RCO leadership — and assist with ad hoc analytical tasks as requested
🤖Contribute to exploratory work on the application of large language models (LLMs) for research, knowledge management, and policy analysis — a genuinely innovative element of this role
🗂️Support the design of research templates, matrices, and structured analytical tools for use in the RCO's policy work
💡 Did You Know? The UN Resident Coordinator System — within which this internship is based — is the backbone of the UN's development work at country level. The Resident Coordinator leads the UN Country Team and is responsible for aligning all UN agency work within a single country with the national development priorities and the SDGs. Supporting the RCO means contributing to the coordination of the entire UN development system in Saudi Arabia.
Eligibility & Requirements
🎓You are enrolled in or have completed a graduate programme (master's level or higher) — OR you are in the final year of a first university degree (bachelor's level or equivalent)
🗣️Fluency in English is required — proficiency in all four areas: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding
💻Computer literacy in standard software applications is required
🌍You can demonstrate a genuine interest in the work of the United Nations and a commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter
⚠️Important: Recruitment is on a local basis — you must have the legal right to live and work in Saudi Arabia at the time of application. This is a strict requirement and cannot be waived
📋No professional work experience is required — academic background and motivation are the primary selection criteria
Practical Information
💰This internship is unpaid — all costs related to travel, visa, accommodation, and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or their sponsoring institution
📍In-person position based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — local recruitment only
🛂You must already have the legal right to live and work in Saudi Arabia — the UN will not sponsor visas or work permits for this position
Key Information
Application Link
🔗 Apply here: careers.un.org — Job Opening ID: 274106
⚠️ Important Notice
1️⃣ Source of Information
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💡 Final Note:
All listings are shared for informational purposes only. Please always verify details directly through the official organiser or programme website before applying.
