🇨🇭 Social Media Intern 📱 UNRISD Internship in Geneva, Switzerland 🌍

The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) is an autonomous research institute within the UN system that undertakes interdisciplinary research and policy analysis on the social dimensions of contemporary development issues. Through its work, UNRISD aims to ensure that social equity, inclusion, and justice are central to development thinking, policy and practice. The mandate of the Institute requires that its research reaches a broad range of actors concerned with different facets of social development, and that its findings inform intergovernmental and national policy processes, civil society advocacy and scholarly debates. In this context, the Communication and Outreach (C&O) Unit is responsible for the development and dissemination of a range of innovative and traditional communications and outreach activities to make UNRISD research available, accessible, and relevant to key stakeholders, to increase its reach and visibility in the global community, and to foster engagement and interaction with audiences.

What You Will Do

Under the guidance and supervision of the Head of C&O, the intern will be asked to:

📱 Regularly coordinate the social media planner and publish engaging posts that optimize content across the UNRISD website and social media platforms, ensuring alignment with platform-specific requirements and content strategy

🎬 Develop engaging multimedia content for UNRISD's social media platforms, including copy, videos, social cards, and other innovative formats to effectively promote research, activities, events, and publications

📝 Draft communication materials, including factsheets, news, newsletters, and other outreach documents to enhance the visibility and understanding of UNRISD initiatives

🔍 Monitor new developments in the area of social media and digital communication

📣 Support the implementation of communication campaigns and the organization of events and outreach activities as directed by the supervisor

📊 Generate monthly reports on website and social media performance, analyzing key metrics to evaluate engagement and impact

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Who Can Apply

Candidates should have an education in marketing, communications, or a related field. At the time of application, applicants must meet one of the following requirements as per UN Secretariat rules regarding interns: be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent); or have graduated with a university degree (as defined above) and, if selected, commence the internship within a one-year period of graduation. Interns must be based in Geneva or available to attend in-person meetings at UNRISD when required.

Qualifications, Skills and Competencies

📲 Knowledge of social media platforms, including Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, BlueSky and YouTube

📈 Knowledge of data analytics tools to track and measure social media and website performance is an asset

✍️ Excellent writing and editing skills for creating engaging social media content

🎨 Experience with graphic design and video editing is a plus

⚡ Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively

Languages

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other UN official languages is an asset.

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The Details

🗓️ Duration: minimum 4 months and up to a maximum of 6 months; the expected initial duration is from Monday 7 September 2026 to 4 January 2027, with possible extension until 5 March 2027 (dates subject to change within these parameters)

📅 Start date: 7 September 2026

🕘 Schedule: in person, at the Palais des Nations

📍 Location: Geneva, Switzerland

Funding

Interns are not financially remunerated. UNRISD is not responsible for interns' travel expenses to and from Geneva, or for mandatory medical insurance during the period of the internship.