The United Nations Sustainable Development Group System-Wide Evaluation Office (SWEO) is looking for interns with an interest in the UN system, sustainable development and evaluation. The internship runs for six months from January 2027, can be done in person in New York or remotely, full time or part time, is not remunerated, and applications close on 31 October 2026.
Opening 285069: The Core Details
🆔 Job Opening ID: 285069
🏛️ Department/Office: United Nations Sustainable Development Group System-Wide Evaluation Office
📊 Category and Level: Affiliate Personnel, Internships, I-1
🧾 Recruitment Type: Intern
📍 Duty Station: New York
⏱️ Expected duration: 6 months, January 2027
New York Office or Remote, Full Time or Part Time
The work location is flexible on two counts. The internship can be done in person in New York or remotely, and both full time and part time modalities would be considered.
Six Months Starting in January 2027
The office is looking for interns who wish to gain professional experience in an international organization from January 2027 onwards, for a period of six months. The expected duration listed for the opening is 6 months, January 2027, whether you work full time or part time.
Why the Secretary-General Created SWEO
The Secretary-General established the United Nations Sustainable Development Group System-Wide Evaluation Office to strengthen oversight, transparency, accountability and collective learning across the United Nations Sustainable Development Group. The office works in line with the provisions of the 2024 UNSDG System-Wide Evaluation Policy, Further information is available in the 2026 Annual Report and on the United Nations website.
A Small Number of Global System-Wide Evaluations
SWEO is responsible for the conduct of a small number of global system-wide evaluations on the most strategic and relevant system-wide issues related to the United Nations development system. These evaluations feed into three areas:
🧭 System-wide policy and agenda-setting
⚙️ Operational implementation
🗳️ Decision making
What SWEO Will Evaluate in 2027
The programme of work in 2027 will include evaluations of:
🔄 Key transitions: the UN development system's approach to key transitions for SDG acceleration
💼 The Joint SDG Fund
⚡ Energy: UN development system engagement in Energy for SDG acceleration
🗂️ Further evaluations: others to be selected from a multiyear Global System-Wide Evaluation Plan
Evidence Syntheses, Summaries and Evidence Maps
SWEO also has a key role in generating system-wide evaluation evidence to enhance collective knowledge sharing and promote learning. This work includes the production of syntheses and summaries of evaluation evidence and of evidence maps.
Guidance, Systems and Communications Priorities
Beyond the evaluations themselves, the office lists further priorities:
📘 System-wide evaluation guidance: preparing guidance for evaluation across the system
🛠️ Systems development
📣 Communications
Learning Inside an Independent Evaluation Office
The internship provides practical educational experience working in an independent evaluation office in a multicultural and intergovernmental organization. Under the supervision of experienced Evaluation Officers, interns are assigned projects and tasks and are given the opportunity to apply and further develop their theoretical knowledge while gaining exposure to the work of the United Nations Secretariat. Interns report to full-time professional staff in the System-Wide Evaluation Office.
Supporting ECOSOC 2027 and the 2027 SDG Summit
Interns will be expected to support the engagement of the System-Wide Evaluation Office in two major moments of the UN calendar:
🌐 The 2027 Economic and Social Council Operational Activities Segment
🎯 The 2027 SDG Summit
Within that work, interns will assist with one or more of the duties described below.
Knowledge Management Products and Evaluation Services
The first duty is contributing to the preparation of evaluation knowledge management products, evaluation communication and services. The listing names the channels involved:
🖥️ Website
🗄️ Database
📰 Newsletter
🔗 Web-enabled knowledge platforms
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Presentations, Data Visualization and Visual Material
Interns prepare presentations and other communication material. The task covers drafting, formatting, editing, data visualization, graphics, photos and videos, so the role mixes writing with visual production.
Following and Documenting UN Developments
Another duty is following relevant UN developments by attending and documenting relevant events and preparing briefing material for the office.
Collecting and Analysing Evaluation Data
Interns assist evaluation teams in collecting, organizing and analysing qualitative and quantitative data.
## Meetings, Events, Outreach and Engagement
Interns support meetings, events, outreach and engagement through the preparation of background material.
Drafting Minutes and Following Up
The last duty is drafting minutes of meetings and ensuring timely follow-up.
Three Ways to Meet the Academic Requirement
To qualify for an internship by the United Nations Headquarters Internship Programme, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
🎓 Graduate student: be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher)
📚 Final-year student: be enrolled in the final academic year of a university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent)
📜 Graduate: have graduated with a university degree as defined in the two routes above
Preferred Fields: Social Sciences, Economics, Public Administration
The preferred background is a degree programme in one of the social sciences, economics or public administration, preferably with course work in evaluation and/or related applied research methodologies, in a graduate school (second university degree or higher). For applicants pursuing their studies in countries where higher education is not divided into undergraduate and graduate levels, the same preference applies to studies at an equivalent institution towards the completion of a degree in one of the social sciences, economics or public administration, again preferably with course work in evaluation and/or related applied research methodologies.
Required Competencies
Two competencies are listed as required:
🏛️ Interest in the field: demonstrable interest in the UN system, sustainable development cooperation and/or monitoring and evaluation
💻 Microsoft Office: proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Desirable Data, Communication and AI Skills
The following skills are desirable rather than required:
📈 Quantitative data: skills in quantitative data collection and analysis
🗣️ Qualitative data: skills in qualitative data collection and analysis
✍️ Communications: report writing, graphics, presentations and social media
🤖 Artificial intelligence: prior experience of use of artificial intelligence and large language models
🧮 Data analysis and visualization software: for example Microsoft Power BI, SharePoint, Tableau, Excel, Qlik, SQL, R, STATA, MaxQDA, NVivo, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop, Canva
Personal Qualities the Office Asks For
The listing also names five working qualities:
💬 Communication: ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
🌱 Learning: shows willingness to acquire new knowledge
🤝 Teamwork: ability to work as a member of a team
⏰ Delivery: ability to produce quality results in time
🌐 Diversity: ability to work in a multicultural and multilingual environment
English Fluency and Other UN Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Russian) is an advantage.
An Unpaid Placement: Who Covers the Costs
Interns 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. If you are comparing this placement with funded routes, our guide to how internships abroad for students really work explains the difference between an employer-paid internship and a grant-funded traineeship.
Visa and Work Authorization for New York
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 Fee at Any Stage of Recruitment
The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, whether application, interview meeting, processing or training, and it does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. At Youth Works Hub we only list opportunities with a direct application route, and our note on how every listing is checked covers the warning signs worth knowing before applying anywhere.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do the SWEO internship remotely?
Yes. The listing states that the internship can be done in person in New York or remotely. Both full time and part time modalities would be considered.
How long does the internship last and when does it start?
The internship lasts six months and starts in January 2027. The office is looking for interns from January 2027 onwards, for a period of six months, full time or part time.
Is the internship paid?
No. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations, and costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate school programme, be enrolled in the final academic year of a university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent), or have graduated with such a degree. A background in social sciences, economics or public administration, preferably with course work in evaluation, is preferred.
What will interns actually work on?
Interns assist with one or more duties: knowledge management products and communication services, presentations and visual material, documenting UN events, collecting and analysing evaluation data, preparing background material for meetings and outreach, and drafting meeting minutes with follow-up.
What events will the office be preparing for in 2027?
Interns will support the engagement of the System-Wide Evaluation Office in the 2027 Economic and Social Council Operational Activities Segment and the 2027 SDG Summit.
Do I need data analysis skills?
Quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis skills are desirable, not required. Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint is required, and experience with tools such as Power BI, Tableau, SQL, R, STATA, NVivo or Canva is an advantage.
Is experience with AI tools useful?
Yes. Prior experience of use of artificial intelligence and large language models is listed as a desirable skill for this internship.
Which languages are required?
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language, Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish or Russian, is an advantage.
Do I need a visa for an internship in New York?
Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship takes place may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work or employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their visa requirements before accepting the offer.
Does the United Nations charge a fee to apply?
No. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview meeting, processing or training, and it does not ask for information on applicants' bank accounts.
Deadline
⏳ 31 October 2026
Links
🔗 Job opening and application (Apply Now): https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/285069?language=en
🌐 System-Wide Evaluation Office on the United Nations website: https://www.un.org/system-wide-evaluation-office/en
