The Office of the Director of the UN Library and Archives Geneva is recruiting an intern in cultural diplomacy and knowledge outreach. The placement is full time and on-site in Geneva, lasts 3-6 months, is unpaid, and closes for applications on 07 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the whole job opening, and every duty, requirement and condition is set out below.
Job Opening 286398: The Essentials
📌 Position: Cultural Diplomacy and Knowledge Outreach Intern
🆔 Job Opening ID: 286398
🏛️ Department/Office: United Nations Office at Geneva
🗂️ Job Family: Administration
🏷️ Category and Level: Affiliate Personnel, Internships, I-1
🪪 Recruitment Type: Intern
📍 Duty Station: Geneva
🗺️ Work Location: Full time, on-site
⏱️ Expected Duration: 3-6 months
💶 Remuneration: Unpaid
Based in the Office of the Director
The internship is located in the Office of the Director of the UN Library and Archives Geneva. The Office of the Director is part of the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Four Fields of Exposure in One Placement
The internship provides an opportunity for exposure to:
🧠 Knowledge management
📣 Communications
🕊️ Cultural diplomacy
🤝 Outreach, all in an intergovernmental setting
Understanding the UN Agenda and the Work of International Geneva
Beyond the practical tasks, the placement is meant for developing further an understanding of the issues on the UN agenda and of the work of the international system in Geneva.
How the Intern Supports the Director's Office
The selected intern is involved in support for the Office of the Director across:
🎨 Cultural activities
🎩 VIP visits
🧭 Bilateral engagements
📢 Outreach activities
✉️ Communications
The support takes the form of research, event support, documentation, and content creation.
Cultural Activities at UN Geneva
The first listed task is contributing to the work of the UNOG Cultural Activities Committee and to the implementation of cultural activities at UN Geneva.
VIP Visits to the UN Library and Archives Geneva
Interns assist in the planning and implementation of VIP visits to the UN Library and Archives Geneva. The job opening names three kinds of work within this task:
🔎 Background research
📝 Note-writing
🔁 Follow-up
Newsletter, Multimedia and Social Media
Interns contribute to the development and implementation of the UN Library and Archives Geneva outreach and communication. The job opening specifies assisting with preparation of:
📰 Newsletter
✍️ Drafts
🎬 Multimedia production
📱 Social media engagement and events
General Management and Administration
Interns also assist in the general management and administration of the UN Library and Archives Geneva.
Other Activities with the Team
The task list ends with other activities with the team depending on interest and opportunity. The job opening introduces the list with the words "Tasks may include", which means the listed duties are examples of the work rather than a closed list.
Browse more internships and traineeships on Youth Works Hub →
Academic Requirements: Two Routes
Applicants 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)
No Professional Experience Required, but the Field of Study Must Fit
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.
The job opening restates the academic condition this way: 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.
Proof of Eligibility: Indicate Your Criterion and Attach Proof
The application asks: "Do you meet any of the above criteria?" If yes, you must indicate which one and attach proof to the application. The job opening also notes that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.
Desirable Skills: Audio-Visual Content and Writing
Two skills are listed as desirable:
🎥 Experience with audio-visual content production
🖋️ Ability to draft newsletter articles and/or social media posts
They match the outreach and communication duties described above.
English Required, Another UN Language an Advantage
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship:
🗣️ Fluency in spoken and written English is required
➕ Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage
The Six Official UN Languages
The job opening lists the official languages of the United Nations Secretariat:
🔤 Arabic
🔠 Chinese
📖 English
💬 French
📘 Russian
📗 Spanish
Duration and Work Location
The expected duration is 3-6 months. The work location is full time and on-site, with Geneva as the duty station.
No Salary: Who Pays for Travel, Visa and Living Costs
Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. The job opening is explicit about who carries the costs. Costs and arrangements for the following are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions:
✈️ Travel
🛂 Visas
🏠 Accommodation
🧾 Living expenses
If you are comparing this placement with salaried options, our guide on how paid internships and funded traineeships really work explains the difference between a paid internship and one where the costs sit with you or your sponsor.
Visa and Work Authorization
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. Raise the question before you say yes, not after.
Recruitment Is Free of Charge
The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, covering application, interview meeting, processing, or training. The United Nations does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Any request for payment or for bank details in connection with this internship does not come from the United Nations. Our page on how we check every listing before it goes live covers the warning signs to watch for.
Who This Internship Suits
This placement fits a final-year bachelor's student, a graduate student or a recent graduate with fluent English and a field of study related to the internship, who wants hands-on experience in cultural diplomacy, VIP visit support, communications and outreach inside the United Nations. Candidates with experience in audio-visual content production or in drafting newsletter articles and social media posts match the desirable skills in the job opening.
Find more opportunities like this in our internship and traineeship listings on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Cultural Diplomacy and Knowledge Outreach intern do?
The intern supports the Office of the Director of the UN Library and Archives Geneva across cultural activities, VIP visits, bilateral engagements, outreach activities, and communications. The support takes the form of research, event support, documentation, and content creation.
Which office is the internship in?
The Office of the Director of the UN Library and Archives Geneva, part of the United Nations Office at Geneva.
What tasks may the internship include?
The job opening lists: contributing to the work of the UNOG Cultural Activities Committee, assisting in the planning and implementation of VIP visits, contributing to outreach and communication (newsletter, drafts, multimedia production, social media engagement and events), assisting in the general management and administration of the Library and Archives, and other activities with the team depending on interest and opportunity.
Where is the internship based and how long does it last?
In Geneva, Switzerland, full time and on-site. The expected duration is 3-6 months.
Is the internship paid?
No. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or their sponsoring institution.
What education do I need?
You must be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme, or be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's degree or equivalent). A field of study closely related to the type of internship is required.
Do I need professional work experience?
No. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience, but a field of study closely related to the internship is required.
What do I need to attach to the application?
You must indicate which of the criteria you meet and attach proof to the application. An official certificate has to be provided at a later stage.
Which languages are required?
Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of an additional official UN language is an advantage.
Which skills are desirable?
Experience with audio-visual content production and the ability to draft newsletter articles and/or social media posts.
Do I need a visa?
Possibly. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the host country may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization, and successful candidates should discuss their visa requirements before accepting the offer.
Is there a nationality requirement?
The job opening lists no nationality requirement. The stated conditions concern education, field of study and languages.
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, and it does not ask for information on applicants' bank accounts.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is 07 November 2026.
Deadline
⏳ 07 November 2026
Link
🔗 Job opening and application (Apply Now): https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/286398?language=en
