The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is offering a Public Information Internship in its Regional Office for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on an in-person basis. The placement tentatively starts on 7 December 2026 for an initial period of three months, applications close on 13 November 2026, and no professional work experience is required. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full vacancy, and every condition is set out below.
The Vacancy in Numbers
🔢 Job Opening ID: 287492
🧭 Job Family: Public Information
🏷️ Category and Level: Affiliate Personnel: Internships, I-1
🪪 Recruitment Type: Intern
🏛️ Department/Office: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
📍 Duty Station: Addis Ababa
🖥️ Work location: in-person
🗓️ Expected duration: 7 December 2026 - 5 March 2027
⏱️ Working pattern: full-time, five days per week (40 hours)
Where the Position Sits Inside UNCTAD
The position is in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). More precisely, it is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the Regional Office for Africa of the Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes (ALDC).
Three Months to Begin, Starting in December
🚀 The internship will tentatively start on 7 December 2026
📆 The initial period is three months
🕐 It is full-time: an intern is expected to work five days per week, 40 hours
🏢 The internship is offered on an in-person basis
What You Will Do: Communications and Public Information
Carrying out their tasks under the supervision of the Economic Affairs Officer, the intern will perform the following functions:
📢 Assist in organizing dissemination activities for UNCTAD's research
📱 Assist in updating social media platforms, running campaigns on priority issues, producing short videos and animated clips and graphics for the campaigns, and growing the audience base
🗃️ Assist in updating office databases, conducting internet-based research and compiling information related to UNCTAD's work
✍️ Assist in developing communications products for target audiences, including press releases, reports, brochures, flyers, briefing notes, newsletters and web content
🗞️ Contribute to the implementation of the office's communications strategy, including through media outreach
🤝 Assist in identifying key contacts and constituencies and opportunities for strategic partnerships to facilitate and enhance communications efforts
🎤 Assist in organizing conferences, seminars, press briefings, interviews and other outreach events, and in preparing briefing materials for senior officials prior to their participation in such events
Training and Mentoring Throughout the Placement
🧑🏫 Training and mentoring will be provided all along the internship
👤 The intern works under the supervision of the Economic Affairs Officer
Who Can Apply? Two Academic Routes
Applicants must, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements:
🎓 Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher)
📚 Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent)
The vacancy restates the same condition in a second form: applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), a Master's or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor's, Master's or Ph.D. Programme.
Which Degree Fields Fit
For this position, the university degree must be in the area of journalism, international relations, public administration or related area. A field of study that is closely related to the type of internship you are applying for is required.
Do You Need Work Experience?
🚫 No professional work experience is required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme
🎯 What is required is a field of study closely related to the type of internship you apply for
Skills and Qualities UNCTAD Expects From Interns
Moreover, interns should:
💻 Be computer literate in standard software applications
🇺🇳 Have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter
🌐 Have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes willingness to understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views
Language Requirements: English Required, French Desirable
🔤 Fluency spoken and written in English is required
🥖 Knowledge of French is desirable
In-Person in Addis Ababa: Visa and Costs Are Yours
The internship is offered on an in-person basis. For in-person internships:
🛂 Interns must have a valid visa
💼 All costs of travel, accommodation, medical insurance and living expenses must be covered by the intern
The Computer and IT Setup the Vacancy Lists
The vacancy states that the applicant shall have full access to a computer with a modern browser in which to run the latest version of Office 365 applications that will allow them to perform the tasks within the scope of the internship. The computer must have basic IT security best practices implemented. At a minimum, the applicant should have:
🪟 Installed the latest version of the Microsoft Windows operating system, software and security updates as soon as they are issued
🧱 Enabled the built-in software firewall that comes with the operating software of the computer
🔑 Enabled the password manager for the creation of strong passwords and to secure access to all UNCTAD/UN-related resources
The Rules Every UN Intern Agrees To
More generally, interns shall:
📘 Observe all applicable rules, regulations, instructions, procedures and directives of the Organization, notwithstanding their status as described in section 4 of the UN Internship Programme Administrative Instructions ST/AI/2000/9 and ST/AI/2005/11
🗂️ Provide the receiving departments or offices with a copy of all materials prepared by them during the internship
⚖️ Respect the impartiality and independence required of the UN and of the receiving department or office, and not seek or accept instructions regarding the services performed under the internship agreement from any Government or from any authority external to the UN
🤐 Not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or any other external source any information which has become known to them by reason of their association with the UN or the receiving department or office, that they know or ought to have known has not been made public, unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official
🧭 Refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on the UN or on the receiving department or office, and not engage in any activity which is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the UN
Intellectual Property and Confidentiality in Detail
©️ The UN shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material which bears a direct relation to or is made in consequence of the services provided under the internship
🖇️ At the request of the UN, interns shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to the UN in compliance with the requirements of the applicable law
🔒 Interns may not use non-public information without the written authorization of the appropriate official, and such information may never be used for personal gain
♾️ These obligations also apply after the end of the internship with the UN
Is the UNCTAD Internship Paid?
The vacancy is explicit on this point: the Internship Programme is unpaid.
🚫 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
🪪 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 (application, interview meeting, processing, or training)
🏦 The United Nations does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts
How to Apply
The vacancy asks applicants to state which eligibility route they meet and to back it up with evidence:
✅ Indicate which of the academic criteria you meet in your application
📎 Attach proof of that criterion to the application
📜 Note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage
Who This UNCTAD Placement Suits
According to Youth Works Hub's review of the vacancy, this placement suits final-year bachelor's students, Master's and Ph.D. students, and recent graduates in journalism, international relations, public administration or a related area who want hands-on experience in social media, campaigns, press materials and outreach events at a UN office in Africa. Because the internship is unpaid and travel, accommodation, medical insurance and living expenses sit with the intern, it is worth reading our guide to how internships abroad for students and recent graduates are actually funded before you commit, and you can browse more internship opportunities on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will the UNCTAD Public Information Intern actually do?
The intern assists in organizing dissemination activities for UNCTAD's research, updating social media platforms and running campaigns, producing short videos, animated clips and graphics, updating office databases and compiling information, and developing press releases, reports, brochures, flyers, briefing notes, newsletters and web content. The role also covers media outreach, identifying key contacts and partnership opportunities, and helping organize conferences, seminars, press briefings, interviews and other outreach events.
Which office is the internship located in?
The position is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in the Regional Office for Africa of the Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes (ALDC) at UNCTAD.
Who supervises the intern?
The intern carries out their tasks under the supervision of the Economic Affairs Officer, and training and mentoring are provided all along the internship.
When does the internship start and how long does it last?
The internship will tentatively start on 7 December 2026 for an initial period of three months, with the expected duration running to 5 March 2027.
Is the internship in person or remote?
The internship is offered on an in-person basis, and the duty station is Addis Ababa. For in-person internships, interns must have a valid visa.
Is this internship paid?
No. The Internship Programme is unpaid, and 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.
How many hours a week is it?
It is full-time: an intern is expected to work five days per week, which the vacancy states as 40 hours.
What degree do I need?
You must be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher), or be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent). For this position the degree must be in journalism, international relations, public administration or a related area.
Do I need work experience to apply?
No. Applicants to the UN Internship Programme are not required to have professional work experience. However, a field of study closely related to the type of internship is required.
Which languages do I need?
Fluency spoken and written in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.
What do I have to include in my application?
You are asked to indicate which of the academic eligibility criteria you meet and to attach proof of it to your application. You will also have to provide an official certificate at a later stage.
What computer setup does the vacancy ask for?
Full access to a computer with a modern browser able to run the latest version of Office 365 applications, with basic IT security best practices implemented. At a minimum that means the latest version of Microsoft Windows with software and security updates installed as soon as they are issued, the built-in software firewall enabled, and the password manager enabled for strong passwords and secure access to UNCTAD and UN resources.
Do I need a visa?
For in-person internships, interns must have a valid visa. 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 or employment authorization, and successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the offer.
What do interns have to do with the materials they produce?
Interns provide the receiving department or office with a copy of all materials prepared during the internship. The United Nations is entitled to all property rights, including patents, copyrights and trademarks, regarding material directly related to or made in consequence of the services provided under the internship.
Is there any application fee?
No. 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.
Is there a nationality requirement?
The vacancy does not set a nationality requirement. It only notes that interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country of the internship may need a visa and work or employment authorization.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is 13 November 2026.
Deadline
⏳ 13 November 2026
Links
🔗 Vacancy page: https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/287492?language=en
📝 Application (Apply Now): https://inspira.un.org/psp/PUNA1J/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/UN_CUSTOMIZATIONS.UN_JOB_DETAIL.GBL?Action=A&UNAction=Apply&JobOpeningId=287492&languageCd=ENG
