At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed this internship at the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) of the United Nations, based in New York. This is a six-month opportunity within the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) supporting the Secretary-General's global agenda on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The intern will contribute to policy analysis, research, event preparation and strategic communications across one or more of eight high-impact thematic tracks. This internship is open to enrolled and recently graduated students at the undergraduate or graduate level worldwide.
About the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG)
The Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) exists to support the Secretary-General in performing the function of Chief Administrative Officer of the United Nations. The Secretary-General performs "such other functions as are entrusted" by the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and other UN organs. EOSG is at the very center of the UN's operational and political work, translating the mandates of these principal organs into concrete programmes and actions.
The Sustainable Development Unit (SDU)
Within the EOSG, the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) works towards the promotion and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its strategy is designed to leverage the unique position, role and convening power of the Secretary-General and of the Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) to maintain momentum, accelerate implementation and promote ambition on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SDU supports the strategic engagement of the Secretary-General and the DSG on specific themes, including:
🌱 Financing for development
🌍 Environment and climate action
🩺 Global health
⚖️ Gender equality
🍽️ Transforming food systems
📊 Data for the SDGs
🤝 Social protection and jobs
Interns working within the SDU are directly contributing to this high-level strategic mandate, with daily exposure to global policy processes and senior UN leadership.
Core Responsibilities
Interns selected for this programme will perform the following core functions in support of the organization of events and other ad-hoc projects or assignments:
📌 Provide policy analysis for the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), collaborating across the different areas of work within the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) and supporting coordination efforts with relevant divisions of the EOSG and with United Nations Agencies
📌 Help monitor, identify and analyze global trends related to sustainable development, with a focus on one or several of the eight thematic tracks (detailed below)
📌 Support the preparation of analytical reports, papers, talking points, background notes, correspondence, key messages, video remarks, interviews and daily briefs
📌 Support the preparation of meetings, events, summits and visits for senior officials
📌 Support the transition of the new UN Senior Leadership
Each intern reports to full-time professional staff and is assigned to at least one thematic track.
The Eight Thematic Tracks
Interns are assigned to at least one of eight thematic tracks. Each track is a focus area of active global policy engagement led by the Secretary-General and the SDU.
Track 1: Financing for Development
🔍 Assisting with analysis and research for the stocktaking of the Secretary-General's Finance Strategy for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
🔍 Supporting workstreams related to Financing for Development (FfD), including preparations for key upcoming events such as FfD-related events during the High-Level Week
🔍 Supporting work in relevant multilateral processes including the G20, BRICS, COP and others
Track 2: Environment, Energy and Climate Change
🌿 Supporting the preparations and monitoring the outcomes of high-level summits related to environmental policies
🌿 Key events include COP 31 on climate change, the 2026 UN Water Conference, COP 17 of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
🌿 Staying abreast of institutional processes related to the negotiations for the treaty on the reduction of plastic pollution
Track 3: Health
🏥 Supporting the Secretary-General's efforts to strengthen global health systems
🏥 Advancing pandemic preparedness and adopting universal health coverage
🏥 Promoting mental health advocacy
🏥 Developing institutional capacity for health services in underserved regions
Track 4: Gender
🌐 Supporting the Secretary-General's office mandate to respect gender equality across the world
🌐 Advancing equal labor opportunities, remuneration and recognition
🌐 Protecting women and girls from systemic discrimination and violence
🌐 Increasing opportunities for gender empowerment worldwide
Track 5: Governance, Peace and Security
🕊️ Supporting analysis, initiatives, forums and engagements on humanitarian, peace and development matters
🕊️ Contributing to monitoring, analysis and engagement on priority regions, countries and topics including the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes Region, Haiti and Afghanistan
🕊️ Supporting collaboration with the African Union
🕊️ Addressing climate security and advancing development in complex settings
🕊️ Contributing to aspects of UN reform, particularly those pertaining to cross-pillar collaboration and coherence
Track 6: Sustainable Food Systems
🌾 Supporting the team to advance the Office's efforts related to sustainable food systems, contributing to greater food security, local livelihoods and reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the sector
🌾 Supporting relevant projects to advance the Secretary-General's Call to Action for Accelerated Food Systems Transformation
🌾 Supporting work in coordination with the UN Food Systems Hub
Track 7: Education
📚 Supporting the team to advance the Office's priorities on education
📚 Preparing for high-level events on education
📚 Monitoring the outcomes of the TES+4
Track 8: SDG Acceleration and Partnerships
🤝 Supporting the work of the Office to strengthen effectiveness through partnerships with private and public partners
🤝 Contributing to accelerating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
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Who Can Apply
Applicants to the United Nations Internship Programme must, at the time of application, meet one of the following requirements:
🎓 Be enrolled in, or have completed, an undergraduate (Bachelor's level or equivalent) or graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent or higher, such as a Master's degree, Ph.D. or post-graduate degree)
🎓 Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent)
Work experience is not required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Candidates' training, education, advanced coursework and skills should benefit the United Nations during the internship. This listing is open to candidates from all nationalities worldwide. For more internship opportunities, browse Youth Works Hub's full internship listings.
Desirable Skills and Experience
While not required, the following skills and experience are considered desirable for this role:
💻 Work experience with standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, other presentation and visualization software and MS Teams
✍️ Work experience in report editing and drafting news articles and/or social media posts
📊 Work experience in data analysis using statistical software such as R, Stata or SPSS, or AI-assisted tools such as Copilot to support coding, analysis or research
Language Requirements
🗣️ English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required.
Work Modality, Duration and Start Date
📍 Duty Station: New York, United States
🏢 Work modality: In-person; Remote or Hybrid
⏱️ Expected duration: 6 months
📅 Expected start date: 1 December 2026
Financial Conditions
This internship is not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Specific conditions include:
💼 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 Application Fee
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this internship paid?
No. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of the intern or their sponsoring institution. No salary or stipend is provided.
When does the internship start?
The expected start date is 1 December 2026. The internship runs for six months.
Is the internship in-person or remote?
The duty station is New York, United States. The position is listed as In-person; Remote or Hybrid, so candidates should discuss the exact work modality with the hiring team before accepting.
Do I need prior work experience to apply?
No. Work experience is not required to apply for the United Nations Internship Programme. Your education, training and advanced coursework should benefit the United Nations during the internship.
Can I choose which thematic track I work on?
The intern is assigned to at least one of the eight thematic tracks by the team. Interns may work across multiple tracks depending on office needs and the candidate's background.
What education level is required?
Applicants must be enrolled in or have completed an undergraduate (Bachelor's level or equivalent) or graduate programme, or be in the final academic year of their first university degree. The degree does not need to be in progress at the time of the internship if it has already been completed.
Is there an application fee?
No. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, meeting, processing or training.
Do I need a visa to intern in New York?
Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates are advised to discuss their specific visa requirements with the hiring team before accepting the internship offer.
Deadline
⏳ 09 November 2026
