UNESCO is accepting applications until 31 December 2026 (midnight) for internships of 1 to 6 months in Communications and Public Engagement, at its Headquarters in Paris, France, and at Field Offices and Institutes. Applicants must be at least 20 years old, and the internships are unpaid. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy notice and set out every domain, requirement and condition below.
Why Intern at UNESCO?
The UNESCO Internship Programme offers practical work in a multicultural environment. Aside from helping you understand the Organization's mandate, programmes and main thrusts, it enhances your academic knowledge with relevant work assignments that can help you prepare for your future career.
UNESCO's core values are Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity and Professionalism.
The Internship at a Glance
🏷️ Role: Internship in Communications and Public Engagement
📍 Duty station: Headquarters, Field Offices and Institutes
⏱️ Duration: 1 to 6 months
🎂 Minimum age: 20 years old
🗣️ Languages: Excellent English or French
🧾 Pay: No remuneration
Inside the Division for Communications and Public Engagement
The Division for Communications and Public Engagement reports directly to the Office of the Director-General. The team oversees the implementation of the Organization's communication strategy and ensures the coordination and delivery of external and internal communications to meet the needs of the sectors and Field Offices. This includes drafting and editing content for the Organization's website, press relations and press review, social media channels, communications campaigns, public events, media partnerships and publications.
Interns have the opportunity to assist in the Division's various projects and help ensure visibility is given to all the Organization's activities across multiple platforms, digital and traditional. The work entrusted falls into one or more of the domains below.
Social Media Tasks
📱 Assist in preparation for communication and social media campaigns
✍️ Assist in drafting and translation or editing of social media assets
🎨 Assist in graphic design for social media and other digital platforms
🎥 Assist in on-site interview filming and postproduction
📨 Assist in the creation of newsletters
📅 Assist in editorial scheduling of social media assets, and social media analytics
Web Tasks
🌐 Assist in the creation of new websites
🔤 Translation or editing of contents
📘 Assist in the drafting of technical and editorial documentation
⬆️ Upload content on the website or other content management tools, such as Trello
📊 Summary and analytical tasks, assessing audience and communications impact
🔎 Support the creation of appropriate SEO reports
🖌️ Web mastering, editing and graphic design
🛠️ Assist in maintaining and improving the Web ecosystem (knowledge of programming languages and sysops skills are required)
Press Tasks
🗞️ Monitor media coverage of UNESCO, preparing daily media reports and identifying key trends or issues
📇 Support media relations by researching journalists, maintaining media contact databases and preparing targeted media lists
📤 Assist in the preparation and dissemination of press and other communication materials, including fact-checking and updating background information
🧠 Provide research and background information to support media outreach, campaigns and communication activities
🎤 Contribute to the organization of media events, interviews and other day-to-day operations
Photo Tasks
📷 Participate in shooting and post-production
🗂️ Organize and catalogue images
Publishing and Branding Tasks
📚 Provide editorial and technical assistance on publication projects
🖼️ Help in photo research and sourcing for publications and brochures
🏷️ Contribute to projects linked to promoting the UNESCO brand
⚖️ Assist on IPR issues including open access, co-publishing and licensing agreements, as well as responding to permissions requests
✅ Support the internal quality control process, including checking author contracts as part of the ISBN process
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UNESCO Campuses Tasks
🏫 Assist in the organization of thematic on-site or online conferences-debates for middle and high school classes around the world, including liaising with attendees and administrative support
🗺️ Undertake research of schools around the world and contribute to the enrichment of a database
💡 Participate in the development of a communication strategy and preparation of contents for social networks and the UNESCO Campus web page
UNESCO Courier Magazine Tasks
📰 Assist in selecting, editing and publishing articles, pictures and videos via the new media
📖 Review existing articles and assist with the translation and page layout online
🤝 Communicate with partners and facilitate the readership to the magazine
🚚 Contribute to development of a distribution network
📣 Assist in the promotion and marketing of the magazine
What You Will Learn
🧭 Knowledge of project management and UNESCO actions
💬 Application of communication techniques
🏗️ Advanced web architecture
🖊️ Stronger writing skills
🎛️ Use of design software
🗃️ Use of content management
☎️ Handling press relations
👥 Teamwork
🌐 Interpersonal skills built in a multicultural environment
Core Competencies
🗨️ Communication
🧾 Accountability
✨ Innovation
🔁 Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
🎯 Results focus
🧩 Teamwork
🎓 Professionalism
Who Can Apply: Age and Academic Qualifications
You must be at least 20 years old to apply. On the academic side, you must meet one of the following conditions:
🎓 Be currently enrolled and on the third or final year of your Bachelor's degree
🏛️ Be currently enrolled in your second university degree, Master's or PhD degree or equivalent
📜 Have completed a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree no more than 12 months prior to the issuance of the Internship Agreement, as determined by the completion date on your diploma
Applicants in technical or vocational assignments must be enrolled in a specialized technical or vocational institution and must have reached the last year of their studies, or have graduated within the last 12 months from their school or institution.
Languages and Other Requirements
🗣️ An excellent command, written and spoken, of English or French
🇫🇷 A working knowledge of the other language is an asset, and may be required for internships in secretarial and assistantship assignments at the Headquarters
💻 An excellent knowledge of computer systems and office-related software
🤲 The ability to work well in a team and adapt to an international working environment
📢 Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Benefits and Entitlements
UNESCO does not remunerate interns, and there is no compensation, financial or otherwise, for internship assignments. Our comparison of fellowships, internships and traineeships explains how this format differs from others.
🏖️ Interns are entitled to 2.5 days of leave per month, plus an additional leave of 1 working day per complete month of internship
🩹 Interns receive limited workplace insurance coverage against risk of injury, illness, disability or death incurred during the internship and directly attributable to its execution
Costs and Conditions to Keep in Mind
📆 Duration: The minimum is one month and the maximum is six months
🛂 Visa: You are responsible for obtaining any necessary visas
✈️ Travel: You must arrange and finance your travel to the location of your internship
🏥 Medical insurance: You must show proof of comprehensive health insurance valid in the country of your internship and for its entire period
🪪 Supporting documents: Before the internship begins, you must provide proof of identity (ID card or passport), a Certificate of Enrollment, a Transcript of Record, or a Diploma if you have just recently graduated
📝 Internship Agreement: UNESCO does not sign third-party agreements or contracts (for example, conventions de stage) provided by academic or research institutions. The arrangement is strictly between UNESCO and the intern, and only the official Internship Agreement issued by UNESCO is executed and signed by UNESCO representatives
How the Selection Works
You apply to become part of the pool of intern candidates, not to a specific internship opening. Candidates may apply to this vacancy notice or to any of the available vacancy notices that match their expertise, domain or interest.
Candidates who apply successfully stay in the intern talent pool and are further assessed and selected by relevant hiring managers. The candidature is valid for 6 months, and selected candidates are contacted directly by the relevant hiring manager. If you receive no update from UNESCO within six months, your application has not been successful.
Before You Apply
⏲️ During the application you will answer questions about your skills, competencies, experience (if any) and interests, and you only have one hour to finish the process
📞 Make sure your contact details will be valid for the next 6 months
🔠 You can only use English or French when applying
🌍 Provide an unofficial French or English translation of your documents if they are not in these languages
⚠️ Even if you are eligible, there is no guarantee of placement: UNESCO receives more applications from qualified candidates than it can place
🌏 Your application is reviewed by UNESCO managers around the world and stays in the internship portal for six months
🔕 UNESCO does not respond to every candidate: if there is an opening and you are selected, the manager contacts you directly from the pool
Find more placements like this one in the internship section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UNESCO Communications and Public Engagement internship paid?
No. UNESCO does not remunerate interns, and there is no compensation, financial or otherwise. You must also arrange and finance your own travel and hold comprehensive health insurance.
Where does the internship take place?
The vacancy lists the duty station as Headquarters, Field Offices and Institutes. Because you join a pool of candidates, your placement depends on the hiring manager who selects you.
How long can a UNESCO internship last?
The minimum duration is one month and the maximum is six months. Interns are entitled to 2.5 days of leave per month, plus 1 additional working day per complete month of internship.
Who is eligible for this UNESCO internship?
You must be at least 20 years old and either in the third or final year of a Bachelor's degree, enrolled in a second university degree, Master's or PhD, or have completed a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD no more than 12 months before the Internship Agreement is issued. You also need an excellent command of English or French.
Am I applying for a specific internship opening?
No. You are applying to become part of the pool of intern candidates, and your candidature stays valid for 6 months. Relevant hiring managers assess the pool and contact selected candidates directly.
What does it mean if I hear nothing from UNESCO?
UNESCO does not respond to every candidate. If you do not receive any update within six months, your application has not been successful.
Which areas of work can interns be assigned to?
The work falls into one or more of these domains: social media, web, press, photo, publishing and branding, UNESCO Campuses and the UNESCO Courier magazine. Some web tasks require knowledge of programming languages and sysops skills.
Will UNESCO sign my university's internship agreement?
No. UNESCO does not sign third-party agreements or contracts such as conventions de stage provided by academic or research institutions. Only the official Internship Agreement issued by UNESCO is signed.
Deadline
⏳ 31 December 2026 (Midnight)
Link
🔗 Official UNESCO vacancy and application: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Multiple-INTERNSHIP-Communications-and-Public-Engagement/1347728357/
