UNESCO is accepting applications until 31 December 2026 (midnight) for internships of 1 to 6 months in the Office of the Director-General at its Headquarters in Paris, France. Applicants must be at least 20 years old, and the internship is unpaid. This is a talent pool vacancy: you apply to join UNESCO's pool of intern candidates, not to a specific opening. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full vacancy notice and set out every task, requirement and condition below.
Working Next to the Director-General's Cabinet
Under the authority of the Cabinet Coordination Officer, and under the supervision of one of the Director-General's advisors, the intern assists the Advisor in preparing files on subjects related to the fields of competency of UNESCO: education, science, culture, social and human sciences and communication.
In this way, the intern gains knowledge of UNESCO's working environment and operations, including its mandate and its cooperation with specialized UN agencies. Interns also develop an understanding of UNESCO's interactions with other international institutions, namely the United Nations system and the 2030 Agenda. Please note that this is a talent pool vacancy: you apply to join UNESCO's pool of intern candidates, not to a specific internship opening, and there is no guarantee of placement.
The posting terms are as follows. Type of contract: Internship. Duty station: Headquarters. Duration of contract: 1 to 6 months. Application deadline: 31 December 2026 (Midnight). UNESCO core values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism.
What the Intern Does
During the internship, the intern is called on to assist the Advisor in preparing notes and opinions on administrative, political and communications issues related to the activities and fields of competency of UNESCO.
The Speechwriting Pool (Pôle Langage)
Interns in the Speechwriting Pool help prepare elements for various interventions by the Director-General, in French and in English. Under the supervision of the Head of the Pôle Langage, the tasks are:
✍️ Help write speeches, talking points, messages, editorials, articles and forewords
🔎 Carry out documentary research with a view to preparing speeches or official visits by the Director-General
🖋️ Revise correspondence to be signed by the Director-General
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A Sensitive Place to Learn
During the internship, the intern gains practical knowledge of the functioning of the Director-General's Cabinet, a working environment where major strategic decisions are made. Given the particularly sensitive nature of this work, the intern must be conscientious, proactive and discreet.
Learning Objectives
In addition, the intern must:
🏢 Understand the internal operations of an international organization and how to interact with their peers
⚖️ Learn and understand the legal, administrative and political implications of activities by an international organization
🗒️ Prepare, under the supervision of the Advisor, notes and memoranda giving advice in the context of an international organization
Lastly, this internship is an opportunity for the intern to use their analytical, synthesis and writing skills.
Core Competencies
UNESCO lists the following competencies for this internship:
🗨️ Communication
🧾 Accountability
✨ Innovation
🔁 Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
🎯 Results focus
🧩 Teamwork
🎓 Professionalism
Who Can Apply: Age and Studies
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 3rd (third) year 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 indicated 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 recently graduated (within the last 12 months) from their school or institution.
Language, Computer and Team Skills
🗣️ Languages: an excellent command, both written and spoken, of English or French
🇫🇷 A working knowledge of the other language (English or French) is an asset, and may be required for internships in secretarial and assistantship assignments at the Headquarters
💻 Computer skills: an excellent knowledge of computer systems and office-related software
🤲 Team player: you should be able to work well in a team and adapt to an international working environment
📢 Communication skills: strong interpersonal and communication skills
What UNESCO Offers Interns
UNESCO does not remunerate interns, and there is no compensation, financial or otherwise, for internship assignments. If you are weighing formats, our guide to the difference between fellowships, internships and traineeships explains how each works.
🏖️ Interns are entitled to 2.5 days of leave per month during their internship and an additional leave of 1 working day per complete month of internship
🩹 Interns are provided with a limited workplace insurance coverage against risk of injury, illness, disability, or death incurred during the period of the internship and directly attributable to the execution of the internship
What You Arrange and Pay For Yourself
📆 Duration: the minimum duration of an internship is one month, and the maximum duration is six months
🛂 Visa: you are responsible for obtaining any necessary visas
✈️ Travel: you must arrange and finance your travel to the location where you will undertake your internship
🏥 Medical insurance: you must show proof of a comprehensive health insurance valid in the country where you will undertake your internship and for the entire period of the internship; UNESCO only provides a limited workplace insurance coverage against risk of injury, illness, disability, or death incurred during the period of the internship and directly attributable to the execution of the internship
🪪 Supporting documents: before the beginning of your internship, you must provide proof of your identity (ID card or passport), a Certificate of Enrollment, a Transcript of Record, or a Diploma if you have just recently graduated
🏖️ Leave: interns are entitled to 2.5 days of leave per month and an additional leave of 1 working day per complete month of internship
📝 Internship Agreement: UNESCO does not sign any third-party agreements or contracts (for example, conventions de stage) provided by academic or research institutions; the internship 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 Talent Pool Selection Works
Candidates shall apply to this vacancy notice, or to any of the available vacancy notices that match their expertise, domain or interest. You are applying to become part of the pool of intern candidates, not to a specific internship opening.
Candidates who successfully applied 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 the candidate does not receive any update from UNESCO within six months, it means that the application has not been successful.
Before You Open the Application Form
⏲️ During the application process you will be asked to 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 in the next 6 months
🔠 You can only use either English or French in 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 will be further accessed by UNESCO managers around the world and will stay in the internship portal for a period of six months
🔕 UNESCO does not respond to each and every candidate: if there is an internship opening and you are selected, the manager contacts you directly from the pool; if you receive no update within six months, your application has not been successful
Find more placements like this one in the internship section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UNESCO Office of the Director-General 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 this internship take place?
The vacancy lists Headquarters as the duty station, which is UNESCO's Paris base in France. Because you join a pool of candidates, your placement depends on the hiring manager who selects you.
Who supervises the intern?
The intern works under the authority of the Cabinet Coordination Officer and under the supervision of one of the Director-General's advisors.
What do Speechwriting Pool interns do?
They help prepare elements for the Director-General's interventions in French and in English, including speeches, talking points, messages, editorials, articles and forewords, and they carry out documentary research and revise correspondence under the Head of the Pôle Langage.
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.
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.
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.
How long can the internship last?
The minimum duration is one month and the maximum is six months.
Deadline
⏳ 31 December 2026 (Midnight)
Link
🔗 Official UNESCO vacancy and application: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Multiple-INTERNSHIP-Office-of-the-Director-General/1348534057/
