UNESCO is accepting applications until 31 December 2026 (midnight) for internships of 1 to 6 months in its Sciences Sector, with a duty station at Headquarters, Field Offices and Institutes and the Paris, France location. Applicants must be at least 20 years old, and the internship is unpaid. This is a talent pool vacancy, not a specific opening. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full notice and set out every task, topic and condition below.
About the Sciences Sector
UNESCO's Sciences Sector (SC) advances sustainable development by promoting science, innovation and international cooperation to address global environmental, social and technological challenges. Guided by key international frameworks, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement (2015), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030), the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the African Union's Agenda 2063, the Sector adopts a systemic and integrated approach to strengthening knowledge, building scientific capacity, supporting the sustainable management of natural resources, promoting climate resilience and biodiversity conservation, and fostering inclusive green economies.
The Sciences Sector also contributes to UNESCO's fundamental humanist mission by harnessing science to advance peace, inclusion and sustainable development. It supports efforts to combat violence, racism and discrimination, promote gender equality and social inclusion, foster intercultural dialogue, and expand opportunities for youth, women and persons with disabilities. In addition, the Sector promotes the ethical development and governance of emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), in line with UNESCO's Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. 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, Field Offices, and Institutes. 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.
Areas of Activity
Through research, capacity-building, policy advice and advocacy, the Sciences Sector helps build more inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies grounded in scientific knowledge and international cooperation. Areas of activity include:
🌿 Inclusive knowledge and capacities of Member States strengthened to advance science for sustainable management of natural resources, ecosystem and biodiversity conservation and restoration, and disaster risk resilience
💧 Water science, innovation, education, management, cooperation and governance strengthened for a water-secure world in a changing environment
🔭 Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policies strengthened through improved access to scientific knowledge, technological advancement and Open Science
🧪 Institutional and human capacities enhanced in basic sciences, engineering, research, innovation and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education for sustainable development
🤖 Ethical governance of science and emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), promoted in line with UNESCO's normative instruments
📈 Evidence-based policymaking fostered through interdisciplinary research, social transformations and knowledge exchange
🕊️ Inclusive societies advanced by combating discrimination, racism and harmful stereotypes, and promoting intercultural dialogue, equality and social cohesion
⚽ Sport leveraged as a tool for social inclusion, gender equality, disability inclusion, integrity and peacebuilding
📚 Youth engagement strengthened through research, policy innovation, capacity building and participation in global initiatives
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What the Intern Does
The intern supports the overall work of the Sector:
📑 Participate in the preparation and review of project documents, technical reports, policy briefs and analytical papers
🗒️ Draft briefing notes, background documents, technical annexes and progress reports
📊 Conduct research, collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data, and support evidence-based policy development
📣 Support communication and visibility activities through website updates, communication materials and knowledge dissemination
🤝 Analyze opportunities for partnerships, fundraising and stakeholder engagement while supporting coordination meetings
🧰 Provide administrative and logistical support for workshops, conferences, consultations and high-level meetings
🧮 Assist in project planning, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation and financial documentation
🔗 Contribute to interdisciplinary initiatives linking science, innovation, ethics, sustainability and social inclusion
📌 Perform additional programme-related tasks as required by the supervisor
Topics Covered Across the Sector
📂 Environment and Water Sustainability: sustainable development, climate action, water cooperation, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration, geoparks and indigenous knowledge, and disaster risk reduction
💡 Science, Technology and Innovation: engineering, science, innovation, open science, STEM education, artificial intelligence, and ethics of science and technology
🕊️ Social Development and Peace: human rights, social inclusion and justice, intercultural dialogue, global citizenship, peace, sport for development, and youth empowerment
🏛️ Governance: public policy and governance
Learning Objectives
The intern acquires an understanding of UNESCO's overall work and gains practical experience in project design, planning, implementation and policy development within an international and multicultural environment. Learning objectives include:
📘 Design policy briefs using approaches such as case studies, facilitated discussions, research synthesis and stakeholder consultations
🌐 Understand global policymaking processes and the role of international organizations in setting standards, facilitating knowledge exchange, providing policy advice, strengthening institutional capacities and fostering international cooperation
🛠️ Gain practical experience in international project management through learning-by-doing
🔬 Develop domain knowledge across scientific, technological, environmental, ethical and social policy fields
✏️ Strengthen analytical, research, writing, communication and critical-thinking skills
💭 Contribute original ideas during project development, programme planning and innovation discussions
🤲 Develop administrative, organizational, stakeholder management, teamwork, problem-solving and intercultural communication skills within the UNESCO Competency Framework
Competencies
UNESCO lists the following competencies for this internship:
🗨️ Communication
🧾 Accountability
✨ Innovation
🔁 Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
🎯 Results focus
🧩 Teamwork
🎓 Professionalism
Age and Academic Requirements
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.
Skills and Languages
🗣️ 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
Benefits and Entitlements
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
Practical Conditions: Visa, Travel and Insurance
📆 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 Candidates Are Selected
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.
What to Know Before You Submit
⏲️ 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
More science and policy placements are listed in the internship section of Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UNESCO Sciences Sector internship paid?
No. UNESCO does not remunerate interns, and there is no compensation, financial or otherwise. You also arrange and finance your own travel and hold comprehensive health insurance.
What topics does the Sciences Sector cover?
The Sector covers environment and water sustainability, science, technology and innovation, social development and peace, and governance, including climate action, biodiversity, open science, STEM education, artificial intelligence ethics, human rights, sport for development and youth empowerment.
What tasks will I have?
You help prepare and review project documents, technical reports and policy briefs, draft briefing notes and progress reports, collect and analyze data, support communication activities, analyze partnership opportunities, support workshops and meetings, and assist with project planning, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.
Where does the internship take place?
The vacancy lists Headquarters, Field Offices and Institutes as the duty station. Your placement depends on the hiring manager who selects you from the pool.
Am I applying for a specific opening?
No. You apply to become part of the pool of intern candidates, and the candidature is valid for 6 months.
What do I need to apply?
You must be at least 20 years old, meet one of the academic conditions (third or final year of a Bachelor's, a second degree, Master's or PhD, or a recent graduate within 12 months), and have an excellent command of English or French.
What if UNESCO does not reply?
UNESCO does not respond to every candidate. If you receive no update within six months, your application has not been successful.
Deadline
⏳ 31 December 2026 (Midnight)
Link
🔗 Official UNESCO vacancy and application: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Multiple-INTERNSHIP-Sciences/1348537457/
