UNESCO is accepting applications for an Internship in its Culture Sector, lasting 1 to 6 months at Headquarters, Field Offices or Institutes. Applications close on 31 December 2026 (midnight), there is no pay, and you must be at least 20 years old. This is a talent pool notice: you apply to join a pool of intern candidates, not to one fixed opening, and placement is not guaranteed. At Youth Works Hub, we read the full vacancy notice and set out each entity, task and requirement below.
What the UNESCO Culture Sector Does
The Culture Sector promotes culture and the creative economy and safeguards cultural and natural heritage. It responds to the global challenges addressed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as conflicts, disasters and emergencies, by implementing the six UNESCO Culture Conventions and their associated recommendations, and by supporting Member States in translating their provisions into national policies and strategies.
This Is a Talent Pool Notice
The vacancy notice states plainly that you are applying to become part of the pool of intern candidates, not to a specific internship opening or vacancy. You may apply to any vacancy notice that matches your expertise, domain or interest, and you can apply to all of them.
🗂️ Candidates who apply successfully stay in the intern talent pool
🔎 Relevant hiring managers assess and select from the pool
⏳ Your candidature is valid for 6 months
📞 Selected candidates are contacted directly by the relevant hiring manager
🔕 If you hear nothing from UNESCO within six months, your application has not been successful
Where You Could Be Placed in the Culture Sector
Internships with the Culture Sector can be undertaken in the following entities:
🏛️ World Heritage: manages the day-to-day implementation of the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. It supports the governance mechanisms of the Convention, develops periodic reporting, assesses nominations and coordinates reporting on the condition of sites and emergency action when a site is threatened. It also organizes capacity-building seminars and workshops, updates the World Heritage List and database, develops teaching materials for young people, supports the 2011 Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape and keeps the public informed.
🪘 Living Heritage: implements the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. It supports safeguarding efforts, ensures respect for the heritage of the communities, groups and individuals concerned, and raises awareness. It administers the International Assistance mechanism of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund, monitors projects, designs and monitors global programmes, strategies and funding priorities, develops training content, provides technical backstopping for policy development, builds partnerships and develops fund-raising proposals.
🎭 Diversity of Cultural Expressions: promotes the diversity of cultural expressions and the creative economy as vectors for sustainable development. It ensures the implementation and monitoring of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist, and helps governments design, monitor and evaluate policies.
📣 Communication, Cities and Events: serves the whole Culture Sector across three poles: communication, including the publications and webpages of the Sector; cities, through the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN); and events, supporting the statutory meetings of the Culture Conventions and special events.
🆘 Culture and Emergencies: acts as the Secretariat of the 1954 Convention on the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict and its two Protocols (1954 and 1999), the 1970 Convention on the prevention of illicit trafficking of cultural property, the 2001 Convention on underwater cultural heritage, the 2015 Museums Recommendation and the museums programme. It is also responsible for emergency preparedness and response in the area of culture.
📐 Cultural Policies and Development: provides technical assistance to Member States in designing, adapting and implementing cultural policies, and advocates for the role of culture in the broad public policy spectrum. It is charged with the organization and follow-up of the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development, MONDIACULT 2022, and works to integrate culture in international agendas for sustainable development and peace and security, including through fora such as the G20.
🧭 Executive Office: provides strategic advice, quality control and management support to the Assistant Director-General for Culture (ADG/CLT), coordinates the approved programme and budget of the Sector, and handles communication with other UNESCO sectors, UN agencies and external partners.
🧾 Administrative Office: provides financial and administrative services in line with UNESCO's rules, regulations and procedures, including general administrative and financial matters, human resources management issues and logistical support from resource planning to the liquidation of financial commitments.
Interns also assist with initiatives related to global priorities (Africa and Gender Equality), priority groups and transversal themes such as culture and education, culture and climate change, indigenous peoples, SIDS and youth.
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Duties and Responsibilities
Interns work under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture, the general supervision of the Director or Chief of Entity, and the direct supervision of the Head of Unit or Programme Specialist. They contribute to the work of the Unit or Entity, in particular to:
🛠️ Assist in the implementation and monitoring of Culture programmes and activities
✍️ Contribute to documents, reports, work plans and communication content, including briefings, talking points, speeches and online content for the Sector
🔬 Assist in research, data compilation and analysis, and draft and prepare materials on the implementation of the UNESCO Culture Conventions
🎤 Participate in and assist with meetings, training workshops, events, webinars and conferences organized by the Sector, taking notes and preparing minutes
🤝 Help build and maintain working relationships with other Sectors and Entities, donors, partners and relevant national and international organizations
📎 Contribute to any additional tasks assigned by the Unit or Entity within the Culture Sector
Learning Objectives
Depending on the needs of the team, the internship is expected to help you develop skills in some of these areas:
🗺️ A fundamental understanding of the mission and structure of the UNESCO Culture Sector in protecting and promoting cultural heritage and creativity
🌐 An understanding of UNESCO's mandate and its role and functioning within the United Nations System
📝 Skills to write internal and external materials with diplomatic awareness and a professional tone in an international context
👥 Experience of working in a multicultural team and for an international organization
📱 Communication, social media and project management skills
UNESCO Core Competencies and Values
The notice lists the Core Competencies of the UNESCO Competency Framework, and the UNESCO Core Values:
💬 Communication
📊 Accountability
💡 Innovation
📚 Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
🎯 Results focus
🧩 Teamwork
🎖️ Professionalism
The four Core Values are Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity and Professionalism.
Age and Academic Requirements
You must be at least 20 years old to apply. You must also meet one of these academic conditions:
🎓 Currently enrolled and in the 3rd (third) year or final year of your Bachelor's degree
📘 Currently enrolled in your second university degree, Master's or PhD degree or equivalent
📜 Completed a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree no more than 12 months before 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 have reached the last year of their studies, or have graduated within the last 12 months.
If you are comparing placement types, our guide on the difference between a fellowship, an internship and a traineeship explains what each one involves.
Language, Computer and Team Skills
🔤 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 secretarial and assistantship internships at 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. There is no compensation, financial or otherwise, for internship assignments.
🌴 Leave: 2.5 days of leave per month, plus an additional leave of 1 working day per complete month of internship
What You Handle Yourself
🛂 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 for the entire period; UNESCO only provides limited workplace insurance against risk of injury, illness, disability or death directly attributable to the execution of the internship
🪪 Documents before you start: your ID, Certificate of Enrollment or Diploma if you have just graduated
The Internship Agreement
UNESCO will not sign third-party agreements or contracts, such as 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.
Find more internships and traineeships on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the UNESCO Culture Sector internship paid?
No. UNESCO does not remunerate interns and there is no compensation, financial or otherwise. Interns receive leave entitlements and a limited workplace insurance coverage.
How long does the internship last?
The minimum duration is one month and the maximum is six months. The notice lists the duration of contract as 1 to 6 months.
Am I applying for a specific internship position?
No. You apply to join the pool of intern candidates. Your candidature stays valid for 6 months and relevant hiring managers select from the pool.
Does applying guarantee me a placement?
The notice is a talent pool notice and does not describe a guaranteed internship. Selected candidates are contacted directly by the hiring manager, and silence for six months means the application was not successful.
Who can apply?
You must be at least 20 years old and be in the 3rd or final year of a Bachelor's degree, enrolled in a second degree, Master's or PhD, or have completed a degree within the last 12 months. The notice does not state a nationality restriction, and Youth Works Hub lists it as open worldwide.
Which entities can I work in?
World Heritage, Living Heritage, Diversity of Cultural Expressions, Communication, Cities and Events, Culture and Emergencies, Cultural Policies and Development, the Executive Office and the Administrative Office of the Culture Sector.
Do I need to speak both English and French?
No. You need an excellent command of English or French. A working knowledge of the other language is an asset.
Who pays for travel and visas?
You do. You must arrange and finance your travel, obtain any necessary visas and show proof of comprehensive health insurance for the whole internship.
Deadline
⏳ 31 December 2026
Link
🔗 UNESCO Culture Sector internship vacancy notice and application: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Multiple-INTERNSHIP-Culture-Sector/1347730257/
