UNESCO is accepting applications for an Internship in the Governing Bodies Secretariat, lasting 1 to 6 months. Applications close on 31 December 2026 (midnight), UNESCO does not pay interns, and you must be at least 20 years old. The notice is a talent pool notice: you apply to join a pool of intern candidates, not to one fixed opening, and there is no guarantee of placement. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full vacancy notice and listed every task, requirement and step below.
Supporting the Executive Board and the General Conference
Under the overall authority of the Director of the Governing Bodies Secretariat and the direct supervision of the Deputy Secretary of the Executive Board, the intern contributes to the work of the team through selected tasks. The Secretariat supports the general conduct and smooth running of the meetings of UNESCO's governing bodies: the Executive Board, the General Conference, the Preparatory Group, working groups and informal meetings.
Reports, Research and Briefings
📝 Assist at working meetings and contribute to the reporting and briefings relating to them
📑 Support the team in drawing up certain reports of UNESCO information meetings
🔍 Carry out relevant research and draft analytical or summary notes on subjects relevant to the Governing Bodies Secretariat
📰 Follow international news and inform the supervisor of any important developments
Preparing the Sessions and Their Documentation
🗂️ Assist with the design and then the follow-up of forthcoming sessions: debriefings, documents, decisions and Summary Records
🗄️ Take part in the archiving and classification of statutory documents
Logistics
🚚 Take part in preparing the forthcoming sessions of the Executive Board and the General Conference from a logistical, organizational, informative, functional and conceptual point of view, to help each session run smoothly
Other Tasks
🧰 Contribute to other tasks supporting the general conduct and smooth running of the meetings of the Secretariat of Governing Bodies, including the Executive Board, General Conference, Preparatory Group, working groups and informal meetings
────────────────────────────────────────
🌍 All opportunities in France →
────────────────────────────────────────
Learning Objectives
Depending on the needs of the team during the internship, the assignment is expected to help you develop skills in some of these areas:
🇺🇳 Better knowledge of the United Nations in general and of UNESCO in particular
⚖️ An understanding of how governance works within the United Nations and UNESCO, and knowledge of statutory texts such as the Constitution of UNESCO and the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board
💬 An understanding of the debates held at Headquarters and of international issues related to the Organization's areas of competence
🌐 Experience of working in an international and multicultural context, and the ability to work under pressure during the sessions
🧭 The ability to adapt, take initiative, show diplomacy, read geopolitical dynamics and integrate into a professional team
🛎️ Support and assistance for the day-to-day activities of the Executive Board Secretariat
Core Competencies and Values
The notice lists the Core Competencies of the UNESCO Competency Framework:
📣 Communication
📊 Accountability
💡 Innovation
📚 Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
🎯 Results focus
🤝 Teamwork
🎖️ Professionalism
The UNESCO Core Values are Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity and Professionalism.
Who Can Apply: Age and Studies
You must be at least 20 years old. 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.
For background on the United Nations track for young professionals, see our guide to the UN Junior Professional Officer programme.
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 during the internship, plus an additional leave of 1 working day per complete month of internship
🩹 Workplace insurance: limited coverage against risk of injury, illness, disability or death incurred during the internship and directly attributable to its execution
Costs and Paperwork You Handle
🛂 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
🪪 Supporting documents before you start: proof of your identity (ID card or passport), Certificate of Enrollment, Transcript of Record, or Diploma if you have just recently graduated
The Internship Agreement
UNESCO does 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.
How the Intern Talent Pool Selection Works
Candidates apply to this vacancy notice or to any available notice that matches 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 apply successfully stay in the intern talent pool
🔎 Relevant hiring managers further assess and select candidates
⏳ The candidature is valid for 6 months
🌏 UNESCO managers around the world can access your application in the internship portal
📞 Selected candidates are contacted directly by the relevant hiring manager
🔕 If you receive no update within six months, your application has not been successful
Before You Apply
⏲️ You will answer questions about your skills, competencies, experience (if any) and interests, and you have only 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, as UNESCO receives more applications from qualified candidates than it can place
📭 UNESCO does not respond to every candidate
Find more internships and traineeships on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Governing Bodies Secretariat 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.
Who will I work with?
The intern works under the overall authority of the Director of the Governing Bodies Secretariat and the direct supervision of the Deputy Secretary of the Executive Board.
What kind of work does the intern do?
Tasks include supporting reports and briefings, helping prepare the sessions of the Executive Board and the General Conference and their documentation, archiving statutory documents, logistics and other meeting support.
Is this a specific opening?
No. It is a talent pool notice. You apply to join the pool of intern candidates, and your application stays in the internship portal for six months.
Does applying guarantee an internship?
No. There is no guarantee of placement, and UNESCO receives more qualified applications than it can place. Selected candidates are contacted directly by the hiring manager.
Who is eligible?
You must be at least 20 years old and 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 languages do I need?
An excellent command, written and spoken, of English or French. You can only use English or French in your application.
How long do I have to complete the application?
You have one hour to finish the process, during which you answer questions about your skills, competencies, experience and interests.
Deadline
⏳ 31 December 2026
Link
🔗 UNESCO Governing Bodies Secretariat internship vacancy notice and application: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Multiple-INTERNSHIP-Governing-Bodies-Secretariat/1347787357/
