UNESCO is accepting applications for an Internship in Digital Business Solutions (DBS), its ICT operations entity, for 1 to 6 months. Applications close on 31 December 2026 (midnight), the internship is unpaid, 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 every domain, task and requirement below.
About Digital Business Solutions
The Digital Business Solutions entity is responsible for ICT operations within UNESCO and reports to the Assistant Director General for Administration (ADG/ADM). The team oversees the implementation of UNESCO's digital strategy, with the delivery of:
🧠 More integrated and properly codified project and knowledge management in support of programme delivery
🖧 A resilient IT infrastructure and best-in-class service management to enable effective programme delivery
🛡️ Strengthened cyber security and digital risk management
DBS is seeking highly motivated graduate or postgraduate students, or recent graduates or postgraduates, to assist in its mission. Interns are exposed to the work of UNESCO and provide DBS with qualified and specialized assistance in the Bureau's projects, under the supervision and direction of DBS's management team.
Domain 1: Operations, Helpdesk, Network, Server and Cloud
📡 Network monitoring and configuration: assist in monitoring network performance and diagnosing connectivity issues with monitoring tools, while gaining hands-on experience configuring routers, switches and firewalls
☁️ Cloud platform familiarity: gain experience with platforms such as AWS, Azure or Google Cloud by setting up and configuring cloud resources, and assist in planning the migration of on-premises applications and workloads to the cloud
🔧 Server and network troubleshooting: learn to troubleshoot problems such as slow connections or network outages
📚 Documentation: help update and maintain network documentation, including network diagrams and device inventories
🎧 User support and troubleshooting: provide basic user support, including password resets and account creation, and learn about helpdesk ticketing systems
Domain 2: Cybersecurity, Compliance and AI
🤖 AI and Generative AI: support the deployment, configuration and testing of AI and GAI models developed by UNESCO
🎓 Cybersecurity awareness workshops: create content that educates employees about cybersecurity threats, safe online practices and the importance of strong passwords
🎣 Phishing simulations: coordinate simulated phishing campaigns to train employees to recognize and report phishing emails and other social engineering attacks
📋 Security policy review: review and discuss cybersecurity policies, ensuring employees understand their roles and responsibilities in maintaining security
🕵️ Vulnerability scanning reports: analyze and discuss scanning reports to educate employees about potential weaknesses and how to address them
Domain 3: Development, Architecture and Engineering
👨💻 Application development: assist in designing and coding web-based or cloud-based business applications using technologies such as Salesforce, HTML, CSS, JavaScript and a backend framework like Node.js or Django
🎨 User interface enhancement: collaborate on improving the UI and UX of existing applications based on user feedback
📈 Reporting: prepare and support reports using Microsoft or Salesforce technologies
🧹 Data cleaning, transformation and visualization: assist in data preprocessing, cleaning and transformation, and create interactive dashboards with tools like Power BI
🐞 Debugging, testing and quality assurance: conduct testing, assist in debugging and run quality assurance activities to find and fix bugs in applications
🗒️ Documentation: help document application features, code and development processes for knowledge sharing and future reference
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Learning Objectives
🧭 Knowledge of project management and UNESCO actions
✍️ Stronger writing skills
🤝 Teamwork
🛠️ Technical skills and knowledge in the area of work
🌐 Interpersonal skills built in a multicultural environment
Core Competencies and Values
The notice lists these Core and Managerial Competencies from 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.
Age and Study Requirements
You must be at least 20 years old to apply. You must also meet one of these 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 still deciding between placement types, our guide to fellowships, internships and traineeships shows how they differ.
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
What You Arrange 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
🪪 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 Selection From the Talent Pool 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 Digital Business Solutions 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.
Which technical areas can I work in?
The notice lists three domains: Operations, Helpdesk, Network, Server and Cloud; Cybersecurity, Compliance and AI; and Development, Architecture and Engineering. Interns assist in the Bureau's projects under one or more of these domains.
Do I need to know specific technologies?
The notice names technologies such as Salesforce, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Node.js, Django, Power BI, AWS, Azure and Google Cloud as examples of what interns work with. It does not list a required technology stack beyond an excellent knowledge of computer systems and office-related software.
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. Selected candidates are contacted directly by the hiring manager, and no update within six months means the application was not successful.
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 can I apply in?
You can only use English or French, and you need an excellent command, written and spoken, of one of them.
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 Digital Business Solutions internship vacancy notice and application: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Multiple-INTERNSHIP-Digital-Business-Solutions/1347770857/
