Internship Programs

UNIDO Internships

Unpaid Internships

The goal of the UNIDO internship program is to make it possible for candidates to put into practice the knowledge acquired in their academic training and acquaint themselves with UNIDO’s work. To achieve that, interns are trained so they take on challenging tasks destined to provide them with a grasp of how UNIDO’s problem solving is done in the industrial sector of developing economies. The organization’s diversified environment enables cultural and experience exchange with professionals of various nationalities and different educational and professional backgrounds.

In pursuit of its mission, the OpenIGO network has prepared a comprehensive eBook and support and guidance services, with the aim of highly increasing your chances of success in these competitive processes. These services include revising your UN internships application documents (curriculum vitae/resume and cover letter) and a mock interview, as per the United Nations model. We also offer a range of packages that combine the eBook with different services.

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UNIDO Overview

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is dedicated to promoting growth in the industrial sector by way of inclusive and sustainable practices, both in developing nations and transition economies. For that end, the agency generates and spreads knowledge about industries, provides technical support, technology and tools for carrying through with projects that aim for inclusive globalization, reduction of poverty and environmental sustainability. Since 2017, UNIDO has 168 member states and its headquarters are located at Vienna (Austria), with 47 regional and country offices around the world.

UNIDO’s main focus: Promoting development in the industrial sector through inclusive and sustainable practices.

Themes addressed by UNIDO:

Sustainable Development
Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development
Countries Partnership

Description of the UNIDO Internship

What are the fields of study required for the UNIDO Internship?

This internship program includes students and recent graduates from the most diverse fields of knowledge. The areas of study with the highest demand in this program are:

Agriculture
Business and Technology
Communications and External Relations
Energy and Environment
Finance and Accounting
Gender Mainstreaming
Human Resources
Information Technologies
Law
Project Management
Research and Statistics

What are the tasks performed by the selected for the UNIDO Internship?

Provide support to administrative and operational duties;
Carry out research, collect and analyse data about relevant themes for the agency’s activities;
Draft reports, articles and other types of documents;
Help with organizing events;
Take part in training and events with other members of the agency.

What is the duration of the UNIDO Internship?

The internship period ranges from at least 3 months to up to 6 months at most and can be extended up to 9 months.

What is the weekly workload of the UNIDO Internship?

The internship programs are full-time. Interns shall therefore work between 35 and 40 hours per week.

Where are the locations of the UNIDO Internship?

Most openings are available for the UNIDO’s headquarters in Vienna (Austria), but other opportunities may appear in the agency’s External Offices spread around the world.

When does the UNIDO Internship start?

The initial date of the internship shall be coordinated between the intern and the organization.

Is there any feedback following the completion of the UNIDO Internship?

At the end of the internship, the supervisor is in charge of preparing an assessment report of the intern’s performance.

Besides that, the intern must fill 2 reports:

a) the Internship Summary Report, which is up to 2 pages long;

b) Internship Evaluation Report. Both reports should be signed by the intern and their supervisor and, subsequently, forwarded to UNIDO’s Internship Coordinator.

Subsequent employment:

Participation in the internship is not related to future employment with the agency. During the internship period and within 2 months immediately after the program you will not be eligible to apply for or be appointed to any effective position. However, the work experience in the agency will be a distinctive feature in your curriculum, which may facilitate your hiring by other organizations inside or outside the UN System.

UNIDO Internship - Salary

The internship is unpaid.

UNIDO Internship - Requirements

What is the education requirement of the UNIDO Internship Program?

For technical, normative or programmatic functions:

Be enrolled in a graduate school program (Master’s or PhD), or;
Have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate course in the last 12 months, and;
Be sponsored by an academic program.

For administrative support functions:

Be enrolled in an undergraduate school program (Bachelor’s level or equivalent).

What is the language requirement of the UNIDO Internship Program?

For openings at the headquarters in Vienna, candidates must be proficient in English and it is desirable that they have working knowledge in French and Spanish. For Field offices it is enough to have proficiency in English. In both cases, knowing another language of the UN System may be an advantage in the selection process.

What is the age requirement of the UNIDO Internship Program?

Applicants must be at between 21 and 35 years old at the time of enrollment.

What is the nationality requirement of the UNIDO Internship Program?

Citizens of the member states of UNIDO have priority in the selection process.

What are the competencies required for the UNIDO Internship Program?

The main competencies required are:

Teamwork skill and openness to working in a multicultural environment;
Communication skill (spoken and written);
Proficiency in the use of conventional software (Microsoft Office).

Other requirements:

Most internships require no work experience. However, previous experiences may be an advantage in the selection process.

What are the restrictions of the UNIDO Internship Program?

An applicant may not be a child or sibling of a United Nations staff member.
All information not officially published by UNIDO and seen by the interns during their internship must remain confidential, unless the agency authorizes the publication. That includes reports, documents, articles and other types of content.
Interns will not have the benefits that UNIDO’s full-time employees have and they do not represent the agency officially. However, they have the same obligations and rules of conduct as the agency’s workers.

UNIDO Internship - Application process

When to apply for the UNIDO Internship Program?

There is no specific time of the year for sending your application for an internship: you choose your area of interest and send your application. When openings are available, the agency will evaluate the candidates and contact those they deem suitable. However, applications should be submitted no earlier than 6 months and no later than 3 months before the start of the desired period.

How to apply for the UNIDO Internship Program?

The internship application process is done via the UNIDO E-recruitment System, where all openings are published, and comprises the following steps:

Choose your field of interest;
Initial registration;
Filling out the candidate profile (academic and professional background);
Filling out the application form;
Submit the application.

For Internships in Field Offices:

The applicant must send an e-mail to the desired Field Office with their CV attached (informing the intended area). If the agency become interested in your profile, an online opening will be made available, where you will be able to send your submission. After doing that, it will be necessary to send another e-mail to the agency with your application overview (in pdf format).

In order to know the locations of UNIDO’s Field Offices and their contact information, click the link below:

https://www.unido.org/who-we-are/unido-worldwide/unido-offices-worldwide

What are the phases of the selection process for the UNIDO Internship Program?

The selection process may vary depending on the department or office to which the intern is applying, but generally comprises the following steps:

Creating a profile and preparing an application;
Submitting the application;
Evaluation of the application;
Competency-based interview;
Selection notifications.

How is the UNIDO Internship Program interview?

Usually, only selected applicants will be contacted for the interview, which lasts about 30 minutes and may be done via Skype or phone. The main points covered in the interview vary according to the opening and department chosen. In general, however, the questions address subjective or behavioral aspects, such as your expectations about the job, your interests in the area of expertise you are applying for and your previous experiences.

What are the documents to submit for the UNIDO Internship Program?

CV/résumé;
Cover Note/Letter (it’s important to define your area of interest and your personal reasons for submitting to a internship at UNIDO);
Recommendation Letter;
In case you are undergraduated or graduated, you must send your degree certification.

What is the evaluation criteria of the UNIDO Internship Program?

You will be evaluated regarding your previous experience, skills and competencies, and educational background.

UNIDO Internship - Costs

The agency offers no financial aid to cover costs related to preparing for or doing the internship. However, you may request financial aid from a sponsoring institution, for example, a university and/or government agency in your country.

Visa:

You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs and arrangements of obtaining the visa (if needed to do the internship).

Insurance:

You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs of enrolling in a valid global medical insurance plan.

Accommodation:

You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for accommodation expenses during the internship period.

Other:

You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs and arrangements of the trip to the workplace to which you have been assigned.