Research and Policy Support Intern

Work LocationUN Resident Coordinator’s Office, Riyadh Expected duration3 Months Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground: The UN Secretary-General’s Development System reform, effective 1 January 2019 pursuant to General Assembly resolution 71/243, has repositioned the UN Development System to deliver more effectively on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. General Assembly resolution 72/279 established a strengthened role for the UN Resident Coordinators and their offices as the central platform for coordination and integrated policy support at the country level. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) supports the UN Country Team (UNCT) in aligning the UN’s collective engagement with the national development priorities of Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). This includes analytical and policy support, facilitation of partnerships, and monitoring of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To support these objectives, the RCO is seeking an unpaid intern to contribute to policy research, analytical work, and operational tasks that underpin the UN’s engagement in KSA. The internship will provide hands-on experience in applied policy analysis, exposure to UN inter-agency coordination processes, and capacity-building in analytical tools, including large language models (LLMs). Duties and Responsibilities: Under the direct supervision of the RCO Economist and coordination with the Head of Office, the Intern will: 1. Policy and Research Support o Conduct desk reviews of UN frameworks, socioeconomic reports, and national strategies relevant to Vision 2030 and the SDGs. o Support drafting of analytical papers and policy briefs on the KSA economy, development trends, and thematic UN priorities. o Assist in integrating cross-sectoral analysis including LNOB, gender equality, and inclusivity. 2. Operational and Coordination Support o Take and draft meeting minutes for internal UNCT meetings, consultations with government counterparts, and partner engagements. o Support background note preparation and data collection for senior leadership. o Assist in ad hoc analytical tasks requested by the RCO. 3. Analytical Tools and Innovation o Contribute to exploratory work on the application of large language models (LLMs) for research, knowledge management, and analysis. o Support the design of templates, matrices, and structured analytical tools for RCO policy work. Learning Objectives: By the end of the internship, the Intern is expected to: • Gain practical experience in applied policy research and inter-agency coordination in a UN country office setting. • Strengthen skills in socioeconomic analysis with specific application to the KSA context. • Acquire experience in drafting policy papers, minutes, and analytical notes aligned with UN standards. • Develop familiarity with innovative analytical methods, including the use of LLMs in development work. • Enhance knowledge of UN operations, Vision 2030, and the UN’s role in national development processes. The duration of a United Nations internship is for a minimum of two months on a full-time basis - this may be exceptionally extended for a maximum period of six months. Qualifications/special skills1. Applicants must: (a) be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); (b) be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent); or (c) have graduated with a university degree (as defined above); 2. Applicants must: (a) be computer literate in standard software applications. (b) have a demonstrated keen interest in the work of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter; and (c) have a demonstrated ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which include willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views. No previous work experience is required for this job opening. Familiarity with socioeconomic data, SDGs, and Vision 2030 is desirable. Knowledge in artificial intelligence and LLM applications is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required and knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas. Additional InformationA completed online application must include, beside the mandatory Personal History Profile, a Cover Note mentioning the following: • Degree Programme (what are you currently studying?). • Graduation Date (when will you graduate or when did you graduate from the programme?). • List of the IT skills and programmes that you are proficient in. • List of your top three areas of interest. • Explanation of why you are the best candidate for this specific internship. • Explanation of your interest in the United Nations Internship Programme. In your online Personal History Profile, be sure to include all past work experiences, IT skills, and three references. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for the medical insurance of the intern or costs arising from injury, illness or death that may occur during an internship. Therefore, upon awarding an internship, candidates will be required to sign a statement confirming their understanding and acceptance of the conditions of service. Applicants for internship must show proof of valid medical insurance coverage to cover the full period of the internship at the duty station and provide a medical certificate of good health prior to the commencement of the internship. The United Nations accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to personal effects that may occur during the internship. This position allows for flexible working arrangements, contingent upon written agreement by the receiving entity. Interns under these arrangements must commit to an equivalent of at least two months full-time work and complete their internship within six months. Intern Specific textInterns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, visas, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns or their sponsoring institutions. Interns who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country where the internship is undertaken, may be required to obtain the appropriate visa and work/employment authorization. Successful candidates should discuss their specific visa requirements before accepting the internship offer. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.