Research Intern - Development Coordination Associate

Description du poste:

Work Location
Colombo, Sri Lanka

Expected duration
Expected duration - 2 months (15.05.2026 - 15.07.2026) Desired start date - 15.05.2026

Duties and Responsibilities
Working under the supervision of the Head of RCO, with input and guidance from the Data Management Officer and the Economist, the Development Coordination Associate provides comprehensive support to the work of the Resident Coordinator Office (RCO), contributing to its coordination, analytical, and administrative functions. It assists in the inception and coordination of inputs towards the new UNSDCF 2028-2032 with a focus on cross-cutting programming principles. The role further contributes to the coordination and substantive analytical work required for the 2025 joint UN Sri Lanka Country Analysis, including the use of innovative methodologies such as Horizon Scanning and Foresight Analysis. It supports the RCO's daily coordination mandate across policy analysis, inter agency initiatives, organization of workshops and events, and contributions to public information materials. The position is also responsible for preparing a wide range of documents-including briefing notes, meeting summaries, notes to file, and communication and public information products-and for providing coordination and administrative assistance for RCO activities as needed. Additional duties may be assigned in support of overall office priorities. The internship is in-person and full-time.Interns work for 5 days (37.5 hours) per week under the supervision of a staff member in the division or office they are assigned. Interns are not financially remunerated by the United Nations. Costs and arrangements for travel, accommodation and living expenses are the responsibility of interns. Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Qualifications/special skills
a)Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher): or, (b)Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent); or (c) Bachelor's or Master's degree (completed or in progress) in international relations, sustainable development, political science, business administration or a related field. Applicants are not required to have professional work experience to be eligible for the internship. However, experience and skills in the following areas would be an advantage: * Familiarity with the Sustainable Development Goals and the development mandate of the United Nations. * First professional experience in the public or private sector, ideally in an international environment. * Experience in research and analysis, especially as related to sustainable development. * Excellent writing skills and experience in the drafting of complex reports and documents. * Excellent user skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, additional experience in using AI tools in a professional or academic context is an advantage.

Languages
Fluency in oral and written English is required. NOTE: "Fluency equals a rating of "fluent" in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and " Knowledge of" equals a rating of " confident" in two of the four areas.

Additional Information
Not available.

Intern Specific text
Interns 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 Fee
THE 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