Work Location

Geneva - remote

Expected duration

3 - 6 months, flexible start date

Duties and Responsibilities

We are looking for motivated interns to join the Innovation and Analytics Hub (the Hub) at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. Reporting directly to the High Commissioner, the Hub is the United Nations’ first dedicated center for innovation and analytics in the field of human rights. The Innovation and Analytics Hub serves as OHCHR’s Centre of Excellence, advancing the Secretary-General’s “Quintet of Change” – Data, Digital, Innovation, Foresight, and Behavioral Science. It brings together expertise, ideas, and digital solutions to strengthen the Organization’s analytical and operational capacities. The Hub harnesses advanced data analytics and emerging technologies to detect and interpret human rights trends, support early warning and foresight, and inform preventive and evidence-based action. It also develops next-generation digital tools to enhance the coherence, efficiency, and impact of OHCHR and the wider human rights system globally. As an intern, you will be assigned to at least one of the following Hub workstreams: 1) Strategic Coordination and Planning, 2) Digital Transformation and AI, 3) Data and Analytics, 4) Human Rights Risk Analysis and Early Warning. Our interns report to full-time professional staff and work as full members of our team. Interns will pursue projects designed to create lasting impact, while gaining valuable insights into the broader work of the UN System. We encourage candidates who can ideally commit to a full-time, in-person internship for a minimum duration of three months, extendable up to six months. Depending on individual circumstances, remote and/or part-time arrangements may be considered. Please note that the internship under the “Human Rights, Risk Analysis and Early Warning” workstream is strictly full-time and in-person. In your application, kindly specify your period of availability and indicate the workstream(s) you are interested in. Candidates for the UN Internship program in person are required to cover the cost of travel including visa, accommodation, health insurance and other living expenses for the duration of the internship. OHCHR offers internship opportunities in the following workstreams: Workstream 1: Strategic Coordination and Planning • Contribute to the organization and facilitation of strategic planning meetings, outreach initiatives, and training workshops. • Contribute to the creation of analytics products, slide decks and background papers. • Assist in the monitoring and analysis of strategic initiatives and their implementation across the Office. • Support the organization-wide innovation Community of Practice, communications and campaign management • Support resource mobilization through donor research, contact management, and drafting meeting notes. Workstream 2: Digital Transformation and AI • Contribute to the planning, design, and execution of digital transformation initiatives. • Assist in the development and deployment of data analytics tools and platforms. • Support the integration of emerging technologies into existing workflows and systems. • Provide technical support and training on digital tools and platforms. Workstream 3: Data & Analytics • Contribute to the collection, compilation, and verification of data from field presences • Develop analytical products, including dashboards, visualizations, and data-driven insights. • Contribute to the development and production of global human rights indicators, including SDG indicators. • Support the dissemination of innovative tools and best practices to field presences • Provide support on information and data management to colleagues at headquarters and in the field Workstream 4: Human Rights Risk Analysis and Early Warning • Contribute to the monitoring, analysis, and reporting on emerging human rights risks and protracted crisis situations • Support the preparation of specialized human rights reports and documentation, including drafting background materials, daily updates, and enhanced monitoring inputs • Conduct daily media and open-source monitoring, identify potential human rights concerns, and coordinate internally • Support the development of human rights risk assessments and early warning analysis.

Qualifications/special skills

Competency: Applicants to the United Nations Internship Program must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements: 1) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school program (second university degree, equivalent or higher such as master's degree or equivalent, Ph.D. or post-graduate degree). 2) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree program (minimum bachelor's level or equivalent). If selected, applicants must commence the internship on the date specified in the Acceptance letter. Interested candidates can pursue studies in the following fields relevant to each workstream. Please specify in which workstream you are interested in. Workstream 1: Strategic Coordination and Planning: Political Science, Communication, Business Management, Public Administration, or related fields. Workstream 2: Digital Transformation and AI: Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, or related fields. Workstream 3: Data & Analytics: Data Science, Statistics, Social Sciences, Economics, International Development, Geography, or related fields. Workstream 4: Human Rights Risk Analysis and Early Warning: International Relations, Law, Political Science, Social Sciences, or related fields. Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this internship fluency in English is required (both oral and written). Knowledge of another United Nations official language would be an advantage (i.e. French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

Additional Information

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.