Requisition ID: 6173
Grade: Intern
Category: Internship
Employment Type: NonStaff-Regular
Country: Austria
Duty Station: Vienna
Entry Date: As soon as possible
Internship Duration: 3-6 months
Application Deadline: 01-Sep-2025, 11:59 PM (Vienna, Austria time)
Vacancy Announcement
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO, as described in the Lima Declaration adopted at the fifteenth session of the UNIDO General Conference in 2013 as well as the Abu Dhabi Declaration adopted at the eighteenth session of UNIDO General Conference in 2019, is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development. UNIDO’s mandate is fully recognized in SDG-9, which calls to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. The relevance of ISID, however, applies in greater or lesser extent to all SDGs. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: Creating shared prosperity; Advancing economic competitiveness; Safeguarding the environment; and Strengthening knowledge and institutions.
Each of these programmatic fields of activity contains a number of individual programmes, which are implemented in a holistic manner to achieve effective outcomes and impacts through UNIDO’s four enabling functions: (i) technical cooperation; (ii) analytical and research functions and policy advisory services; (iii) normative functions and standards and quality-related activities; and (iv) convening and partnerships for knowledge transfer, networking and industrial cooperation. Such core functions are carried out in Divisions/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices.
The Directorate of SDG Innovation and Economic Transformation (IET), headed by a Managing Director, is responsible for the development of innovative UNIDO services in the areas of agro-industry and agribusiness, sustainability standards and fair production, and climate-relevant or climate-improving technologies. It is also, in collaboration with ODG, responsible for developing innovative technical cooperation concepts, identifying new sources and means of finance and entering into new partnerships with a broad range of relevant stakeholders.
The Division of Fair Production, Sustainability Standards and Trade (IET/PST) develops and implements an innovative service package in response to UNIDO's mandate for fair and responsible local industrial production and trade with a particular focus on building the required skills and capacities and foster a conducive business operating environment to ensure that such production and trade are as inclusive as possible, promoting – among others – the development of human capital through vocational training and industrial skills development.
The Sustainability Standards and Responsible Business Unit (IET/PST/SIB) fosters the uptake of sustainability standards in Member States across local, regional and global value supply chains. To this end, it induces responsible investments into sustainable value chains working with multinational corporation (MNC) networks and other platforms such as the UNGC, UNPRI and others to advance socially-minded, gender-responsive and responsible business. The Unit supports Member States in establishing robust empirical systems and norms at the country and regional level to monitor the contribution of value chains to economic, social and environmental sustainability standards and advances cooperation between firms, institutions and policy actors to advance required reforms. The Unit also supports the transition of public and private procurement and consumption patterns to become greener and more socially balanced and incentivizes supply chains to become investment ready.
Interns work under the supervision of a staff member, in the division or office that they are assigned to.
GENERIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Intern shall be engaged as follows:
- Exposed to the regular core functions of the Division and the unit and as such shall have the opportunity to observe the day-to-day operations and engage in on-the-job training in specific actions delegated by the Supervisor.
- Engaged in a specific self-contained assignment, including:
- Support the First Reporting Officer and unit staff members in project pipeline development and project implementation on topics related to sustainable finance and responsible business conduct, including:
- project design/management, report writing and communications;
- liaising with partners;
- monitoring and evaluation.
- Support the First Reporting Officer’s and unit staff members’ outreach and strategic activities on sustainable investment and responsible business conduct, including:
- analysis and evaluation of past and future UNIDO activities;
- (digital) tool development;
- planning and coordination of thematic events, such as organizing the Investment Day at the next UNIDO General Conference in 2025;
- support development of publications and compile a weekly (news) update on developments relevant to the Unit’s work.
- Prepare an end-of-internship report; to be submitted to and cleared by UNIDO Internship Coordination.
- Other Special emerging Projects that may enhance the learning experience of the Intern.
MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Education: Enrolled in, or have completed within the last twelve months, a second level university degree programme (master's or equivalent) or higher; or be enrolled in, or have completed within the last twelve months, the final academic year of a first level university degree programme (bachelor's or equivalent). Only accredited institutions will be considered.
Field of specialization: Business, Economics, Social Science or other technical backgrounds (STEM fields).
Languages: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) is an asset.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Internships at UNIDO are full-time and shall be for a period of three to six months. For internships fully sponsored through partner institutions, the maximum duration shall be twelve months, subject to prior HRM agreement. Extensions beyond the initially agreed duration are not permitted.
- Interns receive a monthly stipend based on their duty station.
- Interns are responsible for living expenses, accommodation, visas, and related costs.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Core values:
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.
WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.
WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.
Key competencies:
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.
WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.
WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.
WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: to stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.
LEARNING ELEMENTS
- Become acquainted with the most up-to-date technical, economic and industrial developments in the relevant field of specialization of the Division/Department. Furthermore, he/she is expected to deepen his/her knowledge in the fields of new product/services and process design.
- Gain experience in project design/management.
- On the job training: participation in every phase of the working process.
- Gain experience in working effectively in a diverse and multi-cultural environment.
UNIDO Interns are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity at all times, both at work and outside. Only candidates who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for internships at UNIDO.
All applications must be submitted through the UNIDO Online Recruitment System.
Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process.
Visit the UNIDO employment website for details on how to apply: www.careers.unido.org
Notice to applicants:
UNIDO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. If you have received a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Vacant positions within UNIDO are advertised on the official UNIDO website. Should you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of UNIDO and requesting payment of a fee, please contact: internship@unido.org