Application Guide

How to Apply for Communications and digital outreach intern

at ESCAP - Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

🏢 About ESCAP - Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

ESCAP is the UN's regional development arm for Asia and the Pacific, working on critical issues like sustainable development, climate action, and economic cooperation across 53 member states. This unique position offers direct exposure to how international organizations communicate complex policy work to diverse audiences, making it ideal for someone passionate about using communications to drive social impact at a regional scale.

About This Role

This remote internship focuses on creating multimedia content and digital campaigns that translate ESCAP's technical reports and policy work into accessible formats for public audiences. You'll directly contribute to raising awareness about Asia-Pacific development issues through podcasts, social media, infographics, and videos, helping bridge the gap between UN expertise and public understanding.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start by editing a podcast interview with an ESCAP economist about trade trends, then create social media cards highlighting key statistics from a new report. Afternoon could involve storyboarding a short video about a virtual event with Pacific island delegates, followed by coordinating with colleagues in Bangkok (headquarters) to schedule next week's content calendar across time zones.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who ESCAP - Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Is Looking For

  • Currently pursuing or recently completed a graduate degree in communications, journalism, international relations, or multimedia production with a portfolio showing policy-related content
  • Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (especially Premiere Pro, After Effects, Illustrator) or similar tools for creating infographics, motion graphics, and short videos
  • Demonstrable experience managing organizational social media accounts and creating content calendars, preferably for NGOs, government, or international bodies
  • Strong writing samples that show ability to simplify complex topics (like economic data or climate policy) for general audiences without losing accuracy

📝 Tips for Applying to ESCAP - Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

1

Include links to 3-5 portfolio pieces specifically showing policy/social issue content (e.g., an infographic explaining SDGs, a video about climate change, social media campaign for a nonprofit)

2

Mention specific ESCAP publications or campaigns you admire (e.g., their Asia-Pacific SDG Progress Report, ESCAP YouTube channel content, or #AsiaPacificClimateWeek coverage)

3

Highlight any experience with UN editorial guidelines or multilingual content creation, as ESCAP serves 53 diverse member states

4

If you have remote work experience, describe your process for collaborating across time zones using tools like Teams or SharePoint (ESCAP's primary platforms)

5

Quantify your social media impact where possible (e.g., 'Increased engagement by X% through video content' or 'Grew followers by Y during campaign')

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain how your multimedia skills can make ESCAP's technical work (like trade statistics or disaster risk reduction reports) visually engaging for non-expert audiences", 'Describe your approach to inclusive communications for diverse Asia-Pacific cultures, languages, and digital access levels', "Mention a specific ESCAP priority area (e.g., sustainable transport, digital inclusion, or climate resilience) and how you'd communicate it through podcasts or social media", 'Highlight any experience with accessibility standards (alt-text, captions) since UN content must be widely accessible']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Watch 5+ videos on ESCAP's YouTube channel and analyze their style, audience engagement, and how they visualize data
  • → Read ESCAP's latest annual report and identify 2-3 complex topics you'd simplify for social media
  • → Explore ESCAP's social media presence (@UNESCAP) across platforms to understand their tone and current campaigns
  • → Review the UN's editorial guidelines and visual identity standards (available online) to understand mandatory requirements

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you'd create a social media campaign for ESCAP's latest flagship publication (e.g., the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific)
2 How would you adapt the same climate change message for audiences in Bangladesh versus Australia versus Pacific island nations?
3 Show us a past multimedia project and explain your editorial choices for a policy-heavy topic
4 Describe your experience working with subject-matter experts who may not be communications-savvy
5 How would you measure the success of a podcast series about gender equality in the Asia-Pacific region?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting generic communications portfolios focused only on commercial brands without policy/NGO examples
  • Proposing content ideas that don't align with ESCAP's mandate (e.g., entertainment-focused reels instead of development-focused content)
  • Not demonstrating awareness of Asia-Pacific regional diversity in application materials

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to ESCAP - Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific!

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