Application Guide

How to Apply for Economic Affairs 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, uniquely positioned to address sustainable development challenges across 53 member states. Working here offers direct exposure to high-level UN-ASEAN policy dialogues and the chance to contribute to SDG implementation in one of the world's most dynamic regions.

About This Role

This Economic Affairs Intern supports SROSEA's work on UN-ASEAN collaboration and SDG implementation, combining research, event coordination, and communications. You'll directly contribute to policy dialogues and materials that influence regional development strategies.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start your day reviewing ASEAN development reports for a research brief, then join a virtual coordination meeting for an upcoming UN-ASEAN policy dialogue. In the afternoon, you could draft social media content about SROSEA's work while preparing background materials for senior staff engagements.

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Interview Prep

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

  • A graduate student or recent graduate in economics, international development, or Asian studies with coursework on SDGs or ASEAN
  • Someone who can demonstrate practical experience with both MS Office/Teams for professional tasks and Canva for outreach materials
  • A detail-oriented researcher who can compile data on ASEAN countries and draft clear analytical inputs
  • A strong communicator comfortable supporting high-level UN-ASEAN engagements and creating social media content

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

1

Highlight any experience with ASEAN-related research, even if from coursework - specify countries or SDGs you've studied

2

Include concrete examples of using Canva or similar tools for professional communications (not just personal projects)

3

Mention any experience coordinating virtual events or meetings, since this is a remote role supporting SROSEA events

4

If you have knowledge of UN official languages beyond English, specify your proficiency level clearly

5

Tailor your resume to show how your research skills connect to SDG implementation - use keywords from the job description

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your understanding of ESCAP's role in UN-ASEAN collaboration and why regional approaches to SDGs matter", "Specific research or analysis you've conducted related to sustainable development in Asia-Pacific", 'Examples of successfully balancing research tasks with communications/outreach work', "How your skills with MS Teams and Canva would help you immediately contribute to SROSEA's remote operations"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → ESCAP's Subregional Office for South-East Asia (SROSEA) specific programs and recent publications
  • → Current UN-ASEAN cooperation frameworks and joint initiatives on sustainable development
  • → ASEAN's Community Vision 2025 and how it aligns with the SDGs
  • → ESCAP's recent policy dialogues or workshops related to SDG implementation in Southeast Asia

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a research project where you compiled data from multiple sources - how did you ensure accuracy?
2 How would you approach creating social media content about a technical SDG topic for a general audience?
3 What do you see as the biggest challenge in implementing SDGs across ASEAN's diverse member states?
4 Tell us about a time you had to coordinate multiple stakeholders for an event or project
5 How familiar are you with UN-ASEAN collaboration mechanisms and recent joint initiatives?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting generic applications that don't mention ASEAN, SDGs, or UN regional work specifically
  • Overemphasizing theoretical knowledge without showing practical research/writing samples
  • Failing to demonstrate how you'd work effectively in a remote UN environment supporting high-level engagements

📅 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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