Application Guide

How to Apply for Intern, Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

at DESA - UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs

🏢 About DESA - UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs

DESA is the UN's central hub for economic and social policy, shaping global agendas on sustainable development and social inclusion. Working here offers direct exposure to international policymaking and the chance to contribute to UN initiatives that impact vulnerable populations worldwide, particularly older persons through the MIPAA framework.

About This Role

This internship supports the Fifth Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA), involving research, analysis, and report drafting. It also includes hands-on website migration from an old Open-Ended Working Group site to a new Drupal platform, requiring file management, database transfer, and content accuracy checks.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve morning research on ageing policies for the MIPAA appraisal, followed by organizing and migrating website files from the old Open-Ended Working Group platform. In the afternoon, you could draft sections of the appraisal report or update links and content on the new Drupal site, with occasional team check-ins on progress.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who DESA - UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs Is Looking For

  • A graduate student or recent graduate in social development, human rights, gerontology, or public policy with coursework or projects related to ageing populations.
  • Demonstrates practical experience with website content management systems (especially Drupal), file organization, or digital migration projects.
  • Possesses strong research and analytical writing skills, ideally with experience drafting reports or policy briefs in an academic or professional setting.
  • Has fluency in English plus working knowledge of at least one other UN official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish), particularly useful for reviewing multilingual documents.

📝 Tips for Applying to DESA - UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs

1

Explicitly mention any experience with Drupal or similar CMS platforms in your resume, even if from academic projects or volunteer work.

2

Highlight specific research or writing samples related to social development, ageing, or human rights—consider attaching a short policy analysis excerpt if allowed.

3

Tailor your application to mention both the MIPAA appraisal (research focus) and website migration (technical focus) to show you understand the dual nature of the role.

4

If you have language skills beyond English, note how they could be applied (e.g., 'French proficiency for reviewing UN documents').

5

Reference DESA's work on the Madrid International Plan of Action or the Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing to demonstrate prior research.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Explain your academic or professional interest in inclusive social development, specifically regarding ageing populations and the MIPAA framework.', 'Detail any hands-on experience with website management, content migration, or digital organization, linking it to the technical tasks described.', 'Describe a relevant research or analysis project (e.g., thesis, paper) that showcases your ability to contribute to the MIPAA appraisal report.', 'Express how this internship aligns with career goals in international social development or UN policy work.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) and its previous appraisals to understand the framework you'll be working on.
  • → Explore DESA's Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) website and its current projects, especially those related to ageing.
  • → Study the UN's Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing to grasp the context of the website migration task.
  • → Look into recent UN reports or resolutions on social development and ageing to identify key themes and terminology.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your experience with content management systems or website migrations—what challenges did you face and how did you resolve them?
2 How would you approach researching for a policy appraisal like the MIPAA? What sources or methodologies would you use?
3 What do you know about the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and its previous appraisals?
4 How do you ensure accuracy and completeness when transferring large volumes of digital content?
5 Why are you interested in DESA's work on inclusive social development, and how does this role fit your goals?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application that doesn't address both the research (MIPAA) and technical (website migration) aspects of the role.
  • Overlooking the importance of language skills—failing to highlight additional UN language proficiency if you have it.
  • Not demonstrating specific knowledge of DESA's work or the MIPAA, making your interest seem vague or uninformed.

📅 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 DESA - UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs!

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