Application Guide

How to Apply for Intern - Social Affairs​

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 complex social and economic challenges across 53 member states. Working here offers direct exposure to multilateral policymaking and the opportunity to contribute to sustainable development goals in one of the world's most dynamic regions.

About This Role

This remote internship involves supporting ESCAP's Social Affairs Division through research on urban innovation, social entrepreneurship, and ageing populations in East and North-East Asia. You'll gain hands-on experience summarizing high-level meetings, analyzing policies, and assisting with event coordination while contributing to SDG progress tracking.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might begin with reviewing and summarizing notes from a virtual meeting with regional partners on social entrepreneurship initiatives, followed by analyzing recent policy documents on urban innovation in East Asia. In the afternoon, you could assist in preparing materials for an upcoming workshop while conducting follow-up research on ageing population trends for a briefing document.

🚀 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 social policy, development studies, public administration, or a closely related field with coursework in Asian development issues
  • Demonstrates strong analytical skills through academic projects or previous experience reviewing literature on social entrepreneurship, urban innovation, or ageing populations
  • Comfortable with both research tasks (policy analysis, trend tracking) and practical support (event logistics, social media management) in a remote work environment
  • Shows genuine interest in Asia-Pacific regional development through coursework, volunteer work, or previous internships with international organizations

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

1

Highlight any coursework or projects specifically related to East and North-East Asia's social development challenges in your resume

2

Mention specific experience with UN document formats or multilateral meeting procedures if you have it (even from Model UN)

3

Demonstrate your remote work capabilities by describing how you've successfully collaborated on team projects using MS Teams

4

Include concrete examples of research you've conducted on at least one of: urban innovation, youth entrepreneurship, or ageing populations

5

Tailor your application to show understanding of ESCAP's mandate - avoid generic UN application language

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain why you're specifically interested in ESCAP's work in Asia-Pacific social affairs, not just any UN internship", 'Connect your academic background directly to the research areas mentioned (urban innovation, social entrepreneurship, ageing populations)', 'Provide a brief example of your analytical skills, such as summarizing complex meetings or reviewing policy documents', 'Mention any experience with event coordination or communications support in virtual environments']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review ESCAP's Social Development Division webpage and recent publications on ageing, youth, and social entrepreneurship
  • → Study the specific work of ESCAP's East and North-East Asia Office (ENEA)
  • → Familiarize yourself with ESCAP's recent events and workshops related to social affairs
  • → Understand how ESCAP's social affairs work connects to specific SDGs (particularly SDG 8, 10, and 11)

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach researching youth entrepreneurship trends in a specific Asia-Pacific country?
2 Describe a time you had to summarize complex discussions from a meeting - what was your process?
3 What do you see as the most pressing social challenge facing East and North-East Asia's ageing populations?
4 How would you assist in planning a virtual workshop on social entrepreneurship for ESCAP?
5 Which ESCAP publication or initiative related to social affairs has impressed you most and why?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic UN internship application without tailoring it to ESCAP's specific regional focus
  • Failing to demonstrate knowledge of Asia-Pacific development context in your application materials
  • Overemphasizing theoretical knowledge without showing practical skills in research, analysis, or remote collaboration

📅 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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